Lamsamble, Ivybridge

Mentioned this idea to Dave a while ago and he said to write something up, so I have, and will add other walks as they happen.

I like circular walks and there are many such geocache walks that fit the bill perfectly. Sometimes it’s hard to judge a walk (yet still not spoil the surprise!) and I thought some sort of mini review or even just thoughts and comments about them might be useful to others looking for a nice walk.

So – First one!

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Name of walk; Lambsamble – #1 GC2CV9A
Where: Ivybridge
By: lambs of cleeve
Walked by: dartymoor, 28th January 2012
Caches on Trail: 10
Additional Caches attempted: 4
Caches Found: 12/14
Distance: 5.24mi
Duration: 3 hours.
Going: Muddy and soft in places. One long steep hill to start and a shorter one towards the end, otherwise reasonably level and good going with a short road section along a very quiet lane.
Track: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/lXWh1o4V9Z0

Good bits: Oustanding views, inventive containers.

Frosty January morning, promising clear skies and little wind. I parked by the railway bridge, tucked well to the side – space for a couple of cars there, but no more. Slippery tarmac but soon up into a muddy lane. Lots of footprints showed it’s well used, and several meetings told why – it’s a very popular track up to the moor for Ivybridge’s dog walkers. They seem to be quite considerate though, I didn’t see a single poo-bag anywhere, a rare thing!

First cache was great, a nice container. Then a steep hill up to the moorland. The trail led us through an old lane, quite overgrown, and another great container, then out into a huge field. This has been “improved” (read, topped and fertilised) for cattle, but is still quite boggy. I took a wee detour after #2 to grab Henlake Down Trig Puzzle cache, an easy detour to it’s final position. From there, a half mile march across the soggy field to #3, which was my favourite due to it’s location and container. A lot of thought went into this and I really liked it. Then I went off across the field again, in a big zig-zag (see track) to my second detour, Hanger Down Clump. I loved this spot, and the cache as well – very nicely stocked.

From the clump, I headed across to #4. The going got very wet in the middle of this and took a bit of working out and tussock-hopping, but managed without wet socks. #4 found (again, clever!) and on to #5. This was my only DNF of the day and follows several other DNF’s so I suspect it may have disappeared. Still a nice spot, and I detoured again here to the north by 250m to Three Kings: Francencense. (Tip: Don’t do the straight route, follow the path!) Well worth the detour. Back to #5 and another try. Found a bone built into the hedge, but no cache. Ho hum.

I took another detour before #6, this time for Three Kings: myrrh. That and Six done, along a track to #7. This was too close to the farm and this morning there were many farmers around, so I didn’t even attempt this one, although I could see a very likely spot matching the clue. So sailing on, this time on tarmac, to #8 then off the road through a gateway onto #9, #10 and then back down the lane to my car.

A lovely walk, highly recommended. There’s a lot of thought put into the hides and they are quite varied. The walk flows well and should suit most levels of fitness. The lambs give about four miles as a distance which is probably right without my diversions to the other caches. If you have extra energy, you could also try some of the ones along the Erme after #8.

Overall, a very nice morning in superb weather. (It rose from -1 to about 9 or 10 through the morning. Some wind as it warmed up, but dropped to almost nothing.)

Do bring good boots or even wellies because of the wet nature – but perhaps that’s less of an issue in summer.