Geocaching in the UK

Make your lockdown walks a little more interesting with Geocaching: a fun treasure hunt for all the family.

Life in the UK has been a little different this past year, with many of us trying new skills and hobbies to try and keep busy. If you’re looking for ways to make your daily walk a little more interesting, why not give geocaching a try. 

Remember to check local government guidance before travelling and make sure to follow Covid-19 hygiene practices to stay safe when opening caches.

What is geocaching? 

Perfect for those who love the great outdoors, geocaching is an activity whereby people hide ‘caches’ in a variety of places, leaving clues and co-ordinates on geocaching.com to help their cache be discovered. Then, it's down to you to find the cache they've left.

The main way of discovering caches is using the Geocaching app, which is free to download and use, though users can pay for a premium subscription to unlock additional features such as harder-to-find caches.

When you first launch the app or website, you can browse geocaches nearby - or further afield. Simply select the one you wish to visit, and navigate your way there using your smartphone or handheld gps device. If you get stuck, you can ask for a hint which should hopefully help you find what you’re looking for!

When you find a cache, you can usually sign the physical log book as well as recording your find at geocaching.com or on the app on your smartphone. Sometimes there are items in the cache which can be traded with one of your own. These items or prizes hold very little value, but add a bit of extra fun to discovering a cache.

In summary, geocaching is essentially an outdoor treasure hunt taking place all over the world.

Benefits of geocaching

There are many reasons to try geocaching, here are a few:

• It's suitable for all ages: Geocaching is the perfect activity for the whole family. Whilst some caches are harder to find than others, children will love the thrill of the treasure hunt aspect even if they aren’t quite able to help out with the GPS element. 
• It helps you keep healthy and active: We all know that we should be doing 30 minutes of exercise a day, and walking is a great way to keep active and get your heart rate up.
• You can discover new places at home or further afield: Whilst many of us have exhausted our usual routes during lockdown, perhaps geocaching might help you discover hidden trails in your local area - or give you reason to explore a little further afield. Make sure to check government guidance before travelling.
• It will ignite your sense of adventure and discovery: Is there anything more exciting than the thrill of the chase? The search for something hidden is bound to get you feeling adventurous - plus, it's a nice change from a regular walk.
• You'll meet likeminded people: Whilst mid-pandemic possibly isn’t the best time to meet new people, geocaching is a great way of doing this in normal circumstances.

Where will your first geocaching adventure take you? We'd love to see any photos you take on your travels, so be sure to submit them here.