Treasure Trails

Photo Credit: Treasure Trails Cumbria

The brainchild of Steve Ridd, Treasure Trails is a national company offering around 1,200 treasure hunting trails across the UK. In Cumbria, there are about 20 trails, ensuring that you will be able to find one close to your accommodation.

The idea is simple, you download a trail (or order a printed pack) of your choosing from the Treasure Trails website. This provides you with a series of clues you will then need to decipher in order to complete the trail. You will be taken past several points of interest along the way, making this a more interesting way to complete a walk.

Highlights

Treasure Trails provide a great motivation for children who may be reluctant walkers. The trails follow different themes, for example, you may need to solve a mystery, or find the location of (imaginary) buried treasure. Some clues are easy to decipher, others require a bit more thinking. Most are based around local points of interest, such as historical buildings or commemoration plaques.

The trails vary in distance and terrain, but the website makes it easy to choose one that is buggy friendly. We particularly liked the murder mystery themed Windermere Town trail and the Keswick – Down by the Lake trail, both being suitable for pushchairs and of a length that is manageable for young children. At the end of your trail you can upload the final answer to be entered into a prize draw, and if you get stuck along the way, a free text messaging service is available to help you.

Getting There

Do plan your trip in advance, as you may not be able to park right next to the start point for the trail. Each trail pack includes information on nearby parking and any public transport links that are available.