The Bath Grounds Ashby de la Zouch
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THIS SERIES, PLEASE CONTACT THE SERIES OWNER (SEE BELOW)
We are often told (correctly, if somewhat ideologically), that geocaches should take us to somewhere "interesting", and not simply be placed just for the sake of it. The aim of this series is to try and adhere to this ideal by basing caches around details given on an Interpretation Board about the area in which it is situated. By definition, it is hoped that this information will be "interesting", and will help the cacher discover things about the area that would often not be revealed by a traditional cache.
The Bath Grounds Heritage Trail is a series of five information boards, situated along a hard surfaced path around the grounds perimeter. In order to locate the cache, you will have to gather information from each. You will then have all you need to determine where the cache is hidden.
Your route commences at the board closest to a small free car park, there is a waypoint for the entrance. Please note that this car park closes at 4:00 pm. Other car parks are available, all of which charge.
The published coordinates will bring you to the "Sports on the Bath Grounds" information board. From there, follow the path in a clockwise direction until you have visited all the boards. The boards are all clearly visible as you walk round, there is no need for intermediate waypoints. The path is hard surfaced, and so fine for wheelchair users and pushchairs. Wheelchair users will need assistance to retrieve the cache.
At the published coordinates, you need the following:
Who were Leicestershire's opponents in the first County Cricket match played on the Bath Grounds? Call this A.
Nottinghamshire - A = 1
Warwickshire - A = 3
Derbyshire - A = 4
There is a photograph of a hockey match in progress on the board. Add together the first and last digits of the year the photograph was taken. Call this B.
Continue to the main Heritage Trail information board.
Find the year of Thomas Cook's first "Picnic Party". Subtract the first digit of the year from the last digit. Call this C.
What was the original name of the Royal Hotel? Count the number of letters in the name. Call this D.
Move on to the "Ivanhoe Baths" information board.
Add together the first and last digits of the year that the novel "Ivanhoe" was published. Call this E.
Add together the first and second digits of the cost of the baths. Call this F.
Now continue to the "Fayres, Shows and Carnivals" information board.
In what year did Dolly Shepherd make her last parachute jump? Call the last digit G.
How many letters in the first name of the founder of the Tractor Run? Call this H.
Now continue to the secondary "Ashby Bath Grounds Heritage Trail" information board. This is situated just outside the gate at the end of the path
What is the year of the map showing the Fishponds? Subtract the first digit from the last. Call this J.
Who maintains the Castle Ruins? Call this K.
If it is the Town Council - K = 3
If it is the National Trust - K = 2
If it is English Heritage - K = 1
You should now have all the information you need to locate the cache, which is at
N 52 JA.BDH W 001 GC.KFE
The container is camo'd, and slightly smaller than a film pot. No room for swaps or TB's. Please bring your own pen(cil) to sign the log.
I hope that you find this an interesting variation on the caching experience. For a full list of all FYI caches in the series, please go to https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?code=BM4RZ8H For more details of the FYI series as a whole, you can visit the dedicated website at fyigeocaching.co.uk where you will also find details of how to place your own FYI cache (I'm sure you know of some interesting Interpretation Boards in your area!)