Scotland Virtual and Earthcache Recommendations?

[+Pezdude]

Hello fellow geocachers!

 

I saw a similar post a few days ago, but this question is a little different.

 

In a month or two, I'm taking a week long trip to and around Scotland. I would love to be able to experience geocaching on the trip but I'll be with a group of about 15 other people so I won't be able to wander off and diverge from our itinerary. Therefore, I was wondering if there were any good virtual or earthcaches at the places we plan to visit that I can hit without sidetracking to much.

 

I appreciate any help or advice!

 

This is the tentative day-to-day schedule my advisor sent out:

 

 

I'm super excited about this trip! It'll be the farthest I've traveled away from home

[Blue Square Thing]

In Edinburgh, the earthcache at the top of Arthur's Seat is worth a go, especially in clear weather as it'll give you a grand view of the city.

[+geodarts]

It's been a couple of years since I have been there - before we visited I ran a search that focused on earthcaches and virtuals - and then looked at places that interested us (standing stones, ruined castles, megalithic rings and cups, ancient things) in case there was a traditional nearby. See what interests you and what you can work into your trip.

 

Certainly Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh was on our "must do" list, but on our way back we also stopped at Holyrood Horror and had a good time looking around Parliament (I was surprised that they welcomed us even with our walking sticks). There are a few earthcaches and multi staged virtuals around the city.

 

If your trip to Skye takes you anywhere near Fairy Glen and Castle Ewen, be sure to go there. I remember earthcaching at Glen Coe. And I had somewhat a soft spot for the Catch Nessie earthcache:

 

Edited September 18, 2015 by geodarts

[+Bear and Ragged]

Isle of Skye Creag an Fheilidh (Kilt Rock)

 

Close to the Old Man of Storr

... find him a wife

The Wicker Man - Corn Rigs and Barley Rigs

 

BODACH AN STÒR (ISLE OF SKYE)

[+Original A1]

Well my general help/advice is that you should look at the caching maps of the specific areas you are visiting, filter out all but virtuals and earthcaches and see what's close by. Then I'd look at favourite points, which are usually a good indicator of what's good.

 

But as I'm a nice person, I will also add one or two on your route which you might like to try and visit:

 

Edinburgh

 

Holyrood, including the park

Holyrood Horror? (GCM021) - Virtual in and around the Scottish Parliament

Just a bunch of Rocks?! The Canongate Wall EC (GC4RFQA) Earthcache right beside the first one

Earthscape Scotland (GC33CCE) Popular Earthcache near Holyrood Park

Arthur's Seat Earthcache (GCNTAB) Recommended in another post above. Bit of a climb but worth every step.

We see no vestige of a beginning........... (GC20KW6) If you do no other Earthcache, this is a must (arguably over Arthur's Seat).

Samson's Ribs (GC1YF7E) Earthcache also in Holyrood Park like the other two immediately above.

Central Edinburgh

Calton Hill (GC4MKVY) another Earthcache with an iconic viewpoint over the city. NB It's Princes Street, not Princess Street!

Sandstone of the Walter Scott Monument (GC3WE71) Earthcache right in the centre of the city

Edinburgh Castle Rock (GC3NR11) Ditto above

A glacial erratic rock in Edinburgh (GC5QATE) Ditto above

Botanic Gardens

Tim-BERRR! (GC1VXRF) A nice old Earthcache

David Bellamy's World (GCHK62) A nice old Virtual

 

There are others, but these seem to be in the main areas you intend to visit. Plenty of other caches around too.

 

Up near Culloden, there's Cumberlands Stone (GC4CK73), an Earthcache. I haven't visited it myself.

 

Glencoe area:

 

BALLACHULISH (GC3DWJP) An Earthcache which is slightly quirky. Worth reading all the info before you leave home as I remember doing a lot of scrolling on my GPS at GZ!

Ballachulish Slate Quarry (GC2PMTE) A super Earthcache I think by a visitor centre and certainly by some toilets. It's worth trying to get there during opening hours as you can have a tour of the quarry itself (on foot) which is definitely worth the effort... it's not very big, don't worry!

Glencoe (GC2HPYA). An Earthcache set at an iconic spot. Big lay-by in which to stop and admire the views too.

 

Stirling:

 

You must remember this! (GCB1E8) A Virtual not to be missed, this is what Scotland is all about! At Bannockburn. I'll let you read the history if you haven't already. It is also a famous Billy Twigger cache (now adopted). My link

Silly Stirling (GC4B5GX) An Earthcache which I haven't yet done.

 

I'll let others offer suggestions for other places on your itinerary.

 

Good luck and have fun. Don't forget other types of caches as there are lots of great ones around.

 

Edited October 1, 2015 by Original A1

[+fitzsimons]

There is a web-cam cache in Edinburgh city centre which might be worth a visit. There aren't too many webcams in Scotland.

[+Paul & Ros]

If you put the free whereyougo app on your phone and download a cartridge called the lost world you will have a fantastic 2 hour+ adventure starting at the bottom of the royal mile and taking you into the hills around Arthurs seat. One of my all time favourite caches. Plug your headphones in to your phone and turn the volume up for the full effect :-)

[+Original A1]

If you put the free whereyougo app on your phone and download a cartridge called the lost world you will have a fantastic 2 hour+ adventure starting at the bottom of the royal mile and taking you into the hills around Arthurs seat. One of my all time favourite caches. Plug your headphones in to your phone and turn the volume up for the full effect :-)

Haha - I can vouch for that, as by coincidence I've done both of those today, as a milestone +1. Great fun, although extremely windy today.