Torwoodlee Broch Traditional Cache
Professor Xavier: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it. Please note that as this cache has now been archived by a reviewer or HQ staff it will NOT be unarchived.
Regards
Ed
Professor Xavier - Volunteer UK Reviewer
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The Cache is placed on land of Torwoodlee estate by kind permission of the owner James Pringle.
Torwoodlee Broch is thought to have existed between 100AD and 140AD, during the Roman occupation, and was built of the usual drystone system. Brochs are usually found in the Highlands and Islands and only a handful exist in the southern counties. Wherever you find them they all seem to be built to the same pattern, maybe they had a firm of travelling architects in bygone days!!
To reach the Broch park in a layby on the A72, Galashiels to Peebles road at 55 37.617 / 2 51.341 approx., and walk down to the entrance gates and Lodge of Torwoodlee house. The access road has a sign “Private Road” but is a public footpath as far as the waymark on its right hand side. Please respect the owners privacy beyond this point. At the waymark turn left on to the woodland path and in a few yards you will come to a sign-post indicating the path ahead to Torwoodlee Tower and a right turn to the Broch.
The Pringle family have occupied Torwoodlee since 1501 when William Hoppringill took a lease of the estate, which he subsequently bought in 1510. William was killed at the Battle of Flodden along with King James the Fourth and a large proportion of the nobility of Scotland. The King and his nobles were given a Christian burial by the Abbess of Coldstream Abbey, Isabella Hoppringill a relative of William. Williams original Keep was sacked by the Elliots & Armstrongs (border baddies) in 1568 and no trace remains. The ruins you can now see were of its replacement erected in 1601. It in turn was superseded by the current house built in 1783 when there was no longer any need to build defendable towers. To see a history of the Pringles visit (visit link) . If you visit the Tower do not enter it as it is unstable.
Turning right at the sign-post follow the hard grassy track through two gates (leave as found) until you exit on to another hard farm road beside the golf course where there is a seat hewn out of a single tree trunk. The hard track you have just walked up is thought to be the original road from Galashiels to Edinburgh and is on the line of the “Catrail” a strange earthwork which extended from here for about 50 miles to Peel Fell in the Cheviots. No one seems to know what its purpose was. Turn left at the seat and after 20 yards or so turn right on to a woodland path which will take you to the field containing the Broch.
Alternative access can be gained by parking in Clovenfords where a circular walk is sign posted from 55 37.357 2 52.669, this path will take you to the seat by the golf course and to return you can carry on up the side of the course exiting on to the B710 which leads back to Clovenfords. This path is rather muddy at the start so good footwear is required.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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