The Smugglers Series - This is the first in a 5 cache series. The first 4 caches can be found individually, but you will need the code (number and letter) hidden in each of these first 4, to enable you to solve the riddle that leads to the final cache (Smugglers 5) a great final cache for swapping loot.
There is limited phone or internet signal here. Download all you need before you leave civilisation!
Cache Directions
Follow the South West Coastal Path up the hill, passing St Werburgh's Church on your left. This is the route that the coastguards would have used daily watching for smuggling activity in the bay. This particular series of Geocaches ends just past the Coastguard Station on the Yealm. On the way, you will learn about our notorious smugglers and also how the Coastguard Service developed. You may like to follow the National Trust walk described below.
REMEMBER - There is a code - (letter & number) - written on each of Smugglers 1 - 4 logs, you will need this to find Cache 5 of this mini series Lots of goodies tend to be hidden here so worth the trip happy smuggling.
History
The Coastguard Service was formed in 1822 from the Preventive Waterfront. This short series of Geocaches will look at the changing role of the Coastguard from combatting smuggling to saving lives at sea. The SW Coast Path was built by the Coastguards in their efforts to combat smuggling.
From the parking areas, before setting out for Smugglers 1, spend a while looking out to sea. The large rocky island to the front of you is the Mewstone; over the years this has been a home to smugglers and also the site of many shipwrecks. The last man to live on the Mewstone was Sam Wakeham and you can just make out his small cottage on the east side of the island.
Ship wrecks
- November 1824, The brig 'John' from Bideford ran into the reefat the treacherous Blackstone Rocks (Below the Wembury carpark, to the left of the beach) leading to a a heroic rescue.
- 26th December 1852 - The Ocean Queen was wrecked on the Little Mewstone in a force 11 south-westerly gale, she was on a voyage from London to Jamaica carrying a mixed cargo. The wreck quickly broke up, drowning the 14 crew and 2 passengers on board, whose bodies washed up on the shore over the following days.
The National Trust have outlined a superb walk that covers all the Geocaches in this mini series, and also several more. Please keep children and dogs well away from the cliff edge, keep dogs on a lead if they are likely to run off. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wembury/trails/wembury-bay-and-the-river-yealm-walk
Many thanks to the National Trust for the upkeep of this section of the SW Coastal Path, and also for allowing our geocache to be placed here.