THE CACHE IS NOT AT THE POSTED COORDINATES (but they are possible parking coordinates for this cache). Please approach the cache through the woods.
This is the Wombles’ signature cache. In order to find this mystery cache you will need to find at least two Wombles signature keyrings. Each keyring has either the Northing or Westing of the mystery cache; you will need to find BOTH so that you can locate the cache itself. Please do not exchange coordinates with other people instead of looking for the keyrings since this defeats the intention of this cache. Please return any unwanted Signature Wombles to the cache. There are two styles of Womble signature keyring, but only one pair of coordinates.
When we leave a “Northing Womble” or “Westing Womble” in a cache then we'll record this in the log of the cache so that you can plan your visits to retrieve the right coordinates. Alternatively you could also follow these travel bug versions, Northing and Westing
You don't have to take the keyrings in order to find this Signature cache, although you must at least find keyrings in caches to note the coordinates. If you don't want to keep the keyrings then please return them to the Signature cache for recycling. Please do not place them in other caches.
The Signature cache is in Chippenham, which was the location of King Alfred's hunting lodge (on the site of the museum in town). King Alfred is thought to have hunted in the adjacent forest which stretched all the way from Chippenham to the Salisbury Plain, and it is recorded as the site of a rout and then a siege between King Alfred and the Vikings.
The difficulty of this cache is partly a result of needing to find Womble signature items to get the coordinates, and partly a result of tree cover at the end location. The tree cover can be dense during the Summer. The cache is a huge ammo box which requires some strength to reseal it. If you can’t manage this at both ends then please message me to avoid spoiling the experience for the next person. The hint gives away the only place an ammo box this big could be.
The cache contains lots of regular swap items, somtimes including Womble themed items.
You have a choice of parking for this cache. You could park at the posted coordinates which involves a 10-15 minute walk but can be difficult to walk through. Just pull off the bypass (there is an old tarmac road, now unused) and park on the grass. Beware of fast traffic. Then walk a few hundred yards up the bypass (towards the Motorway), cross over and go through the gateway. Then follow your GPSr.
I recommend that you park at N51°27.488', W02°08.812' which is a few minutes walk, see waypoints or use postcode SN14 0UE. However, you can combine this parking location with another cache, 802.11b. If you choose this parking location then to find the Signature cache then please approach through the woods.
This cache hasn't moved since it was placed. Many cachers have collected the coordinates over many years but they will still be correct. If it ever has to move then this note will change (and we'll offer a free old for new coordinate exchange)!.This is an unusually large cache. It needs to be secured at BOTH ends when closing up, otherwise it isn't watertight.
When you visit, why not try our WiFi cache nearby?
FINDING INSTRUCTIONS
Approach through the woods. Loop round past the Signature cache to cross the stream and head back to the corner of the fences. The cache box is now bolted down and secured with two 5 digit padlocks using the Northing and Westing coordinates (the last 5 digits of each). The padlocks are marked to show which is which. You will need someone fairly tall to reach the padlocks. Open the box by lifting the side flaps. If the padlocks were correctly relpaced by the last finder then you should be able to see a solid line on the padlock to line up the last digits of the coordinates. If the line is hidden underneath then you can try lining up the digits where you can see them and then turning them all in line until the padlock releases.
REPLACING INSTRUCTIONS
The lid must be placed squarely on the top of the box and both side flaps pressed down otherwise the box isnt watertight. Please place the padlocks so that the "open line" is visible before resetting the numbers otherwise the next finder won't be able to get in. If you have a problem replacing and securing then please contact me rather than leaving it open or risking disappointment to the next cacher.