Grianan Fort Traditional Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Grianan Ailligh
This large stone-walled fort, located on a hilltop commanding views over Loughs Foyle and Swilly and counties Donegal, Londonderry and Tyrone, was the royal citadel of the northern Uí Néill from the 5th to the 12th century. It was probably built some time around the birth of Christ. Its builders may have been attracted to this hilltop site by the presence here of a sacred monument - a prehistoric burial mound or tumulus, possibly from the Neolithic period (about 3000 BC).
A lintelled passage through the 4.5m thick wall leads to the interior where the wall rises in three terraces to a height of about 5m; there are also two long passages contained within the thickness of the wall. (These are now closed off to the public).
Substantial restoration work was carried out in 1870. We know little about the three earthen banks which circle the Grianan, but they could be part of an earlier Bronze or Iron Age hillfort. The trackway running through these banks and leading to the fort is believed to be an ancient roadway.
Cache is located at the car park for the fort so there is plenty of room to park, just watch out for muggles as this can be a very busy area. I have placed the cache in such a place where you should be able to find and process descretely, you'll know what I mean when you find it.
Cache is a micro so please bring your own pen and replace container back carefully when finished.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Vtaber pb-beqf, gurl jvyy trg lbh pybfr, ohg, pnpur vf ghpxrq va oruvaq gur shegurfg yrsg bs gur 3 ovt ebpx/obhyqref
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures