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The Reservoir Traditional Cache

Hidden : 4/27/2014
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is located at the old reservoir on Kirnie Law between Innerleithen and Walkerburn.


This reservoir is very well hidden in the hills, and unless you are local to Innerleithen or Walkerburn you may never have heard of it. The easiest directions I can give are to climb up to the hill fort (this is called windy knowe), you don't actually have to climb to the top of this hill you can take either of the paths around it. When you are at the back of this hill and facing the next hill, Pirn Craig ( the big one), you have to find a small path leading you up through the scots pine trees onto the hill. Once you are on this path you can't go wrong. This is a really steep climb. Look out for red squirrels in the trees here. Follow the path right over the top of the hill. Eventually you will come to a forest road, cross straight over this road, and head up through the wooded muddy path. This opens up on to Kirnie law. Keep following the path straight through the heather. Don't go off the path, it will lead you directly to the reservoir. I have uploaded a picture of a map onto the photo gallery, and marked my route over Pirn Craig with a black pen. You may be wondering why a huge reservoir is nesting here in the hills. - Initially the mill lade produced enough power for the mills in Walkerburn but as production expanded more cheap energy was needed. In 1920-21 Messrs Boving & Co of London built a revolutionary system, pumping water from the Tweed up to a reservoir on Kirnie Law above the village then bringing it down to drive a Pelton turbine to produce electricity. A funicular railway was built from the A72 up to the reservoir site to haul up all the materials used in construction – a total weight of 3,650 tons was carried on the railway. As production in the mills declined, less power was required. The system was dismantled and all that is left is the old reservoir.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

abg va gur ubyr, qbja gur fvqr bs gur ubyr.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)