UKgeocachers

Postage & Packaging Costs

We have had a few enquiries regarding our postage costs.  To try and offer the best postage and packaging costs we do not have a flat rate, instead the cost will depend on the items you purchase, so that if you only buy a sticker you will not pay the same price as someone who buys a ready made cache.

You can find out how much the postage and packaging will cost by putting your items in the basket.  Then go into your basket by clicking on "Your shopping Cart Contains" and scroll down the page where you will see a box entitled "Shipping Options".

Select the country where the items will be sent, and the postcode, then click on the recalculate button.

You will then be shown the various shipping methods available and their costs.

We thought it might be a good idea to post ideas here for things you can do to enhance your geocaching experience. We'll keep adding to this list from time to time as we come across an example of best practice.

Safety First

Always carry a mobile phone with you when out caching. It can literally help to save a life if you come across a situation where assistance is required. A bonus of modern mobiles is that if you have a camera phone you can take pictures of the tracking codes of any trackables you come across to record them without the need for pen and paper.

Remember to mark your cars location into your GPSr before embarking on a cache hunt if you are in an area unfamiliar to yourself. That way, you can't get lost as you'll always be able to find your car again - even if you can't find that elusive geocache.

If you are looking inside a hole for a cache, take a minute to check the area, is there any activity from wasps etc, and it could also be worth checking the hole with a long stick first to ensure that it is not a wasps nest or something similar before you put your hand in.

And don't forget the important spare batteries for your GPSr Unit, these are always a handy item to carry.

Whilst you are walking and looking at your GPSr Unit don't  forget to watch where you are going and general awareness of people and cars around you, I have heard of several very near misses with both cars and cliffs.  It may be a good idea to check out the local area, print out a map or just go on google earth to see the type of terrain you will be walking in.

Geocoin Dipping

Ever heard of the term 'dipping a geocoin in and out of a cache'? Geocoins can be very expensive to release into the wild as you always run the risk of it being stolen or mistaken as geoswag by newbies. You might have a special geocoin that you can't bear to part with and its a shame that no-one else can enjoy it. Well geocoin dipping is the term given to carrying a geocoin on you (ie not releasing it into the wild) and dropping it into and immediately retrieving it from a geocache again when you visit it. This does two things:

1. It acrues mileage to the geocoin. This is in fact your own mileage, so you can use it to record how far you travel whilst geocaching.
2. By carrying the coin with you and not releasing it you don't risk losing it and it can be shown to other geocachers that you meet whilst out geocaching so that they can 'discover' it.

Releasing a Trackable Item

We strongly recommend that before you release anything trackable you attach something to it to say what its mission is going to be, and that it is not a trade item.  This helps people know if they can help it move, and where you would prefer it to go.  It also means that new people to geocaching will not mistake it for a trade item.

 Discovering a Geocoin or Trackable Item

A new part of geocaching is being able to discover a trackable item, these items can be attached to cars in the shape of a magnetic, window cling or decal, they have a tracking number on them, just make a note of it to discover later.  You can also find these numbers of Tattoos, T-shirts, Hoodies, Patches and probably more items that I haven't discovered yet.  The idea is that you don't move it on you just log that you have seen (discovered) it.  So when you are out caching don't forget to check other cars in the car park.

We are proud to be the UKs First walk in Geocaching Shop - and we were also the first one in Europe.

Since we moved to Ashbourne in Derbyshire in May 2009 it became apparent that with the added space that we had we should open our doors to the public and we have not looked back ever since. It has been great to have visitors who have been able to get their hands on our wares (oer missus) and being able to give advice to newbies first hand has been great.

We have improved our display range and will continue to do so. We have about 80% of the online products we sell out on display so if you visit us and you don't see what you are looking for be sure to ask us.

These pictures show a very small section of our shop, if you want to see more you are welcome to pop in.  Everyone is welcome to come in for a browse or even just a chat. 

Opening hours are 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4.30pm on Saturday.  But if you can't make these times, contact me and we will try and arrange something for you. 01335 301266 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We are located on Peak Gateway Caravan Park which is just outside Ashbourne in Derbyshire. Our address is:

UKgeocachers,
Peak Gateway Caravan Park,
Nr. Osmaston,
Ashbourne,
Derbyshire,
DE6 1NA

01335 301266

07780118185 you can even text if you prefer

Come and see us on Facebook - there isn't a lot on there yet but we are going to start posting some special offers there and through our Twitter feed. So if you use either service then don't forget to add us.

UKgeocachers

Promote your Page too

Why not hold your event at Peak Gateway Leisure Club. It is a luxurious campsite situated just outside Ashbourne in Derbyshire and features great facilities. Here are six great reaosns to hold your event here:

1. Discounted camping rates for groups of Geocachers can be arrianged as the site owner is very Geocaching friendly.

2. The site has two Bars - The Outside Inn which is a cosy bar with leather sofas and games facilities (pool, darts etc) and the Blenheim Room which is a function room that can seat upto 200 people with a disco and overhead projector for films etc.

3. Bubbles Bar for the kids, this is an arcade and rest area for kids to hang out.

4. Safe play park for the under tens, this is just outside the Outside Inn bar and is under CCTV surveilance for safety and security.

5. Catering is provided onsite, this can be tailored to your events needs and it is very reasonably priced.

6. Lastly it has a walk in Geocaching shop - Us :-)

Basically it has all of the ingredients for a great evening or weekend. Give us a call to discuss your requirements.

You can see their website and facilities at www.peakgateway.com Check out their facilities page.

We are proud to support our local cachers forum and its member, it's nice to be able to give something back to the geocaching community and we do so through sponsorship of events and discounts for its members.

It has been so nice to see so many of you walk in through our doors to visit us in the UKs only walk in geocaching shop at Ashbourne in Derbyshire. We have now moved to a bigger room in the same building and that has allowed us to lay more products out for visitors to browse.

emCachers Members Preferential Discount

We offer an added 2% on top of our usual customer loyalty discount scheme which runs from 1% to 7% which means that emCachers can benefit from upto a 9% discount on our products and services including any products we have on special offer. To receive this discount we need to know that you are a emCachers forum member before you place your order as we need to activate the discount on your account.

New Customers

All you need to do is create an account on our site at https://www.ukgeocachers.co.uk/catalog/sign-in.html select the "Create an Account" option, filling in the required form fields.

Once you have registered just drop us an e-mail telling us; the e-mail address you used when registering and your postcode (we can use this info to find you on the system). We will then activate the discount on your account and then we will e-mail you back. You will then receive the preferential discount rate on all of your orders. Make sure you wait to hear back from us before placing your order to benefit from this discount.

Previous Customers

Click on the My Account link (https://www.ukgeocachers.co.uk/catalog/my-account.html) at the top of the any page on our site and log into your account. Then scroll down the page and at the bottom of your account information area you will see the following discount if it has been applied to your account.

If you don't see the discount information then you will need to send us an e-mail with; the e-mail address that you use to log into our site and your postcode (we will use this information to loctae your account). We will then apply the discount to you account you will be able to use it all all future orders. Make sure you wait to hear back from us before placing your next order.

So why should you choose us over the competition?

As a family run business we focus on customer satisfaction.  This is where high tech adventure meets old fashioned family values. If we had to sum up why you should shop with us into three bullet points they would be:

Our shop works out how much you have spent with us and applies a discount during the checkout process, this discount kicks in after only £50 has been spent (during the last 12 months). The more you spend the more you save. The loyalty discounts range from 1% to 7%. Couple this with Free Shipping for orders over £50 in the UK and you can see how you can quickly end up saving lots of money with each order you place.

Most of our orders are dispatched within 24 hours, this means you get your order as quickly as possible. Orders placed before 2pm during the week are usually dispatched the same day.

Secure payment options, great customer service and a family run business means that you will always get the personal touch from us. We are registered with the Federation of Small Businesses in the UK, registered for VAT, have a shop premises where you can come for a browse or a chat and are a reputable business.

Our contact details are available on this site including our full address and telephone number together with our VAT registration number unlike some other online shops. This is a legal requirement in the UK if trading online.

Everything here is above board - so ask yourself, who would you rather deal with. A reputable, regulated family run business or someone who deliberately tries to illegally hide their contact information?

If contact details are not available on a website ask yourself why aren't they?  This goes for all online transactions, always check out a websites security policy and privacy policy together with their contact details before trusting them with your card details.

Thanks goes to Martin (talkytoaster) for preparing these files.

They are being hosted by UKgeocachers.co.uk as a resource for all UK geocachers.

Last updated: 29-Mar-2009

Introduction

If you want maps for your Garmin GPSr and don't want to use Topo GB then you could use the FREE ones from OpenStreetMap [http://www.openstreetmap.org/]. The map files offered here are compiled from the mapping data at OpenStreetMap. The license for these maps are FREE, here is some data from the OpenStreetMap site:

"OpenStreetMap creates and provides free geographic data such as street maps to anyone who wants them. The project was started because most maps you think of as free actually have legal or technical restrictions on their use, holding back people from using them in creative, productive, or unexpected ways."

All of map files offered here are based on data from OpenStreetMap and are licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 2.0 license. If you use these files please make sure you attribute the OpenStreetMap community by including a link to www.openstreetmap.org [http://www.openstreetmap.org]. If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one. You can find out more about Creative Commons licenses here [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/].

Have more question about the maps and data? Here is a link to the Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ] page on the site: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/FAQ

I use them on both my Garmins and have the whole of the UK with or without contour data. The only downside it that they are a work in progress and missing some footpaths/bridleways but for most of the UK the road data is complete and many paths/tracks are included. If you like them then you can help by mapping where you travel and upload your track logs for use by the community to help improve the maps.

The contour data is from The Scottish Mountaineering Club, more details about them can be found here: [http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.htm]

Compatability

Area Coverage

England
Wales
Scotland
Isle of Man
Channel Islands
Northern Ireland
Republic of Ireland

Instructions

Download the file you are interested in, unzip it, and save the unzipped file as GMAPSUPP.IMG and then upload it to your Garmin [make sure you have sufficient storage space first].

To upload/install one of the above map files to your Garmin GPSr, you can either used Sendmap [available from here http://www.cgpsmapper.com/download/sendmap20.zip] or if you have a later model which uses MicroSD cards you can either load them directly on the card, or by using the direct USB Mass Storage mode found in any of the HCX or eqiuvalent models. In this case just place the GMAPSUPP.IMG in the folder named GARMIN.

Files

All of map files offered here are based on data from OpenStreetMap and are licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 2.0 license. If you use these files please make sure you attribute the OpenStreetMap community by including a link to www.openstreetmap.org [http://www.openstreetmap.org].

If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one. You can find out more about Creative Commons licenses here [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/]. These are the details for the updated maps compiled from the OSM tiles created on the 8th of October 2008. These include all the additions and modifications made up to the 7th of October 2008.

The contour data is from The Scottish Mountaineering Club, more details about them can be found here: [http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.htm]

File Name: 090109-UK-GMAPSUPP.zip contains
090109-UK-GMAPSUPP.IMG
Size: 54.2 MB (56,903,680 bytes
Description: UK Map (No Contours)
Download Link: http://www.ukgeocachers.co.uk/garminoverlays/090109-UK-GMAPSUPP.zip

File Name: 090109-UK+Contours-GMAPSUPP.zip contains
090109-UK+Contours-GMAPSUPP.IMG
Size: 162 MB (170,450,944 bytes)
Description: UK Map (With Contours)
Download Link: http://www.ukgeocachers.co.uk/garminoverlays/090109-UK+Contours-GMAPSUPP.zip

I have tested these maps on a Garmin GPSmap60c [non-contour version of map] and a Garmin Etrex Legend Hcx [the version with contour data too].

Regards,
Martin

Disclaimer

The author accept no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any ill effects resulting from the use of any information or files or links contained in this document or any part of this site.

I have tested these maps on a Garmin GPSmap60c [non-contour version of map @ 44MB] and an Etrex Legend Hcx [the version with contour data too @ 157MB].

They have also been tried and tested on a Garmin Colorado.

Regards,
Martin

Who are we?

We are a family of geocachers who strongly believe in the old (OK not so old) adage that states - "A family that caches together, stays together" - well it did go something along those lines. My name is Kathy and I am now disabled and can't do as many geocaches as I could in the past so I take care of business whilst my husband Ian and our two sons do the product testing - they use this good excuse to get their hands on great products before anyone else. We don't sell anything that we don't use ourselves and so we can be sure of the quality of the products we offer.

Why did we start ukgeocachers.co.uk?

We enjoy our geocaching but were a bit perturbed as to how expensive some of the merchandise can be over here compared with prices in the USA. In particular things like Travel Bugs. Since I now have a bit of spare time on my hands I decided to make the best of it, I quickly cottoned on to the fact that buying in bulk meant that it kept the costs down and so decided to do something positive and went ahead and designed this site hence starting my own business (Blue Spaniel) ukgeocachers.co.uk. My ethos has always been based on providing the great customer service that you'd expect from a family run business.

What are our plans for the future?

We moved our home and business to Derbyshire in 2009 and this has allowed us to expand our product range. We are hoping to expand the site and bring in more of our own line of products that we feel will soon become synonymous with geocaching over here in the UK. We have already produced a number of our own geocoins including the "Best of British" series of geocoins, they are going down well and we have now produced the Trakabulldog - a geocoin that thinks its a Travel Bug.

We will be expanding our range of pin badges and designing and producing more great geocaching products.

Things in the pipeline include extending our walk in shop opening times, free Wi-Fi and access to the net on site and much more.