Welcome to The Moyle Way geocache series.
This is a series of 25 caches on the Moyle Way which stretches from Ballycastle to Waterfoot.
Each cache in the series can be found individually by solving a puzzle but also has been designed in such a way that each cache could be found in order starting with no. 01 in Ballycastle and following through to no. 25 in Waterfoot. When you find a cache, in it you will find an informative booklet containing information on the locality and the co-ordinates and if necessary, a ‘Hint’ on the location of the next cache in the series. The co-ordinates at the top of the cache page have no bearing on the final location of each cache.
With the exception of the starting waypoint of no. 01 in ballycastle which is a film container type micro or ‘chirp’ beacon, all of the other caches in the series will be a 1.9 litre tab-lock box or a larger container. Each cache will also contain a logbook, a pen (hopefully) and several swap items. As you will notice, most of the Moyle Way is quite damp and boggy so please ensure to seal the cache containers properly after your visit.
An unregistered “FTF” geocoin is available for the first person to log a find on the whole series. Additionally there will be a special geocoin available to the first person or team that finds and logs online the whole series in less than 48 hours. Special conditions apply. Please scan the QR code for further details.
The first cache in the series is an offset multi-cache. You will need to do one of the following two items in order to find the first cache in the series.
01: At the given co-ordinates there is a film container with a sheet of paper containing the co-ordinates of the final. You don’t need to sign this sheet. Finding this container alone does not count as finding the cache.
02: At the given co-ordinates with a compatible GARMIN device you may receive signals from a chirp located nearby also containing the co-ordinates and a ‘Hint’ for the actual cache. There will then be no need to find the film container.
Strong waterproof hiking boots or shoes are recommended. Campfires are not permitted anywhere along the route of the Moyle Way. Camping may be possible along the route but try and avoid areas where livestock may be present. Mobile reception may be difficult in some areas.
Perhaps the best way to tackle this series is to do it over 4 stages as follows:
Stage 1: Ballycastle to Breen Bridge / Standing stones.
Stage 2: Breen Forest to The source of the Glenshesk River.
Stage 3: Orra Beg Battle (1559) to Glenariff Forest Park.
Stage 4: Glenariff Waterfall / River Walk to Waterfoot.
You could do each stage over 4 different days or weekends.
IMPORTANT
It is not necessary to do all of the caches in one outing. The logbook in each cache must be signed to claim a find.
I will periodically visit random caches in the series to check on the condition of the container.
I hope that you shall enjoy the series, and the walk.
Please take home any rubbish you may have or place in waste bins at certain locations along the Moyle Way such as Ballycastle, Glenariff Forest Park and Waterfoot.
Solve the puzzle to do the cache as a standalone.
Q1: On the OS Map 5 Ballycastle, how many Picnic areas are marked in Ballycastle Forest?
Q2: Again on the map, how many viewpoints are shown in Ballycastle Forest?
Q3: What year was the forest first planted?
Q4: Other than the Moyle Way, how many waymarked trails are there in the forest?
Q5: In a small area of the broadleaf woodland area, European larch was planted in what year?
Q6: At the car park just off the Drumavoley road a river flows down from the forest and under the road. Just beyond the forest track gate there is a weir. How many pipes are there in the top of the weir?
Checksum: 3877
A=(Q1+Q2)xQ4
B=Q1xQ4
C=Second digit from Q5
D=(Q1-Q2)-Q6
E=Reverse the last 2 digits from Q3 then add Q2
F=Q4+Q6
G=(Q5-Q3)+Q2
H=G/Q4
Final co-ords: N55 A.BCD W006 E.FGH
Red Squirrel Habitats
At various points along the Moyle Way and other places you may see a red squirrel. There is a local conservation organisation that would like to know if you have any sightings of the red squirrel. They have a form that you may be able to obtain at various places along the Moyle Way such as at the start in Ballycastle. You can fill in your sighting on the page provided. You can also report a sighting online here: Sighting report link! This is completely voluntary and is not a requirement for logging any of the caches.