There is no vehicle access to this cache. It is a private road and you cannot drive on it. Access is by foot, bicycle or horse only
Most people are aware of the story of Irish giant Finn MacCool and the Giant's Causeway, how Finn challenged the Scottish giant Benandonner and then had to hide by pretending to be a baby to escape Benadonna's fury. But few people know that Benandonner was from Leadhills and how he met his demise at the hands of an English giant called Lubaddoala.
Well I will tell you this tale;
Benandonner was a very large giant, even for giants, and after the tails about Finn MacCool spread across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland many other giants wanted to try their strength against this formidable foe. Giant after giant came and Benandonner slay them one after another. Each fallen giant’s body turned to rock and formed each of the Lowther Hills in turn. One day Benadonner was relaxing on the only remaining flat area, just outside Leadhills, known as Green Lowther with his close friend Eman Puedam, a Norwegian giant. The two giants were discussing a new game they had just invented that involved hitting large spherical rocks with their giant clubs. The two giants had just decided the game should be called “goff” and had carved two balls from giant rocks which lay on the ground ready to be hit.
Just then Benadonner heard his name being called from the south. Looking round Benadonner saw Lubaddoala on the horizon, he was standing on Black Combe in Cumbria. Lubaddoala hollered out “Benadonner! Benadonner! I am Lubaddoala of Settle and I challenge you to a fight to the death!” Benadonner laughed. This was the ninth giant to challenge him and he was not going to let this upstart challenge his superiority.
Benadonner called back “Lubaddoala, come to my home and challenge me properly! Stand next to me and see if you are brave enough to challenge me for real!”
“I am no fool,” said Lubaddoala “I see there are two of you and you will both attack me if I come to you. Benadonner, show me you are not afraid of me and come here to fight.” Benadonner and Eman Puedam both burst out laughing at this. They laughed so loudly that even buildings in France shook as though it was an earthquake.
Lubaddoala was incensed by this laughter and in his rage, he picked up a huge granite rock and hurled it towards the two laughing giants. Distracted by their mirth the two friends did not notice the rock heading their way. Benadonner turned to face Lubaddoala just as the rock arrived and it struck Benadonner on the right side of his head. Benadonner fell forwards and crashed to the ground. The great giant was dead! The rock Lubaddoala had thrown bounced off and landed in the Irish Sea close to Ayr. Benadonner’s body started to turn to rock and Eman Puedam, enraged by the loss of his friend, took his club and swung it hard at one of the two goff balls sat on the ground. The ball flew straight and so fast that Lubaddoala did not have time to move out of the way.
Eman’s ball hit Lubaddoala between the eyes and he fell backwards landing at the foot of Black Combe. Lubaddoala tried to stand but Eman Puedam ran and jumped over to him and struck Lubaddoala with his club killing him there and then.
Eman picked up his goff ball and started his slow walk back to the body of his friend. By the time he had arrived Benadonner had completely turned to stone and had formed the largest of the Lowther Hills. Eman Puedam set off walking back to Norway, and as he passed the homes of other Scottish giants he would stop, tell them of the fall of the great Benadonner and, showing them the goff ball, he explained the game they had invented together.
Today there is still evidence of this story visible:
The game the two giants invented is now played all over the world, although the name has changed slightly from goff to golf.
The shape of Green Lowther is that of the fallen giant when viewed from the North North East (The highest masts sit on Benadonnas head). At the feet of the giant his goff ball can be seen, although if you were just to believe the local signs you would think it is a radar station. If you were to search the internet you will find that this goff ball is now described as the Lowther Hill Radar Station and is the main radar station for the North Atlantic. Why the true history of this ball is hidden is not known at this time.
The rock that killed Benadonner is now known as Isla Craig and on a clear day can be seen from the top of Green Lowther
And finally, Lubaddoala is buried where he fell. His grave can be found at grid reference SD135810 were two standing stones at the foot of Black Combe in Cumbria, England mark his grave.
Leadhills Estate is a fragile habitat and working estate with sheep farming and shooting. All geocachers are reminded that they must comply with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, this includes keeping all dogs on leads. (http://www.outdooraccess-scotland.com/).
WARNING: Mine Shafts - Mine shafts are dangerous and there are many shafts, both known and unknown across the area. Mine shafts can and do open up without warning (the last to do this was on 01/01/16). DO NOT walk on top of a shaft or suspected shaft.
You geocache in this area at your own risk and accept full liability for your own actions and those with you. In no way can the Leadhills Estate, Groundspeak or the geocache owner be held responsible for any injury, however caused, in any way.
If you would like to add to the Totally Fake History (TFH) series please message N0hope via the website. TFH caches can be any size or any type of cache. They need to tell a good story and contain real facts, just not everything needs to be true!