Sapperton Canal Tunnel Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A quick cache and dash in an unusual setting. But a short walk can also take in 2 other caches nearby.
The Sapperton Canal Tunnel is a tunnel on the Thames and Severn Canal near Cirencester in Gloucestershire, England. It was the longest canal tunnel, and the longest tunnel of any kind, in England from 1789 to 1811.
The tunnel was opened on 20 April 1789 after five years of construction and is 3,817 yards (3,490 m) long. It has no towpath; narrowboats were propelled through the tunnel by legging.
It was superseded as the longest canal tunnel in England in 1811 by the Huddersfield Narrow Canal's Standedge Tunnel, which is 5,456 yards (4,989 m) long and remains the highest, longest and deepest canal tunnel in Britain - though, unlike Sapperton, Standedge can only accommodate 7ft wide narrowboats. Sapperton Tunnel is not currently navigable, but restoration is proposed by the Cotswold Canals Trust as part of their project to re-open the canal route from Thames to Severn. The trust operates tourist boat trips into the tunnel in winter months.
We found this place accidentally when following signs for a nearby hostelry which is worth a visit anyway!
There is ample parking immediately adjacent to the cache itself.
We have said this is not suitable for children - the path is above an open but disused canal and any children will need to be closely supervised.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Va tnc va jnyy crecraqvphyne gb gur ghaary vgfrys - ybj qbja.