Welcome to my newest geocaching stroll with the contrived acronym YODA (Yomp from Ockbrook to Dale Abbey). Please read this before you set out. It is a lovely 4½ mile walk with caches every 300m or so. You could reasonably take 2-3 hours including caching time. Between cache 5 and 6 there is the opportunity to get refreshments if the pop-up cafe/ice-cream place is open. Ockbrook itself offers further refreshments and the start and end of the walk is close to a cafe/deli. There’s one cache included in the walk that I’ve had in the field for ages (GC41FKC) so you might not see that on a pocket query if you have already done it.
You will cross plenty of agricultural land so no bikes allowed on this route. You may encounter cattle but I have not had any difficulties with them in any field on this route. Probably between cache 1 and the first stile out of that field is the most likely place. The walk can also be very muddy at times. The caches were placed in November and I wore waterproof sturdy walking boots and was glad I did. None of the caches are too hard to find. Wherever I can on most of my walks I placed caches where they can be found relatively easily and the hints are designed to help you not confuse you.
I’ve indicated one parking spot as it is directly opposite the first cache. Other parking available lower down Potato Pit Lane and in Ockbrook itself on The Ridings. Wherever you park please be considerate.
There are two sections of roadside walking. One is between cache 20 and the starting point and is usually very quiet. One is between cache 10 and 11 and in include specific guidance on how to safely navigate that stretch.
With luck you will enjoy 4 miles of scenic walking, a little local history and 20 (or 21 smileys) to finish off. Finally, a polite request. It took about 30 hours of planning to create this series. Please take 30 seconds to replace caches as you found them. Thank you.