This multi-cache takes you to visit all the Three Fishes Stones placed by Mr Claude Pike around the Heathercombe Estate. Please respect the area as you follow the route through the privately owned estate. It also visits the memorial on Hameldown. The walk is a couple of miles in length with some elevation climbs and descents, and information to gather along the way to calculate the final coordinates. On a clear day there are fantastic long reaching views to be admired.
Each Three Fishes stone is a granite pillar standing about 5 feet tall, on which there is a carving of three fish and a few words from the Lord's Prayer. The first stone on the route was erected in 1969 and stands at the junction of the Heathercombe lane and the Natsworthy road and is inscribed with"Thine is the Power'. The second stone was sited in the Easter of 1971 and is located on the right-hand side of the lane leading up to Heathercombe Brake, bearing the inscription, "and the Kingdom". The final stone, which was erected in 1977 sits just inside the Heathercombe Newtake below Hambledon Tor, this pillar is inscribed with 'And the Glory'. A memorial gravestone now sits alongside the final Three Fishes Stone for Claude and Margaret Pike. It is sited on private property so please do not attempt to get closer and climb the gate. Thank you.
The memorial on Hameldown commemorates the loss of bomber Hampden X3054 which crashed into the hillside on the 21st March 1941. The memorial was commissioned by Lady Marjorie Cecilia Wilson, the mother of the pilot (Robert Wilson).
There is a small amount of parking for a couple of cars at Natsworthy Gate and there is also room for one car near the first Three Fishes Stone, plus a further space between these areas along the road. Please do not park and block any entrances at Natsworthy Gate or to Heathercombe at the Stone coordinates. Thank you.
Stage 1 - Thine is the Power stone - How many arrows on the wooden signs? (A) Then follow the road towards Heathercombe
Stage 2 - Telegraph Pole - Number on the telegraph pole BC (B)
Stage 3 - Heathercombe footpath sign - How many miles to road near Firth Bridge? (C) Follow the road in this direction
Stage 4 - And The Kingdom stone - How many gates (big and small)? (D) Continue uphill (groan) admiring views towards Easdon Tor
Stage 5 - Heathercombe Activity Centre - How many acorns? (E) Continue a tad further uphill
Stage 8 - And the Glory stone - How many cap bolts on the gate hinges? (F) Head uphill on one of the many sheep tracks/short paths
Stage 9 - Hameldown Memorial - (GH) SQDN
Follow clear path towards gz. There is a lot of gorse in the area once you get closer to gz and it may be easier to take a clearer path rather than a direct route.
To find the final coordinates
N50 36. D (A-E) (H-A)
W003 48. (E+G) (C+F) (B-C)
Sum of last 3 digits of northerlies and westerlies = 29
The weather on Dartmoor can change suddenly and unexpectedly and ALL types of weather conditions can be experienced. Please ensure that you have the correct clothing and map and compass (and know how to use them). Please do NOT rely solely on your GPS.
I would like to thank the Dartmoor National Park Authority for their kind permission to place this cache, which has been placed according to their geocaching guidelines.
Please replace as found. Thanks.