PART I
It is an ancient Mariner,
And he stoppeth one of three.
'By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stopp'st thou me?
The Bridegroom's doors are opened wide,
And I am next of kin;
The guests are met, the feast is set:
May'st hear the merry din.'
He holds him with his skinny hand,
'There was a ship,' quoth he.
'Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!'
Eftsoons his hand dropt he.
The Poem
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a major poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It was written in 1797-98, although the text used in these caches is from the revised version of 1834, as it is much more readable.
The poem tells the tale of a sailor who has returned from a long voyage. With the mariner narrating his story to a man who is on his way to a wedding.
The Series
Parking is available near the starting point - it is shown as a waypoint.
If 13 miles in one walk is too much for you, the series can be easily split into two, with Parts I - IV forming a loop of approx. 6 miles, and Parts V - VII making up a second loop of about 7 miles.
There are two big ascents on this series - one on each loop. There are steps on a couple of the steeper sections, and there are also numerous stiles and gates to navigate. Tweezers may be required for a few of the caches, so don't forget them! You'll also need to bring your own pen, as there aren't any in the caches, and you do need to sign the logs to claim the finds.
None of the caches are hidden in dry stone walls, so please do not look in any.
The Cache
The first cache is placed on the way out of Hope, and could be done as a drive-by if you really have to. You're looking for a camo'd 30ml tube.