[From NT website]
Stockbridge Down, Hampshire
* 65ha (160 acres) 12 miles east of Salisbury [185:SE379349]
This ancient chalk downland has a long history of common grazing
rights which are still maintained by the Trust, Lord of the Manor
since 1946.
Distinctive plants of the chalk grassland include cowslip,
thyme, harebell, horseshoe vetch, greater knapweed, yarrow and
violet. There are many downland butterfly species including
chalkhill blue, and some scarce moths. The scrub of hawthorn,
blackthorn, dogwood, privet and juniper provides valuable nesting
sites for birds such as blackcap, yellowhammer, nightingale and
garden and willow warblers.
Of historical interest are some Bronze Age barrows and the very
important Iron Age camp of Woolbury Ring at the north-east corner
of the property.
[end]
The location given is for the car park... further details
follow.....
There is a (rather overgrown now...) useful information board at
the car park: you might like to spend a few moments taking a look
at it before you go off, so you can learn a bit about the site. You
may even feel that a few notes might come in handy later on!
According to notices on the site, thieves operate here,
so please make sure you lock your car securely.
Ok, off you go! First stop is at N51 06.706 / W 01 27.895, where
you need to take some more notes.
Next go to N51 06.770 / W 01 27.833 where you will find the
first cache in the series, in an *interesting* container.... and
your first question / clue.
One down, 4 to go!!!!
Your journey will take you up to the Woolbury Ring Iron Age fort
and back again, and along the way you will find 5 caches: 2 are
plastic lunch-boxes (small or medium sized), one is a microcache,
one is a "slightly larger than micro" plastic container, and the
final is a green ammo box (there's a flash camera in the ammo box:
please take a picture & leave a note). All are fairly well
hidden, but in places that should be obvious to a good cacher!
(on the way to the 4th cache, you might like to take a diversion
onto the path along the top of the ramparts, where there is a
lovely view over Woolbury Ring itself)
If you are taking children or dogs with you, please note that
the road by the car park can be quite busy, with cars passing at
high speed, but once through the gate it's safe.
We think this cache will be a pleasant challenge for you, but we
hope you'll enjoy the physical & mental effort!
Stockbridge Down, about 5 miles from Winchester, and just outside
the old Hampshire village of Stockbridge, has been in use since the
Stone Age, with noticible use during both the Bronze Age and the
Iron Age. The enclosure (along with the trig point and a WW2 /
post-WW2 observation post) is on private farm land, but you can
safely follow paths on National Trust land to the top of the
ramparts, where you can see these, as well as the beautiful
views.
If you would like to have a say in the
future of caching in the UK,
Please visit the Geocaching Association of Great
Britain