Hood Stones Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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Takes you high up the slopes above Loch Eribol which gives amazing views of the loch, Ben Hope and Ben Loyal and experience a little bit of history.
Perched high above the shores of Loch Eribol is the the name "HOOD", made up of large stones. It was set in place by crew members of HMS Hood back in 1935, when the Loch was a popular Royal Navy anchorage. HMS Hood was the last battlecruiser built for the Royal Navy Commissioned in 1920, she was named after the 18th-century Admiral Samual Hood. Hood operated in WWII and was sunk by the Bismark in 1941. In 1993, the children from the nearby Durness Primary School undertook the first of several efforts to restore and maintain them. They cleared much of the undergrowth from around the stones, then painted them bright white. They are now maintained on a regular basis. The crews of other ships which visited Loch Eribol also left their marks in stone on the empty hill side. Such as Valiant, Whirlwind and submarine H43. However many are now indistinct as years of weather and animals have moved them around. The stones, once you know where to look, are visible from the road. There is a way marked route up the hill side. There is no path and the ground is uneven and steep in places. Good stout shoes or boots are a must. The cache is set at a distance from the stones, to give you a good view and so as not to disturb the site. Please do not touch the stones, nor feel compelled to write anything else with stones on the hillside. (There is plenty of opportunity to do that on the slopes at Smoo). This location provides an amazing view of Loch Eribol and Ben Hope (especially in late afternoon sun). Approach from Durness on the A838, the parking is on the right, just past the Port nan Con turning. There is parking for a couple of cars at 58° 30,079 004° 42.630 The walk starts at a disused quarry and the route is marked by a line of wooden posts up the hillside Walk starts at coordingates 58° 30.100 004° 42.593
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Uvag: gur pnpur vf n fznyy juvgr gho n srj zrgerf fbhgu jrfg bs gur ovt fgbar.
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