Anstruther Amble Multi-Cache
allieballie: Gradually going to be archiving all my caches. I have endured the rudeness of some cacher's logs, and more significantly have coped with social exclusion by some members of the caching community for quite some time now, thinking that my love of this pastime was strong enough to cope with it. Unfortunately I have now reached a point where it has become unbearable. It feels like bullying by some quarters and to be quite honest I am too old to be made to feel like that and I have enough other worries going on in my personal life to add this to the list. My feelings and emotions are clearly regarded as being insignificant by other cachers therefore why should I continue to contribute to geocaching by providing caches for people to visit? Yes, play the game as you want but remember that there are other people playing it who are flesh and blood and whose feelings can be hurt. I would be ashamed of myself if I had made another person feel the way that some cachers have made me feel recently.
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This cache is one of several trails planned for the East Neuk towns and villages, and has been designed to follow the Fife Coastal Path from west to east. Most of the route is adequately signposted for the Fife Coastal Path, but your GPSr will take you where you need to go in any case!
Anstruther is actually made up of three royal burghs: Anstruther Wester, Anstruther Easter and Cellardyke. This walk will take you through all three of these. In these villages, life from the very beginning revolved around the sea - fishing, smuggling and overseas trade all left their mark. Signs of European influence on the architecture and buildings here are apparent as you walk around - local merchants copied Dutch architecture, such as carved or stepped gable fronts and Dutch slates, brought back in the ships as ballast, were used on the town’s houses. Anstruther was designated a Conservation Area in 1972, followed by Cellardyke in 1977.
Total distance from first question to final cache is approximately 2 miles. Parking is available in Anstruther at N56 13.324 W002 42.173 (Esplanade), or along the main front either near question H or question K. For those of you not doing this cache as part of the coastal walk, you could park beside the golf club at N56 13.139 W002 42.352, and either leave your car here for the duration, or you could solve the first question and then drive your car back into Anstruther proper and park at one of the suggested car parks there. You could theoretically also drive past the last four questions answering them as you go!
We start our trail at the War Memorial situated at the above co-ordinates. This structure is placed at the edge of the golf course so please watch out for any golfers playing nearby!
A = What number “Canadians” was Pte James Anderson in - 5?
Follow the signs for coastal path, which basically take you back to the main road
The Dreel Tavern (N56 13.330 W002 42.316) dates back to the 16th century and was originally a coaching inn.
B = The plaque on the wall detailing a little story about James V travelling through Fife was presented by the A.I.A. in 197?
The Buckie House (otherwise known as the “Shell House” for obvious reasons!) is on the corner at N56 13.329 W002 42.256. The house was covered in shells by Alex Batchelor in the mid 19th Century. He was not content at only decorating his home as he extended his obsession to charging people a penny to see his coffin, which was also covered in shells.
C = How many rows of scallops shells are there at the top?
The former Parish Church is situated nearby (N56 13.342 W002 42.256). Note the tree growing next to the road-facing side of the clock!
D = the date on the clock is 186?
As you walk over the bridge you are crossing Dreel Burn which marks the boundary between Ansruther Wester and Anstruther Easter. In the past, the Dreel Burn was used for smuggling wine, tobacco and sugar into Scotland and linen and coal out.
There is another shell house - Dreel Cottage - on the corner at N56 13.362 W002 42.256
E = How many large heart shapes are on the wall?
Keep to the pavement on the right hand side and turn right when you reach narrow Whightmans Wynd . At the bottom of this lane are the remains of Dreel Castle (N56 13.362 W002 42.148). The castle was built in the 12th Century and had a wealth of historical visitors over the centuries including Mary Queen of Scots, Charles II and Cromwells troops. This castle was also the meeting place of the notorious 'Beggars' Benison of Anstruther' secret society, a 'Scottish Society of an erotic and convivial nature composed of the Nobility and Gentry of Anstruther' founded in 1739 - now who would have imagined that to have been going on in here?!
F = How many castellations are facing the sea?
Carry on walking along the front.
Those of you from the west may wish to note the “Govan Optometrists” shop on your left as you make your way to the harbour area!
The harbour of Anstruther Easter has changed dramatically over the years, going from a full working harbour to one which hosts mainly pleasure craft. Fifty years ago, this port was so busy it was possible to walk from one side of the wide harbour to the other by stepping from one fishing boat to the next. Then the North Sea herring shoals disappeared, taking with them much of the fishing fleet. The harbour area has been upgraded in recent years to accommodate the development of pontoons.
The Harbour Masters office can be found at N56 13.353 W002 41.984
G = How many circular windows face the harbour?
N56 13.334 W002 41.931 brings you to the entrance of the E.W. Logan pontoons. Answers to the following two questions can be found here.
H = the pontoons were officially opened on the ?6th April 2000.
J = How many vertical bars can be found INSIDE the doorframe? Now subtract one from your answer!
At N56 13.299 W002 41.808 you will find a small memorial commemorating the members of submarines K4 and K17 which were lost in an infamous disaster - the Battle of May Island - in the Firth of Forth on January 31st 1918.
K = The plaque was erected in 200?
Cross the road to N56 13.305 W002 41.799 and the Scottish Fisheries Museum Workshops
L = How many gold fish can you see on the plaque?
Before you leave Anstruther Easter there is one more thing you have to do at N56 13.323 W002 41.714
M = How many wooden posts on the right hand side of the road? ?9
Now you are entering Cellardyke and the final section of this trail. The name Cellardyke originated from “Sil’erdykes” which came from the shine of herring scales in nets hung over dykes to dry in the sun.
The Town Hall at N56 13.385 W002 41.390 has a memorial set into the wall, erected to the memory of a local MP.
N = The MP died on the 17th June 19?3
You may spot several marriage lintels above doorways as you make your way through Cellardyke (look out for one in a wall at the back of a car park on the left hand side). You will need to find the one at N56 13.394 W002 41.308
P = TS loves MD 17?9
Cellardyke was, at one time, the second most important fishing port in Scotland. In the 1880s over 200 fishing boast were based here, but a storm in 1898 damaged the harbour and the fleet moved to Anstruther where the harbour was relatively new and better protected. This started the process of decline that has led to an almost empty harbour here. Although these days the harbour may not be home to many boats, fishing or otherwise, this old port is one of the best preserved in Scotland, and the villagers still hang their washing out to dry on the harbour side. Arrive at the right time and you may be lucky enough to see flocks of turnstones and redshanks probing their beaks into the exposed seaweed on the eastern side of the harbour in search of food.
At N56 13.544 W002 40.982 there is an information board about the harbour
Q = In 1829 the cross pier was relocated at a cost of £?,700
This trail started with a war memorial and it will also end with one at N56 13.684 W002 40.912
R = How many stones in total is the soldier on?
Final Cache located at N56 1S.TUV W002 4W.XYZ
S = L - C
T = E divided by K
U = N x G
V = M + R
W = D x P
X = B - Q
Y = H + J
Z = A divided by F
Cache contents at time of placing:
Finger Cymbals
Photo Frame
Bird Clip
Toy Car
Sportominoes Game
3D book
Post-it notes
Bottle Stopper
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Jrqtrq haqre n ynetr fgbar jvgu fznyyre syng fgbarf urycvat gb uvqr vg