The Wealthy Victorians. Multi-Cache

This high mileage cache will take you on a tour of some of the remains of mostly Victorian homes that were once very prominent around Glasgow.

This multi cache is a bit different and will cover about 24 miles over 18 stages around the North West of Glasgow, most stages are remaining parts of the Victorian era of wealth, some are complete and others only a vestige remains. Up to stage 9 they are just about drive by to collect information and from stage 10 on some will require walking and best with boots as there may be some mud about, nothing too difficult, the final requires a wee bit of agility. At each waypoint including the start you will need to collect infomation, make a note of it and apply all data to the formula at the end of the description to get the final coords. Images from maps around the late 1800s are in the picture gallery below with the stages shown with a red arrow, this will give you a better idea of what the area was like then compared to now. Please do have a look at them for each stage.

Stage 1- We start with the huge Garscube Estate, the main house was demolished in 1964 but much remains of the estate.

Question 1- How many chimney pots are on the lodge? Call this A.

Stage 2- Still on Garscube, now at the farm workers cottages.

Question 2- Total number of stone pillars adorn the cottage doors round the square? Call this B.

Stage 3- Killermont, the magnificent main house still exists, it is very grand and is now a golf club, I have selected a less well known part of the estate at the site of the original walled garden which is now a bowling green. Note the wall on the left as you approach GZ on foot.

Question 3- How many openings are to the right of the door in the stone wall? Call this C.

Stage 4- Chapelton, one of the oldest buildings in the area, this is the steading tucked neatly amongst the modern housing, no main house seems to have been associated with it although other buildings and streets locally took the name. Directly across road is interesting Katrine Pipeline control field.

Question 4- The number of the first cottage on the right in the quadrangle (easily seen from pavement), add the two digits together and call this D.

Stage 5- Kessington, these again are cute farm workers cottages nestling next to the school in the modern housing, the nearby Kessington steading again is very old and the name is used in local streets and the large hall on Milngavie Road.

Question 5- How many chimney pots adorn the roofs in total? Call this E.

Stage 6- Beechwood, an extremely large villa at one time with an ornamental fountain and extensive gardens, nowadays it is gone and replaced with posh flats, the neighbouring Carrickarden house still stands but is not easily visible, this stage takes you to a lovely little mews property from the Beechwood villa, note the original North wall from the walled garden as you walk from parking.

Question 6- How many chimney pots on the white Beechwood Cottage? Call this F.

Stage 7- Hillfoot Estate, this was a huge estate in Victorian times, you should be at the only remaining feature which was one a few buildings at the stables within the estate, now a lovely home. Again easily spotted out of place in the street.

Question 7- What is the date on property?, use the THIRD digit, call this G.

Stage 8- Kilmardinny, another huge estate with the house still remaining, at some point in time the upper floor and one entire wing have been removed making it the shape you see nowadays, open to the public for various different classes and workshops however you should be at the East lodge.

Question 8- How many chimney pots? (count a dumpy one as one) Call this H.

Stage 9- Now we on to the really massive estate of Dougalston, much has been given over to the golf course and the main house was demolished in the 60s, the factors house and the gardeners cottage plus the walled garden, the ice house and two lodges remain, the new Auchenhowie road cut through the estate in the 80s leaving the South lodge isolated on a loop of road. You should however be at the West lodge, note the wide grass strip marking the original driveway going up the hill.

Question 9- How many vertical rails in the handrail at the front door? Call this I.

Stage 10- Still in Dougalston, this stunning doocot is one of the remaining features of the estate, the pigeons and their eggs were used as a food source.

Question 10- Number of letters of the lock manufacturer name? Call this J.

Stage 11- Another beautiful part of Dougalston and a bit of a walk to get to it, this the Lady's Pond, now seems to be no longer maintained but nature doing a good job. Enroute to the pond you will pass the rear of the walled garden and the gardeners cottage, the factors house is also within, just beyond the wall beside the path on the right is a great example of a Victorian haha, a way for the landed gentry to view their land with no fences to mar the view, the haha would act as a barrier to cattle and sheep.

Question 11- The number of vowels on the sign plus 3, Call this K.

Stage 12- On to the massive Mugdock Estate now, much of it dates back several hundred years but I have selected two areas in keeping with the Victorians.

Question 12- How many gates are in the new green fence around the castle? (look carefully ),Call this L.

Stage 13- Still with Mugdock, beside the remains of the old castle stood a huge Victorian mansion, some bits are still visible.

Question 13- How many square holes are in the lintel above the mansion entrance? Call this M.

Stage 14- Now at the huge Glenorchard estate, almost nothing remains of this stunning estate as it was blown up for target practise by the military, however did find one bit still standing. As you walk from parking look to the left and see the beautiful landscaped field on your left with specimen trees, just beyond is the tree lined now overgrown driveway which can be seen running parallel to the road.

Question 14- What is the number on the lintel above the entrance through the wall? Call this N.

Stage 15- This stage and the next three are all in the mighty Gartshore estate, once the home of William Whitelaw amongst others, in it's heyday it had over fifty gardeners, used as a hospital during WW2 it was eventually demolished in the 50s, much remains throughout the estate though. There are paths to just about all stages, no need to fight through any undergrowth, you may need to "loop" about to get where you want to be, carefull walkers are welcome on the estate. Park only at the parking waypoint please, all stages can be accessed from here.

Question 15- Look round this structure carefully then subtract one date from the other , then take away 200 from your result and call it O.

Stage 16- Another nice bit of avian history left here, the shape determines your answer..

Question 16- Is it? Hexagonal -2, Square- 4, Round-7, Octagonal- 9, Choose the correct one and call it P.

Stage 17- You will be near the fabulous stables now, when you see the stables you can only begin to imagine the wealth these estate owners had, an absolutely stunning building, please do not approach the stables as there is one resident in a flat round the back, we can respect their privacy.

Question 17- Black single digit number on white backing on pole? Call this Q.

Stage 18- The walled garden and fernery, do take care if exploring as steps are slippy and there are hazards about, the garden was maintained for a good few years after the house was gone but now sadly fallen away to ruin.

Question 18- What is the number on the doorframe at the bottom of the steps? Call this R.

Now that you have all the data please use the following formula to gain the final coords

S =A+L

T=G-E

U=P-D

V=M-K

W=C+( J-1 )

X=RxL

Y=(B+H) - Q

Z=(I+N) - (A+K)