Yabba-dabba-doo ! Multi-Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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A straightforward offset-cache on the Frome Valley Walkway which can be accessed quickly or made part of a circular walk.
For the best approach park at The Dingle, N51º30.780’ W002º29.703’, cross the bridge and join the Frome Valley Walkway. The Dingle is one-way so consult your AtoZ before setting off.
Don’t worry if your GPS tells you you’re on the wrong side of the river, the Walkway will lead you to your first waypoint. On the way you’ll get a brilliant view of Winterbourne Viaduct – completed in 1902 and now part of the London to South Wales mainline.
The path can be quite muddy in places after rain. There is an alternative route starting at N51º31.060’ W002º29.937’ where again you just need to keep to the path but the views are not nearly as good.
At the first waypoint find the ‘Legend’ and below it will be a reference LA abcde/02 where the final cache co-ordinates are N51º31.aaa’ W002º29.(b-2)e(d-2)’.
Have a quick paddle if you like then head on to the final cache. The cache has been placed towards the boundaries not far from the footpath. You need not and should not deviate from the pathways until within 15m or so of the cache. There is absolutely no reason to approach any steep drops or rock faces.
The quarry itself is well worth exploring - but please remember where you are and tread carefully, there are a few unguarded drops. Young children will enjoy the exploration but will need a hand to hold throughout.
There have been many quarries in the Winterbourne area since the 16th Century, all supplying highly durable pennant sandstone. Some of the stone from the quarry was used in the building of the viaduct before it was faced in thousands of engineering bricks. The small brick structure near the cache is the remains of the quarry’s explosive store but other than this nature has slowly reclaimed the barren rock landscape to produce the varied sights we see today. As you stand in the middle of the quarry try to imagine the huge cranes lifting the rocks up to the railway sidings above.
In 1993 the quarry was designated a Local Nature Reserve and the area is now cared for by the Winterbourne Countryside Group who have kindly permitted this cache.
When you are finished retrace your steps or follow the Walkway on under the viaduct and left up to the road which you can then follow back to the start (via the pub!).
Unfortunetly the micro I placed nearby with a spoiler clue keeps going missing so be warned - the additional hint is explicit and best decrypted only when needed. It has been written for parents who can’t risk not finding the ‘treasure’.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Boivbhf ybpngvba bccbfvgr rkcybfvir fgber.