2025-02-01 56 -3

Location

At the southern edge of Lochmuir Wood, Markinch, Scotland

Participants

Plans

Train to Markinch, walk to hashpoint.

Expedition

When I arrived at the Markinch train station I checked the local bus schedule. A bus that would take me a little over halfway to the hashpoint was due to arrive in a couple of minutes, so I took it. This left about a mile of walking. I first walked along Stob Cross Road. This had earth embankments about a foot high right next to the road surface, adding some challenge to moving aside for passing cars. I then turned onto a moderately wide farm road. I kept worrying I would hit a No Tresspassing sign, but it didn't happen. Eventually at a little farm compound that seemed to have a substantial social gathering going on, I turned left past a truck full of dogs onto a two-track woods road. The hashpoint was a few dozen meters down this track, in a grassy turnout just off the lane.

On my way back I stopped to talk to the people standing around at the farm. There were maybe 30 of them, mostly men but with a sprinkling of women and kids, and they seemed to be having a good time. I said I had come to this spot in a more or less random way (I didn't mention geohashing) and wondered what kind of gathering I had stumbled into. It seems today is the last day of the pheasant-hunting season, and they were gathering there before heading out for a group hunt. I had seen an empty shotgun shell casing on the ground at the hashpoint, so I figured some hunting happened in this area. As I was walking back out down the farm road, they drove past me in a collection of vehicles, so I guess they were heading for today's hunting spot.

I walked back into town, passing two notable Markinch landmarks: the Stob Cross, an ancient (possibly Pictish) stone cross that was probably defaced during the Scottish Reformation but is still recognizable, and the parish kirk with its fine 12th-century tower. I also stopped at the Co-Op and bought a vanilla slice, a bag of nuts, and a Coke Zero before heading back to the train station.

Photos

The Forth Road Bridge (suspension, nearer, 1960s) and Queensferry Crossing (cable-stayed, farther, 2000s), photographed from a train on the Forth Bridge (cantilever, 1890s) on the outbound part of the expedition.
I wasn't a vehicle, and had no dog, so I figured I was welcome.
Hashpoint.
Grin.
Proof.
Sign on the wall alongside the road opposite the Stob Cross.
The Stob Cross, with apologies for backlighting. I tried to get closer but the driveway leading behind it seemed private.
12th century tower of Markinch Kirk.