THE HERMITAGE - The River Coquet - Source to Sea Traditional Geocache
THE HERMITAGE - The River Coquet - Source to Sea
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
(small)
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A pleasant stroll from Warkworth Castle, along the side of the River Coquet - free parking at the riverside. Cache can be reached by wheelchair with care. The cache is not across the river at the Hermitage because of restricted opening times and fees but brings you to the area should you wish to visit.
The River Coquet, 40 miles in length, rises in the Cheviot Hills, flows northeast, and enters the North Sea at Amble. Coquet Island lies just off the mouth of the river. This series of caches will take you to some interesting places along the course of the river, always through terrific scenery. The Hermitage is on the opposite bank of the river, and visits via a short boat ride are usually only available on Sundays and Wednesdays in the Summer, so check at the castle first. There is no landing for private boats, you must let John take you. This fascinating two-storey structure consists of both living quarters and a little chapel - complete with carved vaulting - hewn straight out of the rock in about 1350. Traditionally the builder was one Sir Bertram, a knight who mistakenly killed his own brother and lover, whilst trying to rescue the latter from the Scots. The hermits were patronised by the Earls of Northumberland until the Dissolution of the Monasteries. It appears to have been quite a cushy job, saying prayers for a number of nobles listed by the Earl in return for pasture for 12 cows, a garden, 20 loads of firewood, fish every Sunday and £20 a year to boot! It was also a place of popular pilgrimage and the hermit must have done rather well out of alms-giving. Caches in the 'The River Coquet Source to Sea' Series: THE SOURCE, USWAY BURN, LADY'S WELL, TOSSON LIME KILN, COQUET VIEW, STEPPING STONES, CRAGSIDE, GUYZANCE MEMORIAL, THE HERMITAGE, COQUET ISLAND.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Hc gur onax va gur Vil.