What Is Geocaching? Outdoor Adventure For Kids

Family looking into long grass for a geocache

We’re introducing more people to the fun of geocaching. Many of our places have GPS devices available for you to try geocaching for free. All you need to get going is a sense of adventure and the coordinates to find the treasure.

Geocaching is an exciting outdoor adventure for the whole family. It’s a treasure hunt for the digital generation, where you can enjoy the freedom of being outside and discovering new places. All you need is a handheld GPS and a sense of fun.

A geocache or ‘cache’ is a small waterproof treasure box hidden outdoors. Geocachers seek out these hidden goodies guided by a GPS enabled device which uses coordinates, or ‘waypoints’ downloaded from the geocaching.com website or you can download a free geocaching app for Android or iPhone.

Find out more on geocaching.com

Whether on the side of a windswept mountain or on an expanse of beach, there are geocaches hidden across the UK including hundreds on our land.

What will you discover?

So once you’ve found the treasure box – what will you find inside? Most caches have a log book for you to leave a message in and the satisfaction of finding the box is a reward in itself. But often you will also find a strange array of trinkets that people have left to swap. If you take a treasure out of the box, you should leave another trinket in its place, so come prepared.

Geocaching is a great adventure for the whole family
Two girls looking at a geocache at Roseberry Topping
Geocaching is a great adventure for the whole family

Getting started

  • You will need a GPS device (or smart phone) - don't forget batteries

  • Find a cache near you on geocaching.com (link below - you will need to sign up)

  • Choose a cache and enter the co-ordinates into your GPS

  • Follow your GPS towards the spot - then use your wits to find it

  • Fill out the log book and return the cache to its hiding place

  • Log your find on opencaching.com (link below) and pick your next one!

Three visitors finding a geocache box of treasure at Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire

Top 10 places to go geocaching 

Increasingly popular, geocaching is a great way to combine technology with a good old fashioned treasure hunt. With hundreds of acres of countryside, we have some great places to hide the booty.

Great places for geocaching

Go on a geocaching adventure

Do you like a challenge and a breath of fresh air? We have the perfect settings for a high-tech treasure hunt on a geocaching outdoor adventure.

Geocaching activities