Within the shadow of the ship
I watched their rich attire:
Blue, glossy green, and velvet black,
They coiled and swam; and every track
Was a flash of golden fire.
O happy living things! no tongue
Their beauty might declare:
A spring of love gushed from my heart,
And I blessed them unaware:
Sure my kind saint took pity on me,
And I blessed them unaware.
The self-same moment I could pray;
And from my neck so free
The Albatross fell off, and sank
Like lead into the sea.
The Poem
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a major poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It was written in 1797-98, although the text used in these caches is from the revised version of 1834, as it is much more readable.
The poem tells the tale of a sailor who has returned from a long voyage. With the mariner narrating his story to a man who is on his way to a wedding.
The Series
Parking is available near the starting point - it is shown as a waypoint on 'TRotAM Part I: #1 An ancient Mariner'.
If 13 miles in one walk is too much for you, the series can be easily split into two, with Parts I - IV forming a loop of approx. 6 miles, and Parts V - VII making up a second loop of about 7 miles.
There are two big ascents on this series - one on each loop. There are steps on a couple of the steeper sections, and there are also numerous stiles and gates to navigate. Tweezers may be required for a few of the caches, so don't forget them! You'll also need to bring your own pen, as there aren't any in the caches, and you do need to sign the logs to claim the finds.
None of the caches are hidden in dry stone walls, so please do not look in any.
The Cache
This cache is the last one of the first half, and it's a short walk back to Hope from here if you want to split the series into two parts. Alternatively, you can press on and do the second half as well. You're looking for a camo'd 30ml tube.