Legnabrocky Trail 2 - The Stranger Stone. Traditional Cache
Legnabrocky Trail 2 - The Stranger Stone.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This cache is located in the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark which covers 18,000 hectares of rugged mountainous uplands and gently rising lowlands in counties Cavan and Fermanagh.
“The Stranger Stone” is one of a series of caches found close to the Legnabrocky (Badger’s Hollow) Trail which leads from the Cuilcagh Mountain car park towards the impressive hulk of Cuilcagh (665m). Start at the car park and head south along the stone track. This runs parallel with the Aghinrawn River, one of three rivers on the northern flanks of Cuilcagh which sink underground to form the Marble Arch cave system. Around you is a distinctive limestone landscape where you will see surface features such as limestone pavement and surface depressions known as dolines and shakeholes – evidence of cave systems below your feet. Where the short cropped grassland is dotted with “fairy” thorns you will notice a scattering of large boulders which geographers call erratics. These were picked up elsewhere by ice sheets and later dumped here when the ice melted some 12,000 or more years ago – as they are not from the immediate area they are sometimes called stranger stones. If you look at one carefully you may see another strange thing called Matchstick lichen ..... it is tiny, I mean really tiny ..... the sort of match stick only a pixie would use. Your “treasure” (a medium sized tablock box containing a log book and swaps) is close to one of these – but which one?
As you walk through this special pasture with its wild flowers and butterflies please follow “leave no trace” principles – take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints and keep nothing but memories. Remember that livestock also enjoy this grassy sward so do NOT bring your dog along. The cache has been positioned so that it is family friendly – however, please take commonsense precautions.
The car park provides handy parking with a picnic table and BBQ plate. It is a lovely spot to enjoy an outdoor bite to eat – when you are savouring a piece of cake look carefully around and you might just get a glimpse of the elusive Pine Martin. Should you require cafe or toilet facilities the Marble Arch Caves Visitor Centre (open late March – early September ..... 10.00hrs to 16.30/17.00hrs) with its educational displays and shows is only a short drive away. It is well worth a visit.
I would like to thank the staff of the Marble Arch Global Geopark for agreeing to, and helping with the placement of the caches. If you would like to find out more about the Geopark please check out www.marblearchcavesglobalgeopark.com.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gvpxyr gur fgenatre'f ghzzl