Standish Stroll was originally set in November 2012 as a circular walk of about 3 miles with 12 caches on a route to the south of Standish. In February 2014 this was extended to 20 caches by adding a new loop to the west of Standish. There are NO cow fields to cross! The walk follows some clearly marked public footpaths and farm tracks but it can be extremely muddy after wet weather and can become churned up and rutted by vehicles and horses in places. Good footwear is advisable and possibly wellingtons after very wet weather. There is no need to climb through any fences or trespass off the public footpaths/farm tracks. The whole series can be done at strolling pace in about 3 to 4 hours, or it can be divided into two sections 1 to 12A and 13 to 20 if two visits are preferred. Standish Stroll #20 is a bonus, the coordinates of which need to be collected from caches 13 to 19. You can earn 2 badges for your public profile page. The first badge is for completing Standish Stroll #10A, which we believe to be unique. There is another badge which is earned only when you have completed the whole series. The instructions for installing this badge are given in Standish Stroll #20 (the bonus).
This is our first cache on a circular walk around the countryside south of Standish. If you park along Green Lane, off School Lane, and walk towards Standish Wood Lane, you will pass the flats on the corner, on the left, built on the site of Prospect House. Look for the relief of the Owl and the Rat with the date 1796, which was taken from Prospect House when it was demolished and was later replaced on the front wall of the flats.
The base of a cross can be seen across the road in the "Bunny Woods", opposite the flats. There is a second base at the end of Green Lane where it meets Standish Wood Lane with a third cross base further down the lane.
These crosses, 700 to 800 years old, were said to indicate that these routes were corpse roads used by funeral processions and that the water, that lay in the stumps of the crosses, was said to be holy water.