BANKS TURRET Letterbox Hybrid
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Located about 100m along an upward sloping footpath to the east of Banks East Turret is Pike Hill Signal Tower – parking in layby.
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THE STAMP IT IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CACHE - THANK YOU.
THE CACHE IS NOT HIDDEN IN THE WALL
Along the course of the Wall two turrets (towers) were placed between each pair of milecastles. These would have provided observation points and shelter for troops on duty patrolling the wall.
The views understandably are astonishing – on a clear day you can see Skiddaw and Blencathra in the North Eastern Lakes. If you are fortunate you may see Peregrine Falcons hunting in this area.
It is evident from its orientation and the kink in the Wall that Pike Hill was not part of the original Wall, it was probably built earlier and incorporated into Hadrian’s Wall some time later. A forward signal tower would have been an ideal means of keeping watch to the north, and alerting troops to the south, the next link in the chain being Gillalees Beacon 3 miles away. Unfortunately, it was substantially demolished during the nineteenth-century road building and now only the south corner and entrance survive, immediately beside the road. An indent visible in the entrance probably held a timber door-jamb.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre n syng fyno bs fgbar oruvaq n ebpx - jngpu bhg sbe gur ohyy
!!