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Rum Runner Mystery Cache

Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Rum is the largest of the Small Isles, a group of islands south of Skye. In partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, in June 2017 I visited to collect abandoned caches and set fresh ones, with the intention of encouraging Geocachers to visit and experience this wild and beautiful miniature kingdom. Please dress for the weather, and expect a change of weather! Cache with care and consideration, and look up from your GPS or phone to enjoy this unique location.


Introduction: Harris is the end of the road, when it comes to Rum's Y-shaped 'road network'. The cache is not at the given location, but is close by. Find it in one of two ways:

Method 1) Head to N56 58.5XY W006 23.1YZ, where X="The population [of Rum] grew to over 400 by the late 18th century but was cleared of its indigenous population between 18X6 and 18X8". Y & Z="The Norse held sway in the Small Isles from Z33 until the Treaty of Perth in 126Y". Answers can be found on Rum's Wikipedia page. You'll want to do this in advance, as there's no phone signal at Harris..!

Method 2) Go to the given co-ords. Walk around to line-up the crosses on the roof of the mausoleum. When one covers the other, you're stood on the cache.

The location: 21Km or 13 miles, there and back from Kinloch Castle- Harris is a far-flung corner of Rum, but a popular location to visit thanks to a mausoleum - and the remains of an earlier mausoleum, destroyed when it was compared to a public lavatory..! You'll also pass the final of my Letterbox/Hybrid geocache on Rum on the way here. Area was once home to this cache, which vanished around 2013.

The route: Take the road beside the river (keeping it to your right) as you leave Kinloch village and castle area. Pass a gate, and after two miles, stay to the left and continue to climb when you reach a junction. Many miles later you'll drop into Harris via a series of bends. It's an ideal route for a mountain-bike, even with that 250m+ climb and descent... and then climb and descent. At least the descents are fun!

The terrain: The 'road' to Harris is little more than a track, but is in good condition and easily walked or ridden. There are a few potholes, but it's basically a fine track. There's just so much of it..!

The name: 21Km or 13 miles is a Half Marathon. If you can get here and back inside 2 hours, you're in amazing shape as the hill goes on forever!

Please rehide this cache with care as it could be in an exposed location. Also ensure both containers (it's one inside another) are properly sealed. Thank you.

My other Rum caches:
Rum Fellow.
Rum Truffles.
Red Rum.
Rum Deal.
Rum Do.
Rum Bunch.
Rum and Coke.
Rum Punch.
Eilean Rum (Isle of Rum, Small Isles).

Finally, sincere thanks to Scottish Natural Heritage for permission to hide this cache in the Rum National Nature Reserve and to Sean, who's its local guardian. I hope it brings extra visitors to their remarkable island.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[DO NOT ENTER THE FENCED AREA!] Zvpeb orybj ebpx

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)