Clachnaben Cache Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Clachnaben is a very popular hill with local walkers, due to its' unusual shape, well maintained hill path, and the fantastic views all round. A really lovely walk for all the family, depending on fitness of course - the hill is 589m. high, you climb around 370m.
The car park for the hill is situated just off the B974, the Banchory to Fettercairn road. Take care - winding road well-loved by bikers in the summer. Car park co-ords are approx. N56 58.308 W002 34.756. Take the path heading south out of the car park, and follow this all the way to the top basically! You will encounter two junctions in the path. At the first, ignore the path heading to the right, which looks like it leads slightly more directly to the hill. Go straight ahead instead - this is the newer, maintained path. At the second intersection, just over a small bridge, take the path to the right, which is obviously heading towards Clachnaben. You will now be starting to appreciate the unusual shape of the hill - and the walk ahead! You walk along a flat area called Miller's Bog - which is in fact dry, to a wood at the foot of the hill. Cross a style (this is in fact the second encountered - both are next to gates which can be opened - if doing so remember to close them properly!) and pass to the left of an information board. This is a new section of path and not featured on OS maps. From here on the path narrows and will become steeper - but this means the views get better too! After around 1.5 - 2 hours - (completely depending on your fitness and faffing levels, took me just under an hour and a half including stopping for photos, etc, definitely no point in rushing this one) - you will reach the huge granite tor of 'Lumpy Clochnaben' - Clachnaben, which gives great views across the lowlands of Scotland. The hill features in an old rhyme from this area - 'Clochnaben and Bennachie, Are twa landmarks fae the sea'. For rock climbers, there are some climbs on this Granite tor - think it is in the North-East outcrops book.
The cache is hidden in a second, smaller outcrop of rock just beyond the summit. With so many hidding places it may take a wee while to find! As this hill is so popular with walkers I had to choose a hole carefully! Take care scrambling about. The container is on the smallish side, but you won't want to be carrying up big swaps anyway! It is in a green plastic bag.
The nearest refreshments and facilities are either in Banchory or Fettercairn, although there is an inn not far to the south of the hill on the B974.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Pyhzc bs qevrq urngure uvqrf pnpur, fznyy ebpx cynprq nobir vg ba tenff.