The High Lane East to Mapperley walk (hence HiLEM) - 5½ miles in total, with 21 caches.
It is mainly a rural walk, so at times you can expect mud. Both cattle and horses are sometimes kept in the fields you will be passing through; there are not normally any problems, but if you have a dog with you please be more attentive.
Because the countryside part of the walk is not circular, the route finishes by coming along the main High Lane – a very busy road, the A609, but four micros have been placed along this section to keep you occupied on the way back.
You are advised to park at Straw’s Bridge car park (see parking coordinates on #1), but obviously you may choose not to, or you might do the walk over a number of visits.
All of the caches have been “placed to find” – there may be the odd trickier one, but nothing too complicated for those who are not new at the game. Most of the caches have a hint but there’s the odd one where you’re on your own!
You will NEED a pen, and you are also likely to NEED tweezers. If you can’t find a cache, please log a DNF or let me know – I don’t want any throw-downs along the route please.
After #11, cross the old railway line (this was a mineral line to Mapperley Colliery), go through the kissing gate opposite and then immediately turn right onto the footpath which leads here. Don’t turn right along the railway track, otherwise you’ll end up several metres too high to locate the cache! This path will take you through more muddy fields with horses in them. When you come to the stables, KEEP TO THE RIGHT, walking alongside the wooden fence - don't head towards the gates to the stables.
The first time I came across a cache hidden like this it took me forever (and two trips) to find it. For experienced cachers it will present no problem. But there is no hint, and bearing in mind my previous experience I have upped the Difficulty rating slightly.
It is possible to do this one as a "park and grab", but please be very careful as to where you park - Mapperley Lane can be quite fast.