Geocaching in and around Kirkby Stephen

Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity using a GPS or a GPS enabled phone or tablet which is very like a real-world Treasure Hunt. It’s perfect for encouraging children and young people to explore the countryside and will take you to many new and often secretive destinations to explore.

The hiding place is registered on www.geocaching.com and using the GPS coordinates you navigate to the approximate place and then search for the hidden ‘cache’.  A typical ‘cache’ is a small waterproof container which holds a log book and pencil for you to log your find. There may be small items to exchange and trackables to move to new positions.

Back at base you can share your finds, stories and photos online. The Geocaching website gives further information and maps of where to find registered caches. Some are classed as more difficult where fiendish hiding places and ingenious containers have been used to stretch experienced participants.

There are also a limited number of ‘virtual caches’. These are GPS coordinates with a described object and often requires answering a question and sending an e-mail with a photograph to log the find. A boxless 'Adventure Lab' geocache has been created for Kirkby Stephen using a phone app.

There are six cache sites along the Kirkby Stephen Poetry Path. You may obtain the GPS coordinates by registering on www.geocaching.com and searching on the ‘Hide and Seek a Cache’ page and entering Kirkby Stephen. You can also download an app for your mobile device if you do not have a GPS device to use. If you extend your search to 10 miles of Kirkby Stephen, you will find many pages of caches to find.

For instance there are another 17 geocaches in a circuit from Kirkby Stephen via Great Musgrave, Brough & Church Brough, Barras and Winton and back to Kirkby Stephen.

A further nine Geocache sites have been installed on the Northern Viaduct Trust walk, along the disused Stainmore railway and in the Frank's Bridge area of Kirkby Stephen.

We are grateful to ‘MacGrumpy’ of Kirkby Stephen for hiding local caches and the landowners for hosting them. Sadly ‘MacGrumpy’ (Peter Goddard) died in May 2021 but his caches live on in his memory.

New for 2021 are 10 new EarthCaches in Kirkby Stephen and the surrounding Westmorland Dales developed by Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership.

In fact there are approximately 215 Geocache sites within a 10 mile radius of Kirkby Stephen, enough for many repeat trips to the area and enjoy our countryside.

Many people and particularly families find this activity quite addictive, trying a new area each weekend or enjoying the nearby countryside when visiting.  Remember it is a practically free occupation for the family to enjoy. Have fun!