Pencraig Wood is a small stretch of mixed woodland at the top of a brae lying between East Linton and Haddington. The old A1 road, now the A199, climbs the brae and there is a parking area with toilets, a picnic site, a view point and information boards about land use and local history at N55.58.828 W002.41.049
You can park here and pick up the cache in a short walk through the wood. An alternative is described in the East Linton Community site. This starts from East Linton and follows what was the original route between Haddington and East Linton until 1751 when the forebear of the modern road was opened.
Starting from East Linton Tourist Information point at 9 High Street, turn left along High Street and Brown's Place then left up Langside. Go straight on at the top, along the edge of the playing field and then through the tunnel underneath the railway.
Follow the path up the hill, crossing various stiles. As you climb the hill you can see a standing stone known locally as the Long Stane. In the middle of the last field before the top of Pencraig Brae, the path bears off to the left. You will arrive at the main road; use the pavement for a few yards until you reach the parking area described above.
Return by the same route or, for a circular walk, carry on along the road a short distance, turn left to Overhailes, walk through the farm and down the hill to the River Tyne. Turn left and walk back to East Linton along the river bank or cross the footbridge and turn left to return by road. Arriving at Braeheads, turn left, cross over the A1, go down Lauder Place and then left over the river and back up Bridge Street to where you started.
Pencraig is self-evidently an old name, with its welsh-sounding roots. (There is also a Pencraig Wood in Powys.) These connections stretch across the valley to the south to Traprain Law, capital of the Votadini (y Gododin as they called themselves). And there is a fine view of Traprain Law to be had with the remnants of Hailes Castle in the foreground. To the North and East there are also excellent views across the coastal plain and the Garleton Hills. And there is quite a striking angle on Markle Quarry from near the cache site.
Pencraig Hill was a ceremonial burial site over a long period of human history in these parts, perhaps first created about 5500 years ago. The site consisted of three ditches that had been dug to form a trapezoidal shape, measuring 20 m by 15 m. Excavation showed that these ditches had held upright timbers, together creating an enclosed space that was open to the south-west. The evidence suggests that the enclosure was eventually burnt down, probably in a deliberate act of destruction.
Inside the enclosure were the remains of a large area of burning. Excavation revealed that this was where a cremation pyre had once stood. Large quantities of human bone were found among the remains of the pyre. Just beyond the open end of the enclosure was a large stone cist. It may not actually have been used for burial, as no human remains were found in it. However, if the cist had contained unburnt bones they could have decayed with time, leaving no visible trace. The date of the cist is not clear, and it could belong to a later phase of activity at the site. Sherds of prehistoric pottery were found smashed at the site, along with an unusual shale object.
Further excavations as part of the A1 archaeology project revealed a cluster of 12 pits, about half of which contained cremation burials. The pits were arranged in a large, loose circle. The ones containing cremations were concentrated in the western part of the circle. One had been lined with stones, and part of an Impressed Ware pottery urn was found in another pit. This burial site is much later and seems to have been a small, unenclosed cremation cemetery, probably used during the Bronze Age, about 4000 years ago. At this time, the much earlier mortuary enclosure on Pencraig Hill would have been long out of use, but the people who used this cemetery may have known about it and still considered the hilltop an important and suitable place to dispose of their dead.
Today, the wood is used by the Wolfstar Archery Club and there are standing targets and butts among the trees. Check out the notices which say whether archery is in progress before you proceed to the cache. Being hit by a stray arrow could seriously ruin your day!
The tree cover is not too dense for GPS reception and the area close to the cache gives a clear view of the sky. Be careful not to be observed when retrieving and rehiding the lock'n'lock box!