R.A.W - John Lapraik Cairn Traditional Cache
R.A.W - John Lapraik Cairn
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(not chosen)
Related Web Page
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This is one of a series of caches that has been placed along the River Ayr Walk and its connecting pathways between Sorn and Glenbuck.
The caches have all been sited at significant points with the intention of introducing the cacher to the rich history, the wildlife and the natural beauty of this area.
The River Ayr Way is Scotland’s first source to sea path network and stretches for 66km from Glenbuck to the sea at Ayr.
This cache is on a section of the River Ayr Way, which is locally known as 'The Poets Way'. With the first cache you come to "GC4TW45 - The bridge at Airds Moss" placed beside the ruminants of John Lapraik's house which can be seen fenced off to the right of the cache.
The cache that you are looking for is a little further along, following the River Ayr Way.
From the cache GZ, on the opposite banks, you can see a memorial Cairn which is ten feet high and built from stone from Lapraik's house, Dalfram.
John Lapraik was born in 1727 about three miles to the west of Muirkirk, Ayrshire in south west Scotland. He was a friend to Robert Burns and also had an interest in poetry which he maintained throughout his life.
In March 1754 he married Margaret Rankin (sister to John Rankin who was another friend of Burns). In about 1762, eight years after they had married, Margaret Rankin died whilst giving birth to her fifth child.
In 1766, he married for a second time, his wife was Janet Anderson of Lightshaw, who lived on a neighbouring farm. They were financially secure and it is clear from Lapraik's poetry that they were happy together:
She smiled sweetly on me, and gave me her hand,
And with blushes did own she was at my command;
Transported with joy, while she lean'd on my breast,
I thanked the kind gods who had heard my request:
So I to all sorrows and cares bid farewell,
While Jenny does love me, no care I can feel.
Lapraik had provided guarantees to friends who had taken out loans with a Bank which was kept in ill repute and, when all those loans were immediately called in following the Bank's collapse, Lapraik was ruined.
He struggled to overcome the losses he had sustained. At the end of of nine years, having by then sold off all his lands and still having failed to discharge his debts he still found himself the victim of legal prosecution, and, at length, to heap the full measure of wretchedness on the devoted head of an honest man, he was thrown into prison.
Following his release from gaol in 1785 he leased the neighbouring ground and mill of Muirsmill, near Nether Wellwood farm, from the Earl of Loudoun. It was at this time that he entered into correspondence with Robert Burns (at that time a near neighbour and unknown poet) who had heard one of his songs. The three Epistles which Burns wrote to John Lapraik in 1785 were subsequently published by Burns in 1786 and, as a result, the correspondence between the two men is well known.
Whilst Burns became famous and moved to Edinburgh, Lapraik remained at Muirsmill until 1798 when he then moved to Muirkirk, where he opened a small public house, which served at the same time as the village Post Office.
Here he lived with much respect until his death, on 7th May 1807 aged 80.
After locating this cache please leave the area litter free, as this is a nature reserve. I have special permission for this cache so long as dogs are kept on leads at all times and no litter is left on the R.A.W path network. Thanks and I hope you enjoy the natural beauty around this section of the River Ayr Way.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre ebpx