If you’ve ever stumbled upon a curious, small container with a piece of paper inside hidden in a tree, beneath a rock, or stuck under a sign, it’s quite possible that you’ve found a ‘cache’ hidden by what’s known as a ‘geocacher’.
Geocachers are a community of people who – using an online map – attempt to locate caches hidden all over the world. They take part in what is essentially a global outdoor treasure hunt!
There are hundreds of caches located in the Armagh area alone. Some are easy to find and some are much more difficult… but that’s all part of the fun.
Catherine is an avid geocacher from the Armagh area. She first became involved in geocaching in 2014 after being introduced to the hunt by a friend.
Speaking to Armagh I of her introduction, she explained: “My nephew at the time was seven or eight, so it was just something that we did to get him out and about and then I became more interested in it and it just snowballed from there.”
In those eleven years Catherine has become one of the most prominent and active geocachers in the Armagh area… and it’s the surreptitious nature of the activity that keeps her involved.
She adds: “I like the idea that there’s something hidden in plain sight. It takes you to places that you would never have gone to otherwise.”
Over the past ten years Catherine has located over 8,000 caches and hidden about 300 of her own. “I have one placed in every county in Ulster,” she says.
A ‘small’ and highly covert cache with a log of finders carefully placed within
Geocaching originated in the United States, with the first cache having been hidden in Oregon in May 2000.
The oldest cache in Europe is hidden in Bray, Co. Wicklow, having been placed there in June 2000. Every year people from across Europe travel to Ireland to try and find it.
Some of the larger caches have toys or collectibles inside them. Geocachers will often collect these as souvenirs, provided they replace them with something of their own.
All contain a “log” so that finders can proudly inscribe their name and the date of find. So, it’s always good practice to bring a pen.
Catherine regularly attends geocache events and even hosts one of her own every year during Georgian Day in Armagh.
The events allow avid geocachers to get together and trade tips on locating caches.
“In the Armagh area there’s quite a small community of geocachers,” Catherine says. “We’re all pretty close and we know one another.”
Catherine has even come across fellow geocachers whilst searching for caches herself!
“Occasionally, you’d meet people when you’re out finding things,” she explains. “It’s quite funny because you’re not sure if those people are geocachers or if they’re just looking at you because you’re appearing to do something quite strange.”
If geocachers do end up finding a cache they must be discreet. The aim is always to ensure that nobody else knows you’ve found a cache.
“We’re encouraged to be stealthy… to not spoil it for anyone else,” Catherine says.
Often in geocache clues and descriptions, the cache owners will write, “Beware of muggles!” A clever Harry Potter-inspired nod to non-geocaching folk who may be in close proximity during the hunt.
In the local area, some caches are ingeniously hidden. One of the most difficult to find requires geocachers to clamber through a river and under a bridge.
Geocaching saw one of its largest surges in popularity during Covid, with many families searching for caches while on socially-distanced walks in parks or even around their local towns.
Despite this, Catherine still thinks that most people are unaware that geocaching exists, adding: “It’s always been relatively low-key”.
A quick look at the Geocache map reveals several hundred caches across the county… so if you’re up for the challenge why not shed your muggle title and get in on the action?
