When driving back from the Aug 17^th GeoTryst event I took a wrong turning somewhere and we ended up driving past this church. The grounds looked so intriguing that we stopped and had a walk around. We thought this place so interesting that it had to have a cache! 

Collace church has a long and rich history. The current building is 200 years old but people are thought to have worshipped on this site for 1,000 years. Part of the previous church has been turned into the mausoleum in the grounds, and the churchyard itself contains a fine collection of gravestones. This multi will take you around the churchyard to see some of the gravestones and other structures within.

The above co-ordinates will take you to the location. Follow the instructions below to answer the questions and get the numbers you need for your final co-ordinates, which are outwith the grounds.   

As you enter the grounds you will see an old sandstone disc with six holes in it. This is a discoid cross and it dates from medieval times. It is composed of a six-pointed star arrangement with an oak-leaf outline and a Solomon’s seal in the middle. Its similarity to stones in Cumbria and Ireland suggest that it may date from the 13^th century and the first church to be consecrated here. It might have been an architectural fragment, a preaching cross or a grave marker.  

It has been raised off the ground for safe-keeping. How many blocks make up the plinth?

A = the second digit of this number

Turn left and walk along the edge of the graveyard. You will soon come to what looks like a birdcage with a glass bell jar inside. What is inside the bell jar?

B = the number of letters in the name of this object

Continue on along this edge until you come to a gravestone in the form of an open book.

C = Isabella Wightman died on the 17^th June 193?

Now move to the morthouse in the corner. These buildings were built to protect the dead from body snatchers. This one is thought to date from the 19^th century although there are vaults underneath which suggest that it had been used earlier than this for burials. The morthouse here is one of eight such structures listed by Historic Scotland and they have helped to restore it.   

Go to the door of the morthouse. Look above it.

D = number of circular holes you can see

Now follow the south-east edge of the graveyard. You will pass the entrance to the modern graveyard but keep walking until to you get to an alcove marked by two small stone pillars. Go though these and look at the Celtic cross stone in here. There are three letters in the centre of the cross. Use the formula A =1, B = 2 etc to answer this one.

E = value of the middle letter

Now walk to the mausoleum in the centre of the graveyard. This is the Nairne Mausoleum and, as the name suggests, is the burial enclosure of the Nairne family. On the day we visited all we could see inside were masses of tall rosebay willowherb though. It was built in 1813 and it’s possible that it was either the  original aisle or a side chapel of the old church. It has no roof but the top is castellated, and there is a central section above the archway which contains openings.

F = Number of openings in this central section

Walk around the mausoleum and in front of the corner nearest to the church is a grave marked by a stone lamb. This is dedicated to a Mr McCall. Use the A = 1, B = 2 formula again.

G = last letter of his first name

Cache can be found at:

N56 28. BFC      W003 1E.DAG