Loughermore - Resting place of the Ancients Traditional Cache

This is a traditional cache placed near an ancient stone circle and chambered grave in the heart of Loughermore Forest Park. It is about a mile walk to the cache and is uphill. The terrain means it could not be attempted by wheel chair users or those without a basic degree of fitness. Strong footwear is recommended and the cache would not be recommended to be attempted after dark. The site will take you to a place you would be unlikely to ever see unless you were hunting for caches!

Loughermore is a public upland coniferous forest park of 1340 hectares in the hills above the Foyle Valley in County Derry/Londonderry. Deep within the forest are a number of ancient sites about which little has been written. This cache is at a stone circle and chambered grave in the Ballyholly reaches of the forest. There is parking on the Baranailt Road beside one of the gated entrances to the forest. As you make your way to the cache look out for the Buzzards which often can be seen circling above the trees.

Start walking on the forest track steadily climbing for about half a mile. The track will then take a sharp right. As you follow this you will have to take to the ground to the right of it through the stumps of harvested trees to avoid the fallen ones which block the path (careful of your footing) before rejoining the trail further on. You will come to a point where an old trail or fire-break goes into the forest on your left. Follow it in for a few hundred yards before it bends at a forty-five degree angle to the left again. A short distance down here you will find another fire-break on the right, at right angles to the one you are walking down. The cache site is a few hundred yards down here on your right.

It consists of an ancient chambered grave almost completely covered in moss and plants but if you look carefully you will see the massive flat cap stones peeking through. The grave is surrounded by standing stones not taller than knee high and is in a small clearing in the forest. It is quiet here and few ever visit. The tall pine trees clash against each other if it is windy with eerie creaking and knocking sounds echoing through the forest. If it has rained the moss will glow bright green against the shadows of the trees almost making it seem as if the circle is lighting up. This was an ancient place of worship so please treat it with respect, after all who knows if ghostly eyes still watch from through the trees......

The cache is a small tablock in a camouflaged hide. The hide can be moved to facilitate access but please put it back where you found it. It is not planted on the grave or within the stone circle. GPS can be difficult due to the tree cover but the directions should see you right.