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Geocaching in the Yorkshire DalesPhoto:YDNPA
FAMILIES wanting to have a crack at satellite technology are being given the chance to learn in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
From this month they will be able to hire Global Positioning System equipment and try their hand at geocaching – a hi-tech treasure hunt.
The fast-growing sport involves using co-ordinates downloaded into a GPS receiver to find hidden caches – plastic boxes containing information and gifts.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) has just published geocache trail leaflets for Hawes and Grassington and has set up a facility enabling people to hire the GPS receivers from its National Park Centres (NPCs) in each location.
But, to obtain the coordinates, people have to first walk round the area and answer some simple questions.
Karen Griffiths, the YDNPA’s Interpretation Officer said: “Geocaching is a great way for all the family to spend the day out in the beautiful National Park and learn more about some of its hidden places that they might not normally see.
“The leaflets are aimed at complete geocaching beginners and explain how to use the GPS receivers to find the caches.
“We’ve already had some lovely feed back from families using them over the last two days so if you’d still like to come up and try one of the trails out with us we’d be delighted to see you.”
The leaflets are aimed at complete geocaching beginners and explain how to use the GPS receivers
Karen Griffiths - YDNPA
The receivers can be hired for £5 for the day plus a £50 returnable deposit but, as there are only limited numbers available at each National Park Centre, it is advisable to book one by phone. The Grassington NPC is on 01756 751690 and Hawes NPC is on 01969 666210.
Similar leaflets are in the pipeline based around the Malham, Dent, Reeth and Aysgarth NPCs.
Online versions of geocache quizzes for Malham, Dent, Reeth, Grassington and Hawes are available at www.geocaching.com along with co-ordinates for all 26 geocaches hidden by the YDNPA’s geocacher ‘Dales Diva’.
