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Virgin Mary Springs Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

sheepdown_clan: Archived

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Hidden : 1/28/2008
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

The above co-ordinates are for roadside parking and not the final cache location.

Have a look at Cottage Museam (GC1DNJV) and Over the Hills and Far, Far Away (GC1DNK2) whilst you are in Petworth.

This cache is a circular walk and should take you no more than about 1 hour.

Follow footpath east from parking area towards co-ords:
N 50o 58 985
W000o 36 174

A = number of windows on south side of house.

Continue along footpath until you reach a crossroads. Here you will find a super view over the Shimmings Valley, or as it is known locally, The Sheepdowns. Follow the footpath along the top of hill and cross over the stile. There are usually horses in this field so please be wary if walking with your dog. Follow the line of the pylons.

On the first pylon:
B = number of letters in first word beginning with a ‘c’
C = first numeral in the year
D = second numeral in the year
E = last numeral in the year

Continue following the line of pylons until you reach the wooded area. Cross over stile into woodland and not the stile leading along the edge of the neighbouring field. This woodland area has an abundance of bluebells in the springtime.

At the large holly tree and co-ordinates:
N 50o 58 6(B-C) E
W000o 36 EA7
Take the footpath which leads down towards the stream. (Co-ordinates are likely to be poor in this area in the summertime but the holly tree should give you a fair pointer). Cross over the unusual bridge which was created in the 1987 storms.

Follow the footpath and the small river up stream to a wooden bridge. Cross bridge. On other side is a small plaque which gives you the name of the bridge and the year it was rebuilt.

F = second numeral minus first numeral
G = Third numeral minus last numeral

Make your way to:
N50o BF (D-A)(F+C)C
W000o GB F(A+B)C

At the above co-ordinates, you will find a large amount of foliage growing on the ground, but not on the paths. In winter, it is brown and dead, in spring and summer it is green. Its Latin name is Pteridium Aquilinum.

H = the number of letters in the common name for this plant (Clue: It is not a four letter word!)

Follow the low path and re-join the river, continuing to move upstream. Beware with small children at this point. The footpath follows the river and is sometimes narrow and very near the edge in places.

The cache can be found a small distance from the Virgin Mary Spring at:

N50o B(H+C) FH(A+B+C)
W000o GB (H+A)(B+G)A

This area is quite popular with dog walkers so keep your wits about you for muggles!

To get back to the car, continue along the same path. Once through the kissing gate, follow the footpath up the steep part of the hill and you will find your way back to the crossroads.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Uvqqra va gur irel byq snyyra gerr ebbg gb gur abegu bs gur fcevat

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)