What a Place for a Picnic Traditional Cache
What a Place for a Picnic
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This is another cache in our series based on interesting features we have seen on maps. In this case the cache is situated at the site of what is marked on the OS 1:25,000 series maps as a "monument". The site is now within the new Whitelee Windfarm, the largest onshore windfarm in Europe.
After some online research, we discovered that the monument is in memory of William Smith. The inscription reads :
EUPHEMIA WHYTE
IN MEMORY OF
HER HUSBAND
WILLIAM SMITH
OF TOWNHEAD NEWMILNS
BORN 31ST AUGUST 1823
DIED 11TH APRIL 1895
THE ABOVE
EUPHEMIA WHYTE
BORN 24TH FEBRUARY 1836
DIED 19TH SEPTEMBER 1898
It is said that the couple loved to picnic at this site, and hence wanted to be buried here. When we placed the cache we found the place rather sad. It is hard to imagine what it must have been like when they did picnic here - no orderly rows of dense conifers, forest tracks, and certainly no wind turbines. It must have been a lovely place.
Sadly, the fence around the memorial is in a state of disrepair, although the monument itself is in good condition.
The cache is not placed within the boundary of the monument out of respect for the couple that loved the spot so much.
Best access to the cache is not via Aljomorton's FTF cross country trek (although the sense of satisfaction must be unbeatable) but by the windfarm access paths. Specifically look for turbine number 67 on the map that is available from the Whitelee Windfarm website. OS / google maps have not yet been updated!
The cache is situated in the Forestry Commission land of Whitelee Forest. Thanks to the Forestry Commission Scotland for their permission to place caches in their Lowland Scotland forests.
The other caches in the "interesting map features" series are :
GC2C94E - The Carlin Stane
GC2CDRW - Double Dam
GC2CDKV - Star and Garter
GC2CGTM - Dunton Cove
GC2CJ1Z - Craigendunton Reservoir
GC2CNEZ - The Weavers Trail
GC2CZ58 - Spiersbridge Branch Line
GC2D520 - Jurassic Moss
GC3AHYC - Cuckoo Stone
Congratulations to Aljomorton - FTF on the 10/8/10.
Check the Scottish Outdoor Access Code for further information about access rights in Scotland and keep up to date with information specific to the Windfarm on their website.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur pnpur vf haqre gur gerr pnabcl bs gur cvarf whfg gb gur AJ bs gur zbahzrag juvpu lbh pna npprff sebz gur sne fvqr. Gur npghny pbagnvare vf ng gur onfr bs bar bs gur gerrf haqre n fgbar naq fbzr cvar arrqyrf.