PLEASE NOTE: This cache may be inaccessible after rainfall. Please read the full description before attempting.
The Basins of Wellington are mill ponds constructed in the early 19th century with a network of leats, sluices, bridges and wiers to regulate the supply of water to the former textile mills at Tonedale. The area is maintained by the Basins Volunteer Group and it provides a lovely environment for fishing and walking.
If approaching the GZ from the Basins, you will follow a path that heads north. This path can be very muddy at wetter times of the year (hence the terrain rating). You will need to cross a weir, via a small bridge, and a trickier overflow section. It is possible to cross the overflow when it is running, by carefully balancing on the brickwork, but this may mean that the increased flow further downstream may make the cache inaccessible.
The cache is hidden under a beautiful brick arched bridge near the railway bridge and will require entering the water to access it. Normal adult wellies will likely be sufficient to stay dry when the water level is normal. However, after rainfall the flow may be deep, fast and hazardous. A general rule of thumb is if the water under the railway bridge is flowing on the path, come back another day.
Please do not attempt this cache from above: you will probably drop it, break it or hurt yourself.
Please have fun, but be sensible, particularly after rain. And please let me know if there is any wear or damage. Please replace log container well inside tube.
The Little Bridges series was started by Stanthews in 2009 to highlight small footbridges in remote parts of Wiltshire. Since then, the series has been expanded by others all over the country and starting to spread fast. There is a stats listing, so you can see how many Little Bridges you have found, you can find it here: - Little Bridges Geocaching Series (littlebridgesseries.co.uk). If you would like to add to the series, please go to this site, on the tab Get Involved click number request and fill in the form. To qualify, the bridge must be a foot bridge too small for vehicles, please make sure your title exactly matches “Little Bridges # xxxx then the name” including spaces so it will get picked up and added to stats list.