Frog Valley Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This is the second of my medieval themed caches.
For most people Frostenden is nothing more than a bend in the A12 and some usefully situated loos. However the Domesday Book shows that, 1000 years ago there was a thriving sea port here with two churches and a sizeable community. The name apparently derives from ‘field of frogs’ or ‘frog valley’.
Nowadays this is hard to imagine as the river which once was navigable to large sea-going vessels is just a trickling stream. Some of the history of Frostenden is still visible if you are prepared for a bit of a ramble and have a cache to find.
Most of the port area is situated in wooded band close to the road that runs from Wrentham to Southwold. This is best approached from Cove Bottom which loops off from the main road close to the church. Look for the footpath that leads into the fields. There is a substantial farm building just about opposite. Be careful, it can get very muddy down here.
At the end of the footpath the field slopes down towards the trees and the remains of the river. To the right you will begin to notice a large earthen mound. To the best of my knowledge this has never been excavated or explained save for a report from the early 1900’s which suggested it might be a 'naust' – a kind of Viking dry dock rarely seen outside of Denmark. This may be a bit romantic but despite this the mound is certainly big, artificial and close to what remains of the river. If the mud and nettles aren't too bad and you venture into the wooded area it’s supposed to be possible to see the remains of quays. Various oak posts and other port-related bits have been found here.
The cache coordinates given are actually for the summit of the mound. The original cache hiding place was in nearby trees. As the next field has become a breeding site for rare birds, the hiding place is now beyond the tree line within the port area. Backtrack from the mound itself and find the yellow footpath arrow - this is roughly at N52.36399 E1.65897. As tree cover is heavy and the gps was being wildly innacurate it will be necessary to read the clue. The cache contains all of the normal bits and pieces.
If thirsty or hungry following your efforts there is a good pub back towards Wrentham and an excellent café on the crossroads with the A12
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Svaq gur jbbqra pnir.