Jan 2021: Important update: Following repairs to the bridge, the landowner has put up 'Private, No Entry' signs on the long-established tracks leading off the railway down to the public footpath that runs under the bridge to the A512. If you want to walk the whole route you will need to walk back about a quarter of a mile to the bridge under Tickow Lane (see Trailhead) and leave the railway there. There is a sloping track leading up the North embankment to a squeeze stile at the top of the path, and is not suitable for buggies. Turn left (South) along Tickow Lane to reach the A512. There is no footway so take care of the traffic.
Please do not steal the stamp from the cache, it is NOT a swap and should not be removed.
All the caches can be done individually or in sequence, and once you have located the first four caches you will have the co-ordinates for the final bonus cache. Make a note of the letter and number on the inside of each lid as you will need these for the bonus cache co-ords. (The one in this cache is D).
All five caches are letterbox hybrids, containing a log book, stamp and pen (ink pad removed Jan 2017 as they have been leaking in the caches - please bring your own ink pad if you want to use the stamp). Stamp the log book with your own stamp or leave a calling card or sticker if you have no stamp. If you have none of these then feel free to draw a cartoon of yourselves! If you have your own log book you can stamp this with the cache stamp, but the stamp is not a swap, please leave it in the cache!
There are some small items in each cache; but as the containers are small there is limited room for swaps. However, small TBs and geocoins can be left. The five caches are:
1 – Mount St Bernard Abbey
2 – Blackbrook Reservoir
3 – White Horse Wood
4 – The Old Railway
5 – Bonus cache
Work started on the Charnwood Forest Railway on 31st August 1881. The first turf was cut by Lady Packe of Prestwold Hall and Squire De Lisle wheeled the first barrow load of soil over a plank, but, due to the rain he slipped and spilled the lot. The line was some 10¼ miles long with 7 bridges over the Gracedieu Brook and 22 road bridges or cattle arches. The line was opened on the 16th April 1883 and in 1907 halts were added at Thringstone, Gracedieu and Snells Nook.
In passenger days it was known as the 'Bluebell Line' due to the extensive bluebell woods in Grace Dieu; or by the drivers and firemen as the 'Bread and Herring' Line. Passenger services were withdrawn on 13th April 1931, but during the war the line was of paramount importance. Large amounts of roadstone from quarries was conveyed to new aerodromes throughout the country. The line also served a number of ammunition dumps, the army ambulance train was kept at Loughborough, rubber was stored at Shepshed and the USA Post Office was based at Coalville East.
After the war excursion trains ran on the line and on the 14th April 1957 "The Charnwood Forester" was the last train to run through to Loughborough. The last excursion on the line was in 1962 when the Manchester Railway Society ran an excursion to Shepshed and back. Loughborough goods yard closed on 31st October 1955 and the remaining goods services closed on 7th October 1963, except for Shepshed quarry traffic which lasted to 12th December 1963.
The railway was dismantled some time afterwards and part of it has now become National Cycle Route 52; the part you are walking on is the section between Grace Dieu and Garendon which is partially-accessible on foot. It looks very similar to the Monsal Trail in Derbyshire. The cache is located just off the main path.
If not parking at the monastery and walking here, parking can be found at the top of Charley Road near Fenney Windmill, or closer in one of two laybys on the A512 at N 52* 45.660, W 001* 19.195. Please take care of the traffic on the A512, whether crossing or parking, as the cars travel very fast.