This is a good walk following a section of the River Yarrow that
is seldom visited.
If you park at Alance Bridge, the whole journey to the cache and
back should take less than 1.5 hours, depending how often you stop.
There are various routes you can follow in the woods and depending
which path you take the going can be tricky with steep drops or
fairly simple, but longer, if you stay close to the stream.
Either way this is an interesting walk with lots to keep children
occupied. I wouldn't recommend it for the very young due to the
height of some of the steep paths but I did this today with my 7
year old daughter without any problems. Good boots or Wellies
Advised.
Now, warnings over, on to the cache details:
When you reach the bridge, cross it and immediately head back on
yourself down the other side of the stream. You can just make out
the start of the path in the above picture. When you reach the
wall, turn left and head up the old steps.
Half way up the steps you will find a stile - count the number of
steps on both sides of the stile and make a note of this number
(lets call it S and you should have an even number).
Now continue up the steps to the top. On your right is a small
white sign with four green letters in the centre. (Lets call
them L1, L2, L3, L4)
Calculate the value for each letter using the system that A=1,
B=2, C=3 etc.
This should give you five values, S, L1, L2, L3 and L4. (For
confirmation, S = L1 x 4 and the total of S, L1, L2, L3 and L4 =
55. Keep these numbers safe as we have another cache planned that
will need them).
You now need to cross the fence, so either go back down &
over the stile or step over the fallen fence near the white sign.
(There used to be a stile here but it has rotted away)
Now head onwards with the the fence to your left and the stream to
your right and for about 0.75 mile. The Adventure is to navigate
your way through this valley using the correct path - some will
take you too high and right up to the fence, where others will take
you down to the river but you will be constantly ducking under low
branches - I leave it to your skill ;-)
The cache is located between the fence and river in a
clearing at N53 38.ABC W002 33.DEF where
A = L1 + L3
B = L1
C = S - L1
D = L1
E = L3
F = L1
The cache contains a selection of the usual goodies complete
with a warm feeling for the FTF. ;-)
Good luck and happy finding...