To find the cache co-ordinates you must first find the war graves in Sleepyhillock Cemetery. The cemetery is to the right as you approach the parking area. Inside the cemetery gates take the left fork of the tarmac road and look for the distinctive row of war graves along the left side of the road.
Count the number of Polish war graves A
All of the Polish men died in 19BC
The first digit of the serial number of New Zealand pilot, Sergeant J.B. Courtis is D
The cache can be found at N56 43.2AD W002 29.1BC The cache is a plastic box for small swaps.
The cache is situated near the Montrose Basin and offers a panoramic view across the enclosed estuary of the South Esk. It covers 750 hectares and is 2.5km by 3km.
It is a tidal basin so sea water meets with the freshwater from the river South Esk. This varying salination affects the types of organism that can survive here. Creatures with permeable outer bodies are affected by osmosis i.e. an organism with a high salt concentration in low salinity water will swell as water is forced into the body through the body wall and ultimately rupture. Also the opposite situation can arise where fluid is forced out from an organism into the surroundings, with similar result.
This 'soup' starts the Basin food chain which annually attracts 50,000 migratory birds of 198 species.
The basin is recognised as an internationally important site (1% of the world's population ) for Pink-footed Geese, Knot and Redshank. It is a nationally important site (1% of the UK population) for Shelduck, Widgeon and Eider.
The Pink-footed geese begin to arrive in September and reach a peak population of between 20,000 and 40,000 by November. Montrose residents are very familiar with the geese returning to the basin in the autumn sunset.
The local weekly newspaper runs a popular article called 'Basin Notes' written by volunteers of the Montrose Basin Wildlife Trust.
For more information we recommend a visit to the Montrose Basin Visitors Centre signposted from the A92 south of Montrose. For opening times, admission prices and special events, such as 'goose breakfast' see:
www.swt.org.uk/wildlife/montrosebasin.asp
By the way does anyone else think that the house on the hill at the cemetery looks like the Old Marsden place in "Salem's Lot"?