The Cache
This rock outcrop with a seat carved into it is known as Witches Cave and was a delightful surprise the first time I walked down through the forest to this trail. Not far from here my dad found an unusual looking stone so dug a hole and embedded it in the path. Every time he walks this route he gives the stone a little rub with his foot. Now the rest of his family do too, sometimes having to form an orderly queue. Can you spot it?
Don’t forget to include your photos in the witches cave with your logs.
Pop
As a child my father loved nothing more than exploring the hills and land around Falkland, spending many hours playing make believe and camping in the shadow of the Lomonds. As an adult he instilled that same love of the area in his children and now he enjoys nothing more than showing his grandchildren all the “secret” places he has discovered over the years. This series is aimed at encouraging new visitors to the area and showing them some of the beauty of Falkland Estate. It is called “Pop” after what my father called his grandad and what his grandchildren now call him. I hope you enjoy exploring the estate and learning a little more about the “history” as you go.
These caches are not intended to be a series on a trail. They are scattered all over the Estate and placed to encourage you to explore different areas. If you attempt all the Pop caches in one day be prepared to walk roughly 9 miles.
The Estate
The Lomond Hills are Fife's most prominent landmarks and the centre of 25 square miles of moorland, lochs and farmland. The area was designated as Scotland's first Regional Park in 1986 in recognition of its importance for recreation and conservation. Falkland Estate forms part of the park covering around 1900 hectares, just under one-fifth of which is wooded, with the rest divided between arable farmland on the low ground and rough grazing on the hills. There have been settlements here from at least the time of the Iron Age people who built hill forts. It was a favourite royal hunting ground of the Stuart monarchs and home to Victorian leaders of rural and architectural style. Falkland Estate is today a place of recreation for many visitors. It has a network of pleasure walks from the Victorian and Edwardian periods as well as fascinating buildings such as the Memorial Chapel, the Tyndall Bruce Monument and the Temple of Decision and is a perfect location to start your journey into the Lomond Hills where there are many more caches to be found.