A 
      40 mile long distance footpath A 
      Coventry Way Home
corner
top-ops shimSearch ACW site
A 40 mile long distance footpath, and 21 shorter circular walks A Coventry Way Home ACW Contact us ACW Site Map ACW Community About ACW ACW Home
News Archive shim
Next Challenge
Latest Challenge Results
Route Details
Previous Challenges
21 Circular Walks
Geocaching
Volunteers
Contact Us
ACWA Overview
About ACW
ACW Community
Coffee Break
Links
Space for more Buttons
shim shim

Geocaching

What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is an entertaining form of a treasure hunt, using satellite navigation.  Handheld GPS receivers, generally the size of a mobile phone, are used to direct you to a specific location, where you use skill and judgement (and clues) to locate hidden treasure.  This is called the cache and before you get too excited, the treasure normally comprises items of low value.  There is always a log book in the cache, which you sign, and you can take an item.  But the rule is that if you take something, you must leave something in return.  Caches are normally placed in interesting locations and sometimes you have to follow a series of clues which lead you to the 'treasure'.

The Internet is the source of information for locating your nearest cache.  The most popular web site is www.geocaching.com - this currently has details for over 250,000 active caches in 221 countries.  You can get the co-ordinates for any cache, which you enter into your GPS receiver, and armed with a printed description of the location, off you go.  Once you've located the cache and signed the log, you also record your find on the same web site, adding a few notes to describe your experience and possibly uploading a photograph.

This hobby is great fun for families, giving a new reason for getting out and enjoying the countryside.  And you never know what you might find hidden in that tree stump.

Where does ACWA fit in?

The original intention was to attract a different cross-section of people to the countryside around Coventry.  By locating caches on or near to the 21 circular walks, the aim was to encourage geocachers to try out parts of our walks.  In some cases it should be possible to find more than one cache along a particular walk. 

There are already several geocaches in the local area, set up by other people.  We have added to these with an ACWA series.  You can find the latest full list by searching on www.geocaching.com, selecting caches placed by username acwa [click "Advanced Search", then select "Username (Hidden)" = acwa].  To date there are 14 of our caches, but this list will be added to over the coming months.

The current ones are:

Ram Hall Sleepers Walk 2One For Trev Walk 3Unigate Walk 5Tocil Tuffy Walk 5; Can You Afford It Walk 5Stare View Walk 6On Weston High Walk 7Cubbington View Walk 7Tubular Belle Walk 7RollerWay Walk 11Broad Ridge Walk 21 ;   Ram Pump Walk 21; (new 2006) Avonside Walk 9; & (new 2006) Limestone Hall View Walk 10.

Beware.  Once you've tried it, you may get hooked.  Still, it's better than sitting in front of the box!

 


back to top   

  

A Coventry Way Home

www.acoventryway.org.uk