Trumpan Church Traditional Geocache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
I often visit this area as I have relatives in nearby Stein. There's plenty to visit in this small area. Halistra Pottery, Shilasdair Yarns, Sky Skyns tannery, Brae Fasach art and pottery (I've stayed with Ian a few times).
Down by the harbour there's the Stein Inn and the fantastic Lochbay seafood restaurant.
There are some fantastic views along the road approaching the cache site out to the Western isles of North Uist and Harris and to the north east is the start of a path out to Waternish point where I'm told sea eagles can be seen.
Trumpan church itself is the site of one of the bloodiest events in Scottish history.
Seeking revenge for an earlier MacLeod attack on the island of Eigg, in May 1578 eight 'birlinns' or war galleys of the Clan MacDonald of Uist landed in Ardmore Bay, immediately to the west of Trumpan. The resident MacLeods were gathered for Sunday worship in the church when the raiding party blocked the door and set fire to the thatched roof. The only MacLeod to escape alive was a young girl who managed to squeeze through a window. She raised the alarm, by some accounts after running to Dunvegan, ten miles away, and MacLeods from the wider area swiftly gathered. By now the MacDonald's had returned to their ships in Ardmore Bay, only to find them left high and dry by a retreating tide. The MacLeods are said to have unfurled their famed Fairy Flag, and in the battle that followed the entire MacDonald raiding party was killed.
The bodies of the dead MacDonalds were lined up beside a dry stone wall or dyke, and were buried by the simple expedient of having the dyke pushed over on top of them. The battle has since been remembered as "The Battle of the Spoiling of the Dyke".
The township of Trumpan was never re-established, and the church has remained a ruin, albeit one with some deeply unpleasant memories.
The Cache should be an easy find, it's at the base of the wall behind stones on the non-carpark side. It's a small (12x9x5cm) plastic box in a camoflage bag.
Happy hunting!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Onfr bs jnyy