Topsham is officially a suburb of Exeter but until 1966 it was a town in its own right. With its prominent position on the wide Exe Estuary, Topsham has a history as a thriving port and shipbuilding centre and still retains its maritime connections. It offers an eclectic mix of small independent shops, interesting architecture with many examples of Dutch influence, riverside walks and a wide variety of cafes, restaurants and pubs.
There is a museum with exhibits of local interest, and a short walk along the river Exe leads to the Estuary Mudflats and the Bowling Green Marsh RSPB Reserve with its bird hide and viewing platform.
There are several other caches in the area, in fact the geocaching map currently shows at least 21 caches around Topsham and several more a short distance away along the Exe Estuary walking and cycling trail.
Topsham can be easily accessed by trains and busses and there are several fee-paying car-parks including the largest one in Holman Way which is a few minutes walk from the headline coordinates. Short-term parking is also available on some of the town's roads.
Most of the trail is on the flat or on slight slopes and should be accessible to wheelchair and pushchair users, and the final hide is wheelchair accessible. Please be aware though, that some of the narrow streets do not have pavements, some areas have cobbles, and 3 of the waypoints are fairly close to the river.
To calculate the final coordinates you will need to visit the following waypoints:
Stage 1. Sensory Garden (headline coordinates)
Elizabeth Hubbock, Trustee of Devon in Sight, lived from 1947 to 20A3
Stage 2. Clara Place
The house was built in 18B1
Stage 3. Passage House Inn
T. N. Parker is commemorated here with the date July 25 1C88
Stage 4. Seat with a view
Fred Wannel lived from 1930 - 200D
Stage 5. The Vigilant
This 1904 Thames sailing barge was a class race winner in 192E, alternatively the number of square wooden frames on the roof facing the pub. Answer is 8 (I believe that neither the info board nor the square frames are currently visible at 16th February 2024, I will re-visit soon and check)
Stage 6. Quay information board
Byelaw 4 states that the maximum speed limit here is 1F knots.
Stage 7. Church House
The house was built in AD 138G
Stage 8. The Little Ballerina
The number of bench seats in the little garden area facing the statue is H.
CHECKSUM OF A+B+C+D+E+F+G+H=30
The final hide is within 10 minutes walk of the statue and you will need to use your own pen. It can be found at-
N50 (D x D) F . (E + A) (G + H) ( (C + D) - A )
W003 (B - D) (E - A) . (H x H) (E - C) ( (B x G) - (H x G) )