Return of The Chain Walk Traditional Cache
allieballie: Sorry to anyone who may have looked for this today - I have moved it further east to the middle of the chain walk so that in order to find you must do the chain walk itself! I am archiving this one to allow anyone who has logged it before to do the new one.
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This cache replaces the excellent “Basalt Cove (with chain walk)” by GiantTangent which was unfortunately archived earlier this year, after being muggled last summer.
Thanks to GiantTangent for letting me replace this cache, which I felt was well worth reviving for the exciting opportunity it gives you to complete the famous chain walk.
The chain walk is a serious undertaking and is not for those who don’t fancy hanging across cliffs holding onto chains! It is, however, a unique experience and if at all possible, one which should not be missed! Chains have been bolted into the cliff faces or over crags as a means of traversing the basalt. Hold onto the chains to help you progress across or up and down the rocks. Footholds have also been cut into the rock in places to help you.
Please note that if the tide is fully in, much of the walk will be under water so you would be better to plan this to coincide with low or mid-tide. This link: (visit link) should give tidal times for Anstruther, a few miles to the east.
Once you have started there are limited escape routes (if the tide is really low you can scramble over the shoreline rocks in some places), so if you don’t like the first few chains then retreat at that point rather than later! In some places you will still have to climb over rocks on your own - just look out for the chains as you make your way round.
Would advise walking boots but the day I replaced this a lady was doing it in flip flops so take your pick! And don’t forget to admire the impressive wall of columnar basalt as you make your way along - this sits above a beach of beautiful dark grey sea-rounded stones.
I have kept the location within the same cove that the original cache was hidden in, although the location has altered slightly. This cove is the start (or end!) of the chain walk.
My recommended parking is at N56°11.246 W002°50.238 - this is in Earlsferry, which is the only place I have ever approached the chain walk and cove from! Follow the track to the beach then once at the end of the sandy stretch you have four choices:
(1) For maximum fun: follow the shore line until you see the sign warning of the chain walk ahead - and start your adventure! Find cache, return the same way!
(2) As above, but don’t return the same way - take the path up to the cliff top on the east side of the cove after finding the cache for a less challenging return to your car!
(3) Follow the coastal path signs for the track which leads to the top of the cliffs and walk along until you see a track leading down into the cove. Find cache, then go back to your car via the chain walk along the shore!
(4) As (3) but return the same way you came to completely avoid the chain walk for the least challenging option of the lot!
GPS reception within the cove is poor, so the co-ordinates given above are unlikely to be accurate and you will probably have to use the hint. Please note that this will involve a short climb up a steep slope.
I could not replace this in exactly the same location as before as there were no rocks left here and I felt that a false “cairn” would be too obvious. A lack of other hiding places around has meant that I have had to hide the cache in a tussock of vegetation, which I am not entirely happy about. Although it seems OK for the time being it may well prove to be a useless hiding place in the winter. I will keep an eye on it in the meantime (and if you should wish to add a stone to hold it in place then feel free!) but if the cache should disappear again, I am going to replace it slap bang in the middle of the chain walk, so if you are not keen on undertaking the chains, find this one now before it’s too late!
Cache contents at time of placing:
Spinning top
Silly putty
Pritt Stick
Magnetic Key Holder
Chapstick
Miniature vehicle
Bug viewer
Tape Measure
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ybbx sbe gur ynfg bhgpebc bs ebpx ba gur fbhgu-rnfg bs gur pbir. Pnpur vf nobhg unysjnl hc gur tenffl fybcr gb gur yrsg bs guvf, uvqqra va n pyhzc bs irtrgngvba.