Surrey: Family geocaching at Polesden Lacey

“Do you know what geocaching is?” I asked my 11-year-old, as we drove to Poleden Lacey.

“You find things using a GPS. It’s boring,” she replied, staring out the window in the back seat.

“How do you know? Have you done it before?”

“I used a GPS once. It’s better if it’s just a map.”

Ah, the enthusiasm of youth.

After a wonderful Christmas break in which I became reacquainted with an area outside of Zone 3, I resolved that our family would get out and do some of those things we’re always saying we want to do. One of those goals is to use our National Trust membership to see some wonderful estates, historic houses and gorgeous countryside. This is a bit more difficult in winter, when many properties are shut for the season. But we discovered Polesden Lacey, about an hour’s drive away in Surrey, was open and also offered free geocaching.

What is geocaching?

I confess, geocaching always sounded a little made up to me. Like my daughter, I thought it needlessly complicates the simplicity of a fun treasure hunt. But you mustn’t let the little ones get the upper hand in cases like this. So my attitude on the drive down remained doggedly optimistic. “Let’s see how it is. I think it will be fun!” I glanced over at my husband. He gaze was ahead as he silently piloted the car. No help there.

The idea behind geocaching is simple: You follow coordinates, distance information and an arrow on an app or GPS device to caches — boxes where you sign a log and leave a trinket or small object. Then it’s on the next cache.

Geocaching at Polesden Lacey

At Poleden Lacey, you reserve a GPS unit in advance then pick it up at the ticket and information desk, leaving your membership card or a deposit. (The GPS units are nice little Garmins.) The property has 2 trails — one with 8 caches in the garden surrounding the house that takes about an hour and another roaming across the larger estate that takes about two. We only had a little over an hour so we opted for the garden trail. You also get a waterproof map with clues about each cache, to make them easier to find if your GPS skills don’t get the job done.

By the second cache, the “bored” 11-year-old was racing ahead of us through the undergrowth, yelling back over her shoulder, “This way!” At each cache we signed our name on the paper, resealed it and pressed on. As a result of geocaching, we got off the usual trails and found ourselves trekking through brambles, searching fallen logs and ducking under branches.

There’s a theme to the garden route with an educational angle and some unusually beautiful plants to see, even in winter. We’ll be back soon to do the longer estate geocaching route and combine it with a tour of the Edwardian mansion house. The property offers 45-minute guided tours with different themes, including family ones at several times a day. You can only visit the house via guided tour, which are free but booking is essential. When we left at 1pm, the next family tour was fully subscribed.

 

Leaving things in the cache

The lady who took our reservation said they had largely abandoned the practice of asking folks to leave things at the cache because people were leaving “rubbish”. There were a few amusing trinkets in several of them. If you want to bring something along to leave (keeping in mind the probability of it getting wet and the necessity of fitting it into a sandwich-sized box), feel free. Or do like we did, simply add your name to the list of geocachers at each stop and enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

 

 

Jenography’s tips for geocaching at Poleden Lacey

• Book ahead of time, to ensure a GPS is reserved and waiting for you
• Wear trousers, preferably jeans or waterprooofs, so you can trek through the brambles and foliage without worrying about getting snagged or wet
• Fingerless gloves are a good idea, for keeping hands warm and still allowing you to sign the register at each cache
• The caches can be under leaves or tucked in holes and as a result are exposed to the elements. Your hands will get dirty so bring along tissues, wet wipes or an old jumper to wipe them on
• Pack a picnic. The trails will take you all around the garden or estate, with lovely areas to pause for a refreshment or bite to eat
• Arrive early. Traffic put back our planned 11am arrival by 40 minutes, when crowds were still reasonably light. By the time we left at 1pm, they were streaming through the gates
• Bring your dog. Canines aren’t allowed absolutely everywhere but the property welcomes them and you’ll meet loads of fellow owners
• Take a camera. You’ll want to capture views of the surrounding Surrey Hills, bowered paths, copses and exteriors of the Edwardian mansion house.

The verdict

Not boring. The drive and traffic from London is manageable, which means you can visit, enjoy the stunning property and be back in town without it requiring your entire day. Geocaching is a different way to explore a National Trust destination and it’s not available everywhere so definitely take advantage of it.

(Check out all the National Trust properties that do geocaching.)

My star rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

 

Polesden Lacey

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/polesden-lacey
Great Bookham, near Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6BD
01372 452048