A series of caches around Muiravonside Country Park. The series is family friendly with all of the caches no more than a few feet from established paths. A variety of container types and sizes with big boxes for the kids and a sneaky one or two to keep the adults amused too.
History:
Muiravonside Country Park is an old country estate formerly owned by the Stirling family of Falkirk. The Park is free to access and open all-year round. There is a lot to do with nature trails, picnic sites and a play area available in the Park. There is also a small children’s farm and café on site. The visitors’ centre has now reopened following refurbishment.
Opening hours and access:
The park is open to public access 365 days a year. Vehicle access is restricted, via the main gate, to the hours of:
April-September: 8.00am - 8.00pm
October-March: 8.00am - 5.00pm
Parking charges have been introduced to the park. The charge is £1.00 per vehicle and is paid on the way into the Main Car Park where a barrier system is in place. No change is given from the machine but it does take various denominations of coins. Free alternative parking is available at the small Woodlands Car Park, located close to the entrance to the park.
The gates are locked at night so please watch the time and don't get locked in!
Please do not park in front of the gates out of hours, as emergency access may be required.
Some of the paths can be very muddy so please ensure you wear appropriate footwear. Muiravonside is a Country Park and that means a lot of tree cover. Please bear this in mind as GPS accuracy can vary. Mobile phone signal varies greatly in the park too so, if you cache with a smartphone, it is advisable to save the caches offline before you come to the park.
The Cache:
This short multi takes you to the information board giving history and details about the aqueduct. Study the information to answer the following questions.
A - How many arches can you see in the photograph (not the diagram). Subtract 1 from this answer to give you A
B - How wide is one arch in metres? Subtract 7 from your answer to give B
C - How long is the aqueduct in metres? Use the first digit for C
D - How many giraffes are standing on top of each other?
E - How wide is the structure at the top in metres? Use the first digit to give you E
F - The length of the aqueduct is equal to how many football pitches? Use the whole number for F
Final Location - N55 57.ABC W003 39.DEF
We really struggled to get consistent coordinates at both the first stage and the final. The board should be obvious enough and, hopefully, the hint will make sense when you get closer to the final.
Are you new to geocaching or relatively inexperienced? Don't be afraid to ask cache owners (COs) for a further hint. You will find COs are generally very friendly and only too willing to help. Of course, experienced cachers can ask too - we all have off days.
Many thanks to the Muiravonside Rangers for their permission and cooperation in allowing us to place caches in the park.