Bellingham cache Traditional Cache

This is one of a series of geocaches by Northumberland National Park. You can see all our other caches here - why not go find another one and explore another part of our wonderful National Park?

To get the cache you will need tweezers and a pen. This cache is a disco (DISguised COntainer) cache.

Bellingham has its roots in the 12th Century when St Cuthbert’s Church was first consecrated. Its heyday was in the 19th Century when it was a centre for iron. Hareshaw Linn was the site of two blast furnaces established in 1833 by Messrs Bigge and Partners.At the peak of its operation it also contained seventy coke ovens, twenty four large roasting kilns for calcining the iron ore, a range of coal stores, a blacksmiths shop, wagon shed, stables and stores.The iron works were in continuous production until 1848.Ten years later the plant was auctioned and many of the buildings demolished.The dam that you pass on the walk supplied water to power the Hareshaw iron works.

Nature recovers quickly - you would not believe that this wooded valley once raged with noise and smoke! Today Hareshaw Linn is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), designated for its rare ferns and lichen. Over 300 different types of mosses, liverworts and lichencan be found.The ‘Linn’ is also home to red squirrel, great spotted woodpecker, wood warbler, spotted flycatcher, badger and daubenton’s bat.