Please note - although I will try not to reveal exact locations, my reports may include spoilers
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My second trip out was to the village of Creech St Michael, near Taunton, Somerset.
I was born and raised in Creech and have walked these footpaths many times.
Little did I know they contained hidden treasure!
The trail I would be following is called the Heathfield Hobble - a circuit with 6 caches plus a bonus cache, should you solve the clues from the initial 6.
Being familiar with the area, I parked in my usual spot and made the short walk to the first cache.
Armed with my new Garmin GP64s, I felt full of hope.
I was born and raised in Creech and have walked these footpaths many times.
Little did I know they contained hidden treasure!
The trail I would be following is called the Heathfield Hobble - a circuit with 6 caches plus a bonus cache, should you solve the clues from the initial 6.
Being familiar with the area, I parked in my usual spot and made the short walk to the first cache.
Armed with my new Garmin GP64s, I felt full of hope.
The first spot is down some steps into deep tree cover. There is a stile which leads to a footpath that hugs the M5 motorway. So although there is nothing but countryside in one direction, you have one of the busiest stretches of the M5 right beside you. A strange juxtaposition of serenity and noise.
I headed down the steps, reached the stile and began searching for the first cache.
Despite my best efforts, including using the hint, I just couldn't find it.
Previous activity showed it had been found a week before, perhaps they hadn't put it back properly? Perhaps it had been Muggled?
Either way, I had to log a DNF
Not a great start..
I headed down the steps, reached the stile and began searching for the first cache.
Despite my best efforts, including using the hint, I just couldn't find it.
Previous activity showed it had been found a week before, perhaps they hadn't put it back properly? Perhaps it had been Muggled?
Either way, I had to log a DNF
Not a great start..
I hopped over the stile into the field beyond. The next cache was only a few hundred metres up the path, supposedly hanging from the fence.
I had done this walk only weeks before and it had been almost impassable due to the farmer growing the crop right up to the field boundary (even though it's a public right of way).
However, today I found the crop had been harvested and the path was clear.
I had done this walk only weeks before and it had been almost impassable due to the farmer growing the crop right up to the field boundary (even though it's a public right of way).
However, today I found the crop had been harvested and the path was clear.
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September
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I followed the GPS to the right spot and began searching. However, once again despite my best efforts I could not find the cache.
Previous activity logs had mentioned that the coordinates were 10 metres off.
Also, with the field recently harvested and the trees on the motorway side of the fence being recently cut, I thought perhaps the cache had been inadvertently moved or lost.
And so I continued on to the next one.
Previous activity logs had mentioned that the coordinates were 10 metres off.
Also, with the field recently harvested and the trees on the motorway side of the fence being recently cut, I thought perhaps the cache had been inadvertently moved or lost.
And so I continued on to the next one.
The next cache was not very far away. Across another field to a stile where the cache was meant to be hidden in a tree.
However, the wind had obviously got to this one and I found it on the floor.
Nice and easy way to finally log my first find of the day!
However, the wind had obviously got to this one and I found it on the floor.
Nice and easy way to finally log my first find of the day!
The 4th cache of the circuit meant crossing a small meadow and then over what can only be described as a 'plank and scaffold' bridge.
The "bridge"
Once across the "bridge", it was a short walk across some green wasteland and into a narrow footpath along the edge of a horse-riding field and some houses.
The 4th cache was hidden along this footpath in a particularly ingenious way.
The 4th cache was hidden along this footpath in a particularly ingenious way.
Once logged, I continued on to the 5th cache. This meant crossing a road and heading down footpaths between some houses and their gardens. After a series of 3 kissing gates, the path came out into a country lane. An old gateway was where the cache was hidden. However, once again nature was on my side and the cache was lying on the floor at the foot of the gate post.
I logged my find and then tried to replace the cache as best I could, hiding it sufficiently to keep it safe.
I logged my find and then tried to replace the cache as best I could, hiding it sufficiently to keep it safe.
At this point, I had a decision to make. With only one cache left in the series, I wasn't ready to call it a day just yet. I had a quick look on the map and found there was an unrelated cache not too far away. If I headed to that first, I could then make my way to the 6th Heathfield Hobble cache from there.
So off I set on a 15 minute walk in the wrong direction!
So off I set on a 15 minute walk in the wrong direction!
Original route to 6th cache
New route to other cache
New route to other cache
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After 15 minutes of walking I arrived at the Taunton and Bridgwater canal.
With my belly rumbling and my feet needing a rest, I took a pew and refuelled.
With my belly rumbling and my feet needing a rest, I took a pew and refuelled.
The year I was born. Now I sit here enjoying the same view as they did
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With my energy replenished, I headed down the towpath towards the extra cache.
It is actually 1 of 3, so I will definitely return for the other 2 at some point.
A little way up the towpath was a set of steps down to an overflow area. After a bit of rummaging around, always keeping an eye out for any passing Muggles, I found it.
Unlike the micro containers in the Heathfield Hobble, this was a small Tupperware tub with a few trinkets inside.
It is actually 1 of 3, so I will definitely return for the other 2 at some point.
A little way up the towpath was a set of steps down to an overflow area. After a bit of rummaging around, always keeping an eye out for any passing Muggles, I found it.
Unlike the micro containers in the Heathfield Hobble, this was a small Tupperware tub with a few trinkets inside.
With my side mission accomplished, it was time to head a mile or so down the towpath towards the 6th in the original series.
This gave me plenty of time to photograph the scenery.
This gave me plenty of time to photograph the scenery.
I soon reached the final cache in the series. This was deemed a 'cache and dash' due to the high Muggle activity.
I quickly signed the log and then pondered my next move..
I quickly signed the log and then pondered my next move..
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The bonus cache relied on you finding the other 6 and noting the codes. Then you had to work out a sum to reveal the coordinates of the final cache. Having missed the first two, it was impossible for me to find this bonus one.
However, on the other side of the canal from where I was, there was another unrelated cache. This was part of the Somerset Space Walk series.
So I popped over the nearest bridge and headed towards it.
Once 3 Muggles and their dogs were clear, I found it, logged it and replaced it.
However, on the other side of the canal from where I was, there was another unrelated cache. This was part of the Somerset Space Walk series.
So I popped over the nearest bridge and headed towards it.
Once 3 Muggles and their dogs were clear, I found it, logged it and replaced it.
There was a log in Uranus
A quick look at the map showed there were no more caches nearby.
Having walked over 5 miles and been out for over 3 hours at this point, it was time to head back to the car.
Having walked over 5 miles and been out for over 3 hours at this point, it was time to head back to the car.
I was pleased with this second adventure. Hours spent in the beautiful countryside, caches logged and lots of exercise and fresh air.
Until next time...