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Long Distance Walks + Caching Combined


davester

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This is a bit of a double edged question. I'm a keen walker first and a cacher second (a very close second mind) and I particularly like stringing caches together on a decent 15 mile plus circular walk. I usually sit down with Memory Map and plan a walk around caches. This is great because it takes some of the indecision out of planning.

 

However, I wondered if there were any UK sites dedicated to walking routes involving caches, and if not, would anyone be interested?

 

I have prepared a few walking routes for www.walkingbritain.co.uk but have not submitted them as yet because I'd be keen to send them a cache/walk site or even knock up a site myself.

 

What would the interest level be?

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In Scotland, you'll need to add the 8 caches situated along the West Highland Way, the 17 caches on the Water of Leith walkway in Edinburgh, the caches along the Fife Coastal Path, and the Snaik caches along the Cateran Trail in Perthshire.

 

Those are just the 'official' routes. There are probably lots of other caches that could be combined in a very good day's walking.

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The West Highland Way, Cateran Trail, Water of Leith walkway et al, although all wonderful walks which are lavishly provided with lots of lovely caches, do not naturally lend themselves to a circular walk in a single day, which was, I think, the original question.

 

I have a book called 100 Walks in Scotland which is published by a well known motoring organisation. Almost all the walks, which vary from as little as 2 miles to about 10, are circular or nearly so and it has occurred to me that it would be a fun project to set out a cache somewhere along each one of those walks.

 

The only major problem I can foresee for such a project is that it would get close to violating the rule against promoting a commercial enterprise, ie the book itself, but I think this could be negotiated with the approvers in the same way that we are allowed to refer to Ordnance Survey publications which are just as commercial as that guidebook. Alternatively, we could just 'borrow' the basic outline of the walks. After all, a route cannot be patented or copyrighted, otherwise such routes as the West Highland way and the Water of Leith pathway, all of which have guidebooks written about them, would have undiscussable on GC.com in cache descriptions and logs.

 

Actually, several of those walks already have a cache somewhere close by, but it would be an interesting long term project to try to complete as many such cache placements as possible so that there is a set of such walks ready packaged for geocachers to enjoy.

 

Cheers, The Forester

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Excellent idea! Although I don't think you should restrict distances to 15 miles+. I used to enjoy longer walks but now time restraints when I'm on my own and kiddie leg restraints when I've the kids with me mean 6-7 miles is more the norm.

 

My best day's caching to date was when I set off at 6am to do a 10 miler with 6 caches on route. I'd gladly let people have the details of that route and maybe even plant another cache on route in a rather boring part!

 

Thanks for your efforts so far.

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To pick up on some comments so far.

 

I'm encouraged by the interest shown since a fairly late night post and should start putting together a web site of some respect in the next few days or so. If anyone has any ideas for a walk/cache combination then I'd love to have them by email for when my site goes live.

 

I certainly don't want to encourage just walks of 15 miles or more and would be happy for walks of any distance (circular or not) to be sent along. If you'd like to do that, please submit as much detail as you can (even down to the number of shops, pubs en route and the price of the car park!),

 

As for suggesting the Plough as a circular. I'm near enough to that to have a go at that over what will no doubt be a lovely sunny bank holiday weekend.

 

I'll keep you posted.

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The West Highland Way, Cateran Trail, Water of Leith walkway et al, although all wonderful walks which are lavishly provided with lots of lovely caches, do not naturally lend themselves to a circular walk in a single day, which was, I think, the original question.

The following part was a statement I do believe, hence that there is no '?' at the end of the sentence.

This is a bit of a double edged question. I'm a keen walker first and a cacher second (a very close second mind) and I particularly like stringing caches together on a decent 15 mile plus circular walk. I usually sit down with Memory Map and plan a walk around caches. This is great because it takes some of the indecision out of planning.

 

This is the actual question, which just so happens to have a '?' at the end of the sentence.

However, I wondered if there were any UK sites dedicated to walking routes involving caches, and if not, would anyone be interested?

 

I certainly would be interested, especially with any information that you would like for the Water of Leith cache trail, which was put together (after the first 10 caches) intentionaly for the purposes on which you describe Davester.

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Hi

 

As someone who bought his gps solely for walking purpose but then became aware of this new hobby I would be very interested in your proposal and would certainly use a resource such as this.

 

Great Idea :(

 

It would be great to have circular routes from around the country in varying distances.

 

I guess one issue would be when caches are removed, and keeping it upto date.

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Well, I'm inspired enough to put the effort in and get this up and running and hopefully I can spend enough time on it to get it live as soon as possible.

 

In the meantime, if you suggest a route please do so.

 

Perhaps someone can also help with the design of a site logo as I'm artistically challenged myself. The site is going to be called GeoHikes, so any budding designers who can put something together based on that name are welcome to try.

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Don't restrict it to circular walks.

 

There are plenty of long-distance footpaths around Britain, and it would be a great help to have details of caches which are on or near to these.

 

The Southern Upland Way in Scotland has its own caches ("kists"), made by local craftsmen and containing specially-minted coins. There are no GPS co-ordinates or other clues available, although there is a small indicator to be seen when you're near a cache site. It added an extra dimension to the walk for me, and geocaches at the side of the path would certainly have been of interest.

 

I know there are several geocaches along the Pennine Way: as a Memory Map user I can identify them quite easily, but it would be useful to those that don't have this facility. On foot, there is a big difference between a cache which is 100 yards from the path and one that is a mile away, but it's not easy to tell unless you spend a lot of time researching the cache positions.

 

HH

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I do have Memory Map so any overlays would be great too. I have my own idea of the descriptions of walks but others have equally good ways of doing it, so all input is very valuable. Each walk will have a comments section anyway, allowing people to add more details or detours.

 

As for the scope of the walks, pretty much anything goes. Short or long, circular or linear, 1 day or multidays.

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I recommend the Cleveland Way in N Yorkshire too.

 

The Cleveland Way is 109 miles long, half of which is around the edge of the North York Moors National park and half along the N Yorks coast. There are several excellent caches en route ...

 

Burgundy Blues GC7483 (Rievaulx Abbey)

The White Horse of Kilburn GC36D8 (Sutton Bank)

Oh What a Beautiful Day GCD093 (Sutton Bank)

Riser GC3A23

Over the Edge GC78BF

Wainstones GCHFN5

Cleveland's Famous Seafarer GC3151

Cliff-top Quarry GCGG4R

Steers View GC3360

Sun Trap GCJH1X

Bram Stokers Whitby Cache GCHQ99

Easternmost coast-to-coast point GCG7QW

Walking with the Dinosaurs GC7684

Pier end GCE533

Doin' Time GC39DA

 

Slightly longer than 15 miles but it can be broken into sections ranging from 10 miles to 20 miles (see Cleveland Way - The Trail for more information)

Edited by Leoness
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In the meantime, if you suggest a route please do so.

I'd like to nominate three great urban walks in Edinburgh, each one of which is a single cache -- two of which are virtuals.

 

One is 'Up the Close and Down the Stairs'. This is a delightfully informative walking tour of places connected with the infamous Burke and Hare. Plan to do it in daytime as the final place closes in the evenings.

 

One which is best done at night is Edinburgh Nights. This is not quite a circular tour, but there are plenty of buses to take you from the penultimate point to the general vicinity of the final point and then onwards to your original point of departure.

 

A third one is a wonderfully well researched and constructed and highly informative walking tour of the neighbouring port town of Leith. It is called 'Ships, Claret and Golf' and is best done in full daylight as the trad cache at the end is located in a place which you might not wish to visit is the dark.

 

Cheers, The Forester

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I think that this brand new cache in the Angus Glens of Scotland is a great example of a long distance walk + caching:

 

Given the difficulty is four and the terrain five....I would say this is more of a strenuous climb/scramble than a walk ??

 

Also I don't know if you can describe this particular cache as a 'great' example of a long distance walk?

 

These mountain climbing caches are only 'great' for those who are physically capable of taking them on...but they are very definately specialist caches ;)

 

I could just about walk 12 miles on fairly level and reasonably surfaced paths....but not 12 or 16 miles in the hills....and I would imagine by far the majority of cachers fall into my catagory :huh:

 

We are just looking forward to a pleasant walk with the fun of a cache during it....not a walk where our very lives could be in danger if we put a foot wrong :huh:

 

Fortunately the majority of Snaik's (and most others) have placed caches which are achievable by nearly everybody....even an old invalided codger like myself :P

 

Mark you if I was young and fit .... I would be printing this one out and planning my attack of it :o:(;)

 

Just my opinion...no offence meant :o

 

Ullium.

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I think that this brand new cache in the Angus Glens of Scotland is a great example of a long distance walk + caching:

 

Given the difficulty is four and the terrain five....I would say this is more of a strenuous climb/scramble than a walk ??

 

Also I don't know if you can describe this particular cache as a 'great' example of a long distance walk?

 

These mountain climbing caches are only 'great' for those who are physically capable of taking them on...but they are very definately specialist caches :)

 

I could just about walk 12 miles on fairly level and reasonably surfaced paths....but not 12 or 16 miles in the hills....and I would imagine by far the majority of cachers fall into my catagory :o

 

We are just looking forward to a pleasant walk with the fun of a cache during it....not a walk where our very lives could be in danger if we put a foot wrong :huh:

 

Fortunately the majority of Snaik's (and most others) have placed caches which are achievable by nearly everybody....even an old invalided codger like myself :huh:

 

Mark you if I was young and fit .... I would be printing this one out and planning my attack of it :(;):P

 

Just my opinion...no offence meant :o

 

Ullium.

Ullium, it is within your capability, trust me, when your ready I'll take you up there, I'm nae spring chicken, its all about pace!!, and good company, and check the contour lines.

 

Snaik

 

;)

Edited by Snaik
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Thanks Snaik,

 

I would be delighted to take you up on your offer :o

 

BTW the contours was the first thing I looked at when I read the bit in the description which said "...near the summit.." :huh::huh::o

 

Just you let me know the next time you are heading up there to do some maintenance and I will move heaven and earth to bore you stupid with my inane patter .... maybe we could get HH and FOF to come along....and I'm certain Tartan T would not want to be left out.....wait a minute this is how the last meet up started ;):(;):P

 

Ullium.

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I will move heaven and earth to bore you stupid with my inane patter .... maybe we could get HH and FOF to come along....and I'm certain Tartan T would not want to be left out.....wait a minute this is how the last meet up started <_<:):):P

 

Ullium.

Ullium, which option would suit you:

 

Option 1: Park at Glen Doll N56 52.274 W003 10.637 and walk in and out. (12 miles total)

 

Option 2: Park at Auchallater N56 58.630 W003 23.415 and walk in and. (15 miles total)

 

Option 3: Park at Auchallater N56 58.630 W003 23.415 and cycle to end of Loch Callater N56 56.078 W003 20.169. (8 miles total cycling 7 miles total walking)

 

Option 4: Walk the Whole of Jocks Road, Highly recommended (14 miles total).

 

Option 5: Stay in Bed and miss out.

 

Option 6: Get a Group together share a Car to do it and have a great day out. (Priceless)

 

Option 7: Meet Blairgowrie 2 Cars! 1 to Auchallater, 1 to Glen Doll meet on the Route swap keys meet back at Blairgowrie!!

 

PS: nearly deaf right ear, but still love a guid blether!

 

Snaik

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Snaik.

 

I think if I managed option 1 ... that would be about my limit if there is a bit of hill climbing to do <_<

 

Mark you FOF has the scent of another SGDO in her nostrals ... so maybe we better hang on a bit...also ... I will be up in the Inverness area in a week's time for two weeks geocaching or Summit like that :P:):)

 

Also being in the middle of the shooting season (as you pointed out in your description) it might be just too good an opportunity for some people to let slip by to have a free shot at me and put me out of my misery!! (I heard HH was a bit of a marksman !? :o ).

 

Ullium.

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Nah! Snaik ... I suspect you'll never convince FOF and HH to wear those ...  <_<

 

Though I do admit it would be a bit of a warning to me and others when geocaching in Edinburgh to when these particular cachers are in the vicinity  :)  :)

 

Ullium.

Just fell of chair (LOL) not sure if comment or the several wee glasses i've had this evening, strange we dont have an "Inebriated Smillie"

 

:P hic!

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I hate to admit it HH but I really have no need of such additions as my fame and notoriety goes before me....especially in the hallowed wards of all the local hospitals where the employees know me by my first name <_<

 

A couple of years ago I crushed my right hand ... broken bones....sever dislocations....needed an intricate operation to put right....anyway as they wheeled me into the ward two nurses stepped forward and enquired "what the hell have you done this time Bill?"

 

Now that is fame :)

 

Ullium.

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There are some great walks and caches (and beer) to be had on the three legged isle!

 

Indeed, there are 16 top-quality caches on or very close to the coastal footpath (Raad ny Foillan) - which is a circular walk of about 95 miles.

 

They're not all mine, either!

 

Seasider has done 12 of them, so he knows what he's talking about :rolleyes: .

 

HH

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