Downie's Loup Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Half hour walk, to 196m elev. Dogs need to be on lead due to Peacocks, Sheep, Deer etc...
The main waterfall on the hill almost due south of the village of Gargunnock is known locally as Downie's Loup. A horseman named Downie is said to have leaped over it on horseback for a wager. Another version of the story is that he accomplished this feat twice but was killed on the third attempt. A buckle from Downie's shoe was reputed to be in the possession of a villager about 140 years ago.
This is a walk to 'Under the Craigs' and is a way of seeing 'Downie's Loup' waterfall which cannot be fully seen from lower down. Total 3.5km.
Parking in the village, walk easterly to N56 07.383 W4 04.522.
From there, follow the track southerly through gates to the fork where, on clearing the tree line, you turn left there (pass the oil pipeline markers) and follow the path making directly for the terraced hills rising in front of you.
The Gargunnock burn tumbles from the escarpment in a series of falls through the cleft to the right of your view and the headwall of the quarry is obvious to your left. In summer or in dry weather the falls are unimpressive but after heavy rain they make a dramatic sight.
The track terminates at the remains of the quarry. From here, cross the stile and then follow the fence line uphill. Make for the grassy crest 70m to your right. Facing north, the panorama shows the village of Gargunnock, the Carse of Stirling below and the Perthshire hills on the skyline. The most obvious mountains looking from west to east are Ben Lomond, Ben Ledi, Stuc a Chroin and Ben Vorlich. Beware of the 25m drop!
Towards the burn, the ground will be very slippery when the grass is wet and the last part to the base of the escarpment is very steep.
Backtracking from the burn a little towards the old sheep enclosure, the cache may be found uphill toward the base of the escarpment. Once you've found the cache, looking east to lightning-struck tree on the skyline, a short walk to the horizon will reveal views across the Forth and the Carse of Stirling to the Wallace Monument and the Fife hills in the distance. Beware of the sheer drop at this point into the Quarry which is unfenced.
Cache included:
Eraser+Sharpener set
Padlock+keys
Yo-Yo
Wildebeest (not Gnu...)
Fieldmouse figure
Pad + pencil
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Uhtr ebpx jvgu fznyy Ovepu naq Ebjna gerrf. Pnpur vf orybj Ovepu.
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