The Wittenham Clumps or Sinodun Hills are a pair of hills in an area of outstanding natural beauty and well worth a visit for the lovely views, as is the old village of Dorchester on Thames at the bottom of the hills. The cache is an easy walk of about 0.5 mile from the car park (N 51 37.640, W 01 10.890), although it can get a little muddy in winter. It makes a nice spot for a picnic in the summer with a small picnic area adjacent to the car park.
Whilst their why not take a walk around the clumps and pay a visit to the Poem Tree. In 1844 Joseph Tubbs was so inspired by the beauty of the clumps that he carved the following poem on the Poem Tree. The tree is now dead but the poem can be read on a plaque nearby the tree on Castle Hill.
As up the hill with labr'ing steps we tread
Where the twin Clumps their sheltering branches spread
The summit gain'd, at ease reclining lay
and all around the wide spread scene survey
Point out each object and instructive tell
The various changes that the land befel.
Where the low bank the country wide surrounds
That ancient earthwork form'd old Murcia's bounds.
In misty distance see the barrow heave,
There lies forgotten lonely Culchelm's grave.
Around this hill the ruthless Danes intrenched,
and these fair plains with gory slaughter drench'd,
While at our feet where stands that stately tower
In days gone by uprose the Roman power
And yonder, there where Thames smooth waters glide
In later days appeared monastic pride.
Within that field where lies the grazing herd
Huge walls were found, some coffins disinter'd
Such is the course of time, the wreck which fate
And awful doom award the earthly great.
The cache is a well stocked ammo box, which had the following in it when first hidden:
- Little Wolf’s Book of Badness
- Screamer 2 PC game
- The Berenstein Bears interactive PC book
- Microsoft Dangerous Creatures
- Bit Bot’s Math’s Voyage PC CD ROM
- 2 pairs of boot laces
- Batman plane
- Batman motorbike
- Watch (needs new battery)
- Pin badge
- Blackcurrant key fob
- Bottle of Old Spice
- Sonic the Hedgehog and enemies
Hope you enjoy our first cache