CRAGSIDE - The River Coquet - Source to Sea Traditional Geocache
CRAGSIDE - The River Coquet - Source to Sea
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Size: 
(small)
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A short walk down the lane and through the gate from Debdon Wood car park to spectacular views across to Simonside.
The cache is not within the grounds of Cragside House because of restricted opening times and entrance fees but brings you to the area should you wish to visit.
The River Coquet, 40 miles in length, rises in the Cheviot Hills, flows northeast, and enters the North Sea at Amble. Coquet Island lies just off the mouth of the river. This series of caches will take you to some interesting places along the course of the river, always through terrific scenery.
Built on a bare and rugged hillside above Rothbury, capital of the Coquetdale Valley, Cragside became one of the most modern and surprising houses for its time in the country. In the 1880s, the house had hot and cold running water, central heating, fire alarms, telephones, a Turkish bath suite and a passenger lift - but most remarkable of all - it was the first house in the world to be lit by hydro-electricity. As the house still contains its original contents, you can step back into late Victorian times and see how far ahead of its time it was. No wonder it was described as "The Palace of a Modern Magician" and even royalty came to stay!
Around the house is possibly the largest rock garden in Europe, which tumbles down the valley towards the Debdon Burn. In the valley bottom you will find the tallest Douglas Fir in England.
Across the valley, hidden amongst the trees is the clock tower. This clock not only struck the hours, but also used to chime the starting, finishing, and meal times of the estate workers. It can still be heard across the estate.
Nearby lies the terraced garden, where exotic fruits were nurtured throughout the year in glasshouses. You can visit the Orchard House and Rose Loggia and walk beside the dahlias and carpet bedding. Seven million trees and bushes were planted to cover the bare hillside and create the wooded estate you can explore today. Forty miles of footpaths and 6 miles of scenic drives through the 1000 acre estate take you to lakeside walks, lead you through the woods to the estate's secret places, including Nelly's Labyrinth, and an Adventure Play Area for the kids too!
Caches in the 'The River Coquet Source to Sea' Series:
THE SOURCE, USWAY BURN, LADY'S WELL, TOSSON LIME KILN, COQUET VIEW, STEPPING STONES, CRAGSIDE, GUYZANCE MEMORIAL, THE HERMITAGE, COQUET ISLAND.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre n obhyqre pbirerq jvgu n fgbar.