Lambourne Loop – Bonus Cache
This is the bonus cache for the Lambourne Loop
series. In order to claim this one you have to have visited all six
of the Lambourne Loop family (four from the loop + the two
extensions) and collected a letter value from each. The letter
value is on the reverse of the stash note in each of the regular
caches.
The coordinates given are not the final
cache. However, if you look out across the fields from here you
will see Bishops Moat. This is all that remains of Bishops Hall an
ancient castellated mansion, which was occasionally occupied by the
Bishops of Norwich. The moat encloses an area of about 200 yards
square.
The final coordinates
The bonus cache itself is located in another
wooded part of Lambourne which has old Arthurian Apiarist
connections – although those aren’t readily obvious
these days (and probably wont be known unless you’re
reasonably local – email me once you’ve claimed the
bonus if you’re curious and don’t know the link).
You’ll need to relocate from the Church parking point to get
there. If you want to check the final coordinates before attempting
the bonus cache feel free to email me – you’ll
need to provide all the letter values and the caches you found each
in.
The final
cache is located
at:
N
51° 3A (B+E)(C+E)(B+C) E 00° 0(A+D) (D+E)DF
You can check your answers for this puzzle on
Geochecker.com.
Caches in the Lambourne Loop and extension
The following
caches make up the Lambourne Loop and extensions. You need all of
these to be able to do this one - assuming you don’t cheat
that is!
The Lambourne Loop
The Lambourne Loop is about 3.5miles starting
and ending at Lambourne Church (park at the Church N 51°
38.656 E00° 08.085).
Lambourne Church itself is well worth a visit
click here for Lambourne Church
history and click here for Lambourne Church
photos. There are some interesting brasses at the front of the
Church at the top of the nave near the alter rail on the LHS,
although these are generally covered by carpet these days (ask
permission, or be very discrete if you have a peek).
Look at all the monuments to the Lockwood
Family inside. There is also a very old painting of St Christopher
on the right hand wall believed to date from the 14th
century, partially over painted in 16th
century.
Lambourne Loop Route
The easy version
I’ve posted a KML file of the loop route
click here to access it
– you automatically get the option to display it in either
Google Earth or Google Maps. I’ve provided a written
description of the loop route below starting from the Church and
ending up back there – it’s not really difficult as the
vast majority of the route is off road with just two short on road
sections. Taking the caches in turn will keep you going in the
right direction.
The verbose version
From the Church go back along the lane a little
way, after the white cottage on your RHS and just before the bend
turn right onto the public bridleway. You are now on Featherbed
Lane. The path is narrow initially but it widens out. Beware of the
nettles.
Continue along Featherbed Lane collecting one
cache and noting Bishops Moat on the LHS part way along (look
across from the stile N 51° 38.450 E 00°
08.272).
As you come towards the end make sure that you
stick to the path rather than cutting through the farm.
You’ll emerge onto Manor Road adjacent to Gallmans End Farm
(N 51° 38.040 E 00° 08.462), there is a sign visible
from the road saying ‘ELT’.
Turn left onto Manor Road (down hill), keep an
eye on any children that you have with you as there is no
footpath.
Walk along towards the houses, pass by a
concrete footpath sign on the LHS of the road, keep going until you
come to a little plank footbridge on the RHS opposite the second
house. You can park here. (N 51° 38.016 E 00°
08.685). Cross the field (head S) to a little headland
by a dead tree.
Carry on along here collecting one cache. The
path continues between paddocks and then enters Hainault Forest
close to Squires Oak (N 51° 37.776 E 00° 08.858).
There is a Siloans cache near here. Turn right (down hill) and walk
along Cavil’s Walk towards the houses.
Featherbed Lane enters the forest after the
houses. Collect a cache here before turning into Featherbed
Lane.
Walk along Feather Bed Lane before emerging
once again onto Manor Road (opposite Gallmans End Farm and the ELT
sign).
Turn left on Manor Road (up hill), taking care
of children once again, heading towards the large NHS Transmission
Mast that you can see ahead.
Pass by the Lambourne Village sign and turn
right on New Road signed to Abridge.
There is a footpath on the RHS signed
immediately before the Transmission Mast compound, leave the road
here and follow that path behind the houses (beware nettles) to
emerge into a field. The fields here may contain horses or
cattle.
Follow the path through the fields towards the
church in the distance.
A quick detour around the field edge after the
bridge will bag you another cache.
You now arrive back at the Church.
Lambourne Troll extension
Head away from the Church with Lambourne Hall
on your RHS. Go towards the sign saying “Private
Road”.
There is a footpath signed on the RHS heading
towards the woods, join the footpath and follow it along the field
edge into the woods.
The woods are private so please keep to the
path. Continue down hill until the path emerges into the fields.
Cut across the fields (on the path) towards the buildings.
You’ll encounter the cache shortly.
If you continue along the path you’ll end
up in Abridge.
Return back the way you came to the
Church.
Fallen Ape extension
If you’ve driven here, it is probably
best to drive down to this one – although a walk down Church
Lane is possible.
Head along Church Lane back towards the main
road. The best place to park is opposite The Elms (N 51°
39.192 E 00° 08.390, there is a footpath sign on the
RHS).
Walk along the path towards Ape’s Grove.
You’ll encounter the cache shortly.
There is another cache in the
vicinity.
If you continue along the path you’ll end
up in Abridge.
Return back the way you came.