Ruby's Ramblings are based around the walks we take with our slobbery, over friendly, boisterous Rottweiler / Dogue de Bordeaux cross called Ruby. She came to us in late 2012 at the age of 2. This was only supposed to be a temporary measure as we tried to re-home, but we quickly fell in love with her and she became part of the family. As with any big dog comes lots of exercise so that's where the serious of caches comes from places we have only found because of Ruby. Hope you enjoy finding the caches as much as we enjoyed hiding them.
How to get there
From Dublin take N11/M11 south to the turn off for Enniskerry R117. Take the R760 and veer left to in the direction of the R755. Turn right up the Long Hill and the car park is on right after 1.6km. From Wicklow and south take the Enniskerry turn at Klimacanogue on to R755. Take the R760 after 1.6km and after a further 1.5km take a sharp left up the Long Hill. The car park is on right after 1.6km.
There are no bus routes passing the forest.
Djouce Woods
This extensive area of forest, dominated to the south west by the impressive Djouce mountain lies within the unbroken expanse of high and barren moor land that stretches from Dublin to the south-easterly borders of Co. Wicklow and is on the periphery of what was once the Royal Oak forest of Glencree. The scattered giant oak found in the area may have descended, through natural regeneration from the Royal Forest. The adaptable Sitka spruce may be found throughout the area with lodge pole pine and Douglas fir, while larch add a rustic gold to the Autumn forest. Broadleaved trees such as oak, beech and Spanish chestnut can be seen in the more fertile areas. On woodland rides, roadsides and open areas, heather, woodrush, wood sorrel, bilberry, sage and bracken are the common ground cover.
This area once formed part of the Powerscourt Estate, formally owned by Sir Richard Wingfield, Viscount Powerscourt. Between 1830-1840 he had numerous roads and drives surveyed and constructed Ladys Drive and Earls Drive - which now form part of our forest road and trail network. He also constructed the Paddock Ponds which were the water source for the famous Powerscourt fountains Unfortunately the earth dam which formed the ponds was breached during Hurricane Charlie and has not been reinstated. You can still see the remains of the boat house built into the bank on the western side of the ponds. Wildlife abounds in the area. One can see evidence of deer through out the forest descendents of the Sika Deer introduced into the estate over 100 years ago and now breeding freely with the native red deer. The best time to see deer is the hour before sundown or early morning. Other animals found in the woods include foxes, rabbits, badgers and red squirrels. The routes and trails in this forest offer excellent views over the River Dargle valley to the Powersourt Waterfall the highest falls in Ireland or Britain - and to Djouce Mountain (725m) which lies to the south west in the Wicklow Mountain National Park. The area is a good jumping off point for accessing the mountain area of Djouce, War Hill, White Hill and Maulin and the Glensoulan valley. It also gives access to the Wicklow way and with a choice of heading north through Crone and Lackan or south to Ballinastoe
Please take the time to re-hide the cache exactly as you found it.