Tel Socho south of Beit Shemesh is identified as a city from the bible, mentioned in Joshua's conquests and war against Philistines.
It is also mentioned in archaeological finds as one of the counties in later kings period.
Today i visited at the peak of winter flowering (recommended), and what caught my eye (again) is marks of Israel Natioanl Trail along the path up the tel and beyond it. This is because throughout the years the INT route was revised.
In this area today, INT passes north of road 375, between Beit Shemesh and Netiv Ha-Lamed-Heh, going west towards Tel Azeka and Park Britania.
However the retired path passed here through Tel Socho in a sort of a by-pass, then returned north. You can see the INT mark just above a low drainage passage under the road at the turn to the tel parking.
It is a shame they changed the route here, since this path is much more interesting and beautiful than the path few km north of here.
This cache is hidden in ruins few hundred meters east of Tel Socho, just off the continuation of the old path east.
For some reason the flowering in this part is not as grand as on the tel. Make sure not to miss it, if you are in season.