[Welcome to our Virtual cache
This is the Old Severn Bridge, the new one isnt half as good :)
I've loved this bridge since I was a child, I've walked, cycled and driven over and under it many times. There are some lovely photo spots around the area for that special picture :) You can walk from the top end of the sevices down a footpath to the banks of the river or, on the Wales side via Chepstow, you can drive down to Beachley life boat station. The Severn bridge is actually 3 "bridges" the Main Severn bridge, the Wye Bridge on the Welsh side and the Beachley Viaduct over Beachley army camp joining the two, There isn't much point giving you all the history here as Wikipiedia and google can do it so much better, hopefully this cache will give you good enough reason to walk or cycle to the middle of this great structure and enjoy the experience.
This cache is a straight forward walk, availble to all, as it is paved all the way with no steps to speak of. Easiest is parking in the Severn view services which gives you two hours for free, this is enough time to have a reasonable walk there and back and appreciate the views.
The cache is placed on the upstream side but claiming from the downstream side is possible, I've not walked that side for many years so am unable to say about the availability to all due to steps etc.. The upstream side is easily accessible by walking out of the car park and going downhill to the main entrance, simply keep right, following the path. The down stream side can be accessed by walking out of the car park and going uphill a short distance to a flight of steps and a bridge over where the old toll booths used to be. I believe there is an alternative access point from the down stream side too.
I've done this from the English side, the paths over the bridge can be done from Wales but I am unsure of parking availability.
To claim this cache you will need to go to the published coordinates, the middle of the bridge or thereabouts, and find a stainless steel clamp/doohicky attached to the main suspension cable above your head, I believe it is somthing to do with the dry air being pumped through the cables to prevent corrosion. On the lower half of this clamp there are two small access plates held with decent size nuts, Please tell us how many nuts in total on both plates via the message facility, we would also need a photo of you, your team or your GPS at the location to confirm your visit. We enjoy a photo especialy if windy as they're even more fun :)
Enjoy the scenery, benefit from the wander, feel the movement in the bridge and wonder at the currents of the river.
congratulations to wheres_don for rushing out and getting the FTF :)
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Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.