The route to the cache is an enjoyable walk for the young and old (with some fitness) alike. it is mostly uphill from the car park at N56 34.661 W 003 58.651. Make sure you have a good pair of boots on your feet and if it is during the early or very late part of the year wrap up warm and stay dry. the views are fantastic so take some photos to prove you got there.
Not wanting to spoil it, I will not advise you which route to follow from the car park but you will get there which ever way you want as long as it is red, yellow or blue, just follow the way posts of the colour you choose.
Enroute if you are quiet you might see some of the local wildlife such as squirrel and deer.
Once there, You are standing on the side of Creag an Fhudair or Kenmore Hill overlooking the northern end of the ancient pre-glacial valley which is deeply incised into the Dalradian Quartz-mica schists which underlie this part of the Grampian Highlands.
Quartz-mica schist is a metamorphic rock derived from earlier marine sediments - sandstones and mudstones - the varied character of which is reflected in the outcrops to be seen in stream-beds and on surrounding hill-sides, as well as in the natural stone used to construct many of the village buildings and walls in the valley below.
The recent glacial epoch circa 6100 BC resulted in a significant over-deepening of the Tay Valley by ice. The end of this period saw the upper part of the valley occupied by a large valley glacier which later disappeared, leaving behind the water-filled basin of Loch Tay. The present level of the loch is determined by unconsolidated deposits of unknown depth, which block the valley downstream of Kenmore. These take the form of a broad alluvial plain, concealing morainic mounds and fluvio-glacial deposits, which break through the surface of the plain in places to form hummocks and other features on the valley floor.
The river has cut through these deposits, creating a number of steep-edged alluvial terraces along its course. To the north of Taymouth Castle, across the River Tay, the ground rises steeply to the rocky ridge of Drummond Hill, to the south rather more gently onto the Braes of Taymouth. All around are ice-scoured hills with a patchy cover of late-glacial or post-glacial deposits. You are standing on one of these.
Tay Valley Rocks in the Making
Rocks have diverse and varied origins that reflect the original nature of the material deposited or formed and the processes that have happened since their formation. They can be classified as one of three types:
Igneous rock is formed as molten magma rises and cools. This forms a variety of rock types depending on the chemical make-up of the rising magma and the depth of cooling. Deep cooling tends to produce coarser-grained rock types such as granites, whilst shallow cooling tends to give finer-grained rocks such as basalt.
Sedimentary rock is, as its name implies, formed from sediment and as such is often laid down in horizontal layers. It may be derived from erosion of earlier rock types such as sandstone or shale, or by chemical precipitation (for example, limestone).
Metamorphic rock is formed when any rock type is subjected to pressure, heat or chemical attack by hot fluids. This can occur in the deep core of a mountain range as it is being formed. The resulting metamorphic rock can be a slate, schist or gneiss, depending on its original composition and the pressure and temperature reached. If rock is heated above c.700°C it may melt and form granite.
To log the cache you will need the answers to the following questions and Email these to me. post a a photo of the best view on the Cache page to show you were there.
Best of all enjoy your walk as I did.
Answers please to the following:
Behind you and slightly to your left is a fence and some wooden steps which could help you get over the fence unless the land owner has removed them. I think the land owner has placed them there for sitting on whilst drinking a nice hot cuppa, as I did, and taking in the views and working out the quest tasks'
1. If you are standing at the location of the coordinates and looking North North West towards Schiehallion Mountain, the glen goes upward over your right shoulder. Using your GPS and compass work out what direction the the uphill lie of the glen is.
2. Using your own judgement how far away from you do you think the peak of Schiehallion mountain is in metres?
3. Determine the Elevation difference in metres between the posted coordinates elevation, and the elevation of the peak of Schiehallion Mountain. I have uploaded a Topo picture map of the immediate area of Schiehallion in the photo gallery to help you. All you will need, is your GPS showing Elevation and subtract the difference.
4. Using the information you have read about this area, what type of rock are predominant at the cache point (they may be covered in snow or heather depending upon the time of year)?
5. Once you identify the rock, tell me what type of rock it is. (Igneous, Metamorphic, or Sedimentary) and how is it basically made?
6. Thinking about the Tay valley how and when was it formed?
7. Optional: If you would also like to count the number of way posts you can see at the cache point and give the names of the colours that are on the posts that would be a bonus.(You may have to look as they could well be hidden by snow or vegetation's which grows quite rapidly here.
Do not reveal your answers in your log.
As an optional task, take a photo at the location you are standing at to show that you were at the cache point. If you are in the photo with a four legged friend that would be better.