The walk takes you around Knapp’s Loop in Goblin Combe. This is approximately a 4km circular route. The path is initially wide and level until the fork. It then becomes an uphill rocky path which takes you into the woods. Knapp’s Loops includes: Bronze Age/Iron Age earthworks; Cleeve Toot commanding a wide view; dips and bumps, old mine shafts, spoil heaps and pits; three limekilns; and old field boundaries in woodland.
The path can get very muddy after rain. The total loop is not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies. Please note ticks are present in this woodland, so long trousers and boots are advised. Please take extra care close to cliff edges.
Goblin Combe is a limestone gorge set in 130 acres of natural woodland in the heart of rural North Somerset. It’s also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) as designated by Natural England.
There is parking available for approximately 25 cars at the bottom of Cleeve Hill Road BS49 4PH. This car park can be very busy. Please respect local residents and park considerately and not on grass verges.
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This series of geocaches is based on ‘Stardust’, the 1999 fantasy novel by British writer Neil Gaiman and a 2007 romantic fantasy adventure film directed by Matthew Vaughn. If you are not familiar with them, give them a look (I prefer the film).
“A philosopher once asked, "Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?". Pointless, really..."Do the stars gaze back?" Now, that's a question”
The adventures follow a young man called Tristan from the village of Wall (=Cleeve), which borders the magical land of Stormhold (=Goblin Combe). The King of Stormhold sends a ruby necklace into the heavens, inadvertently knocking a star out of the sky. Whichever of his bloodline finds the ruby and restores its colour will be the next Heir - will it be you? Many people see the shooting star fall. Tristan seeks the star to give to his beloved for her hand in marriage. The Princes of Stormhold seek it so they can claim the throne. Three evil Witches seek it to achieve eternal youth and beauty.
Your tasks for this trail are to:
- Find the Babylon candle which, when lit, will take you directly to the star
- Find the star and protect it
- Find a glass snowdrop which will protect you from the Witch’s magic
- Learn how to swordfight to fight the Witches
- Obtain some lightening to fight the Witches
- Collect the coordinates and hints to find the exact location of the BONUS CACHE containing the ruby necklace – will you restore the ruby’s colour and be the next King or Queen of Stormhold? The coordinates/hints are repeated in case you can’t find all the caches.
The first cache: A small ladybird watches the comings and goings of the village of Wall. It is a nano cache so tweezers may be required and you will need to bring your own pen to sign the log book. Please replace it as per the description and hint for the next geocacher.
Caches placed with kind permission of Groundworks South www.goblincombe.org.uk.