Great Cotswold Walk: South loop

The Great Cotswold Walk, 132 caches, 23 miles, Quenington, Glos

We had two options today - we could either join a group to find some more Below Above caches, or complete part of the Great Cotswold Walk, a large series which has been on my To-do list since it was published in 2013. We decided that we'd let the weather decide, and with the forecast promising that there'd be sunshine, we settled on planning for what we hoped would be a good walk.

At the moment, I'm trying to find as many caches as I can before August in order to get ever-nearer to number 2,000. Since its publication, I had my heart set on completing the entire GCW in a single day. However, I decided that it would be wiser to do it in three parts instead, especially given the time of year.

Below is a map of the GCW, illustrating how we've decided to split it (as suggested by the CO). I'll be referring to the three sections in my next few blog posts as the North, Central and South loops. Today, we completed the South loop...

GCW South, 38 caches, 7 miles (94-130 + the two 'Links') 

We began this section of the series from Quenington, although I suppose it's possible to start from Fairford. We were lucky as the sun was shining as forecasted; we knew we were in for a good walk from the go-ahead since the area was picturesque the second we got onto the footpath. 

Picturesque meander at the start near #94

We were glad that the caches were straight-forward finds with no-nonsense hints - just what you need when you're trying to build up a good pace; this also meant that we could spend more time enjoying our surroundings. Having said that, there were some neat hides and it wouldn't have been quite as fun if there hadn't been caches to find! 

I've got to be honest, I was a little surprised when I saw that the Great Cotswold Walk was the resounding winner of Cotswold Caching's Series of the Year 2014. However, after just a couple of miles, I could clearly see why - the landscape was just so beautiful and untouched, plus the paths were quiet which is always a bonus. 

I always love walks where there's something unusual to see, and this stretch of the GCW had that. Firstly, there was a sphere wonderfully crafted from horseshoes besides the entrance to an blacksmiths. 

Sphere made of horseshoes 

And secondly, the Ox Pens in Fairford was a rather interesting structure. It's an ancient agricultural building with wooden stalls that accommodated pairs of oxen which used to pull ploughs. We actually had to walk through it since the doorway (yes, doorway) to the permissive footpath was located at the back of the building. 

Ox Pens, Fairford - doorway to the permissive path

The route of the permissive path was absolutely stunning. We were walking besides Pitham Brook, parallel to the River Coln. The Ernest Cook Trust, who own the land, have done a brilliant job in managing the Coln, with various diversion spillways and beautiful streams in addition to Pitham Brook - as a keen geographer,  I was very interested; we even diverted off the main route a little to admire the Coln itself. 

Slight diversion - the River Coln 

The views soon opened up; we were obviously in a valley, and so they weren't very far-reaching, but the views across the fields ahead of us were still fantastic. We could only imagine how amazing this area must be in the spring and summer. We'd have loved to have seen a kingfisher along this stretch too... maybe next time. 

Lovely countryside and nice views ahead

All too soon, we were back at the car in the charming village of Quenington, having found all 38 caches. 

I can't speak for the rest of the GCW (yet) but this section was simply superb. The landscape was extremely picturesque - well, absolutely stunning in parts - particularly along the watercourses. The caches weren't too challenging, which meant that we weren't distracted from the lovely walk. What's more, there was a good variation in terrain - from low hills, to ploughed fields (we did get muddy!) to tarmac, to tracks, to riversides. Having set a couple of series' myself, I know it's difficult to find a route with a variation in terrain, so the CO has done a great job here - the variation always makes it that little bit more interesting. 

If all's well and the weather's pleasant, we'll be completing the Central and North loops over the next couple of weekends - so watch out for those posts. The South loop was excellent, and has certainly built up our appetite for more... 

Griff Grof

Walking around Little Compton and Chastleton

LC (Little Compton) series, 16 caches plus 2 Church Micros, 5 miles

After finding TWW earlier today, we set off to Chastleton to complete this new series, which was recommend to us by Wrighty. 

I remember the area fondly since we've walked around here before and it was the location for the 2013 CacheWalker Twixmas Bash - this time, though, there wasn't any rain. In fact, there was plenty of sun, and there wasn't a breath of wind. 

There were spectacular far-reaching views right from the first cache. The caches were all sensibly hidden, straight-forward finds which was just what we felt like. 

Lovely views near the start of the series

We then descended into the valley, which was lovely. Despite living so near, and often driving past, we had never been into Little Compton, so it was great to finally be able to pass through it. It was then on towards Chastleton again, where we passed the lovely Chastleton House which we haven't visited for years. 

Chastleton House from the footpath

We greatly enjoyed the series, and we even revisited the Cotswold Motel on Adlestrop Hill afterwards, where we enjoyed gorgeous views as the sun set.

What I love about Geocaching is that it takes you to places you would never have otherwise been to. It's always surprising how that's always true for places right on your doorstep as well. We walked through some lovely bits of countryside, and found some really good caches - there was a back-to-basics feel to the series - the caches were there to be found, and they were sensibly placed in nice spots. 

It's funny as I had thought about placing some new caches along a similar route, but hadn't even got round to the stage of initially walking it, so I was glad that HKMHill beat me too it. A really good series, and a superb, proper Cotswold walk. 

Griff Grof 

TWW - The Worcestershire Whopper

TWW - The Worcestershire Whopper (GC5DERW)

Today we found a brilliant cache. In fact, I think it's amongst the top caches we've ever done.

Let's start by saying that it's Whopper by name, and whopper by nature - it's at least four times bigger than the second largest cache I've found. Sure, this made it special, but there's also so much more to it; in order to obtain the coordinates for the first part of the final cache,  you first had to find two fantastic feeder caches.

In this blog post I'll be running through the whole journey and experience of finding TWW, without revealing any spoilers. Enjoy...

Feeder cache 1 found on 13th December: 
GC5AWQ0 - Ashton Circular 1 - ABFTN Dog & Bone
Part of a series of 8 caches, 2 miles, Ashton-Under-Hill

For the first feeder cache, we arrived in Ashton for a walk along the lower slopes of Bredon Hill. We had high hopes for the series since we remember the hill fondly from previous caching trips.

It was straight on to the feeder cache as it was the first, and its initial stage had us chuckling since I had looked straight at it ten minutes earlier - absolutely fantastic, and very ABFTN.

We enjoyed some pleasant views as we progressed with the Multi whilst bagging some more caches. We'd recommend visiting the location for GC5GNJX, since the views up there were particularly stunning.

Super views from GC5GNJX on Bredon Hill

Have to admit finding the second stage of the Multi a little difficult, but we soon got our heads around it following a quick PAF (thanks TJ!) - it all suddenly made sense. The twist that followed was ingenious too... I never thought a Multi which already had so many unique and creative stages could keep on getting better and better. The container at the end was a welcome surprise too, and we were overjoyed to have half of the coords for the elusive TWW already!

We also found some more creative caches as the series came to an end, with the Church Micro particularly standing out.

Lovely church in Ashton-Under-Hill

Overall, it was a very enjoyable series in a lovely part of Worcestershire, which we'd recommend to all. Plus, it ups your appetite for TWW following such a brilliant feeder cache!

Feeder cache 2 found on 14th December: 
GC5H8M1 - Mile Drive Multi
You pass 3 other caches

The very next day we popped out to grab the second and final feeder cache in order to have all TWW details at hand. It's a Multi, by Wrighty... need I say more? It was great!

The Mile Drive is a stretch of the Cotswold Way, and it's one I know quite well. Plus, I found some of my first caches along here, so it brought back some good memories as we returned.

Nice views along the Mile Drive (photo by walktall on Geocaching.com gallery, we didn't have our camera) 

This was a real back to basics cache - a straight-forward two stage Multi, in a lovely location with some nice views, and a large, well-stocked cache at the end. Quite frankly, this is what all caches should be like!

After we had rummaged through the cache, we jotted down the remaining numbers for TWW's location,  and we were over the moon to be ready to find it!

THE WORCESTERSHIRE WHOPPER found on 18th January 

A month came and went and we finally pencilled in a visit to the main attraction. It was a beautiful, sunny day, albeit a little chilly, and we arrived at the coords early in the morning. Popped in to say hello to H and L of L8HNB, with H kindly offering to visit the cache with us.

I was surprised how quickly I spotted the required info at the first stage, and then it was on to GZ, which was a nice spot. Surprisingly, I walked straight past the cache - it was very well camouflaged for its size!

As I mentioned at the start of the post, it really was gigantic - so large that I could have jumped inside it! Plus, there was plenty inside, and I'm sure that if I'm passing by I'll drop some more stuff in such as larger swaps and TBs, in fact, I may even take something out too.

Overall, a brilliant experience in lovely countryside - from finding the fantastic feeder caches by sumadartson and Wrighty, to opening one of the best caches I've ever found. A truly memorable find; this is what caching is all about.

Griff Grof

Opinion: what's Geocaching?

Over just a few years, Geocaching has changed. A lot. Whether you look at the website, the types of hides, the containers, or the trinkets, you cannot deny that it has.

Ahead of finding my first cache, I remember that I thought deeply over what to bring along with me as swaps. I didn't know what to expect, but I certainly thought that what I took from the cache would be the most rewarding part of the experience.

I was mesmerised upon finding it - yet, I can't remember what I swapped. However, I do remember walking through a beautiful forest, wondering why I had never been here before with it being so close to home. In retrospect, that was what made finding the cache brilliant.

So, in my opinion, a good-sized cache with a few swaps in a beautiful, untouched or special location is the jackpot when it comes to Geocaching - and I'm sure thousands of other cachers would agree that it's great to visit places that you otherwise wouldn't have.

But I've mentioned that things have changed. Micros. Nanos. Cache 'n' dashes. Drive-by power trails. Roadside caches. Sure, they've got a purpose, but I'm pretty sure that there are a lot more of these sorts of caches being published than the well executed ones I enjoy most, like my first. Yet, I've found many of these sorts of hides, and I'm sure that most other cachers have too.

This poses a question: what is Geocaching?

You may think that's a ridiculous question with an easy answer; Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt game played throughout the world using GPS-enabled devices in which cachers search for hidden containers       no, that's what it is in principle, but what is it actually?

Let me explain; the first Geocache was hidden in 2000 by Dave Ulmer in Portland, Oregon. It was a large bucket, filled with good-quality swaps placed in a thought-out location. However, how is that, in any way, similar to a nano with a sheet of paper on a bridge above a motorway? As far as I can see, it isn't. How can a proper cache at a viewpoint, on a mountain or underground even be compared to an uncreative, empty one you don't remember in a purposeless location which you also don't remember as a result. Are we seeing a stage of transition in which Dave Ulmer's original idea has completely changed to something different altogether?

So, I guess this is the real question: is Geocaching a game which involves finding larger caches with swaps in nice spots, or smaller caches with nothing but a log book in less impressive areas?

In fact, this conundrum is what makes Geocaching so great. There's literally a cache for everybody - I don't think there's another hobby so versatile that it can become so fun (and addicting) for so many different people.

This is an opinion post, so I'll put it out there and say that I wholeheartedly prefer larger caches with a couple of swaps. Like my first cache, though, that's not what I take away - the location, for me, is what makes or breaks a cache, and it's what I come to remember the most - from the journey to the cache to the reward at GZ. This doesn't mean that I won't continue to find other sorts of caches though. If it's a micro or a nano in a good spot, or along a good series, then there's no problem, either. Sometimes you just feel like finding a cache, and those in very accessible locations are perfect for that. Plus, you need the caches you enjoy a little less to recognise those that are truly outstanding.

I'm looking forward to my caching adventures this year - I hope to hit 2,000 around August and so I'll be getting a move-on over the coming months. Whilst I do, I want to be certain that I know what Geocaching really is in terms of cache and location - and by finding the types of caches I enjoy most, I know I'll have a more definite definition. Hopefully you, too, will define Geocaching in your own way through concentrating on finding the type of caches you prefer most.

Griff Grof