WHW Day 5 (Saint Fillan's)
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Please Note! The Container is "NOT LOCATED IN THE DRY STONE DYKE"!. Please do not search it, for the Container!
WHW(WEST HIGHLAND WAY), Day5 (Saint Fillan's) The West Highland Way is 152km (95 miles) long. The walk links Milngavie, outside Glasgow to Fort William - from the outskirts of Scotland’s largest city to the foot of its highest mountain, following the shores of its largest freshwater loch.
The WHW passes from the lowlands, across the Highland Boundary Fault and on, into the Scottish Highlands. Much of the Way follows ancient and historic routes of communication, and makes use of:
The old drove roads along which highlanders herded their cattle and sheep to market in the lowlands.
Military roads built by troops to help control the Jacobite Clans during the 18th century.
Old coaching roads and disused railway lines from the more recent past.
If you are lucky whilst walking the Way you may also see some of the wildlife of the area. The Feral Goats left behind following the clearances, the magnificent Red Deer and, away over the high tops, soaring Golden Eagles.
Ensure you have adequate footwear, clothing, food, equipment, maps and walkers guides etc. Also, let someone know of your itinerary, especially if you are a solo walker. Geocaching is an international activity, embracing the outdoors and technology.
Eight WHW “caches” have been placed to correlate with each of the identified sections of the long distance walk ……an added bonus for WHW walkers and Geocachers alike. I hope you enjoy this one, and the other caches that are(will be), placed along the route by fellow cachers.
St. Fillan's, Day 5, covers the section from Crianlarich to Bridge of Orchy a distance of 14 miles and is at the halfway mark of the WHW. It takes you past the ruins of St Fillan's Priory and two old cemeteries.
Early in the Eighth century St. Fillan left Ireland with his uncle (later St Congan), his mother and three brothers, and settled beside Loch Duich, close to the Isle of Skye. St. Fillan later moved south to Glen Dochart in what is now known as Strathfillan, where he built a large place of worship. During the construction of this, a wolf is said to have killed one of the oxen used in bringing the materials for the building. The Saint prayed, and the wolf took the place of the slaughtered ox.
King Robert the Bruce later founded a Priory on this site, which is midway between Tyndrum and Crianlarich, the remains of which can be seen here.By the River Dochart, half a mile away, is the Holy Pool. This was blessed by St. Fillan, and was visited by many people who suffered from various illnesses, mostly, but not entirely insanity, seeking a cure. The water in this pool, reputedly, having healing powers.
As it says on the plaque at the priory location “All travellers who use this wild and beautiful place, will do so in peace if they tread their path lightly.”
All dogs should be kept on a lead through this part of the route, as the priory is beside the Scottish Agricultural College Farm, with livestock around.
The cache is appx 200 metres from the WHW marked route. The grading is taken for the terrain/difficulty FROM the WHW marked route, and does NOT relate to the WHW overall. It is full of the usual items and log. Please don’t remove the small Silica gel bag as it prevents moisture forming.
Good Walking and Caching!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ba gur fvqr bs gur jnyy juvpu snprf n ybar fvyire ovepu