Polruan Block House Traditional Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Approaching Polruan via the passenger ferry from Fowey, or by road, you will need to take a little stroll along to the end of West Street to find the footpath leading to the Block House. The cache is not hidden in the Ancient Monument itself, so please do not disturb the structure in any way. You need to be a little nimble to retrieve the cache, which is very close by. Enjoy the stunning view of the Harbour entrance whilst you fill in the log.
A short, but worthwhile diversion from the South West Coast Path, Polruan Castle, or Block House is one of a pair of ruins, the other being on the other side of the estuary at Fowey, built in the 14th century to defend the entrance to the estuary from pirates and the French. A chain reached across the water between the two blockhouses and could be raised to stop ships entering the estuary. "Crossing the Line".
Swimming is an essential skill for children living so close to the water. Within living memory, cannon balls have been brought up from the bed of the estuary by local youngsters. A local tradition, which has been going for over 40 years, is for the school leavers from Polruan Primary School to swim the 550 metres across the estuary and touch the side in Fowey before heading back. The Harbour Master and his team create a safety exclusion zone for the swimmers and keep boats away while they are swimming and each child has its own accompanying boat.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Orfg ybbxrq sbe sebz orybj.