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.

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.

More coming soon.

We are proud to be the UKs only walk in Geocaching Shop - probably the only one in Europe in fact.

Sicne we moved to Ashbourne in Derbyshire in May 2009 it became apparant 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.

Opening hours are 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 1pm on Saturday. We live local and don't mind opening up outside those hours if you are passing - just give me a call on my mobile.

Kathy

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

UKgeocachers,
Peak Gateway Leisure Club,
Nr. Osmaston,
Ashbourne,
Derbyshire,
DE6 1NA

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.

We will be attending the Xmas bash this year in Swadlincote and rather than bring a van full of products (it causes us a lot of problems with online stock levels etc) we though it might be a good idea to offer to bring orders along to the event for anyone wanting to save on Postage and Packaging charges - so you are guaranteed to receive your order before Xmas.

We'll still bring a small amout of products with us but to benefit from our full product range you can order online and we will bring your order to the event.

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.

Xmas Bash Free Delivery

Anyone who places an order on or before Monday the 14th of December can elect to have their order brought along on the night to the Xmas bash for collection from us. This does not affect the emcachers discount and it is applied as well so anyone who would still prefer to have an order posted to them can still benefit from being an emCachers member.

We have added a special postage option on our site that you can select to have us bring an order to the Christmas event.

Process walk through

1. Add the products you would like to your basket and then click on the checkout link. If you are not already logged in the site will ask you to do so (remember to ask us to set up your account for the emCachers discount before you place your order if you do not have it already applied).

2. Select the "emCachers Xmas Bash Pick Up" option which is the last one on the list and then click on the continue button.

3. Select a payment option on the next page. You can pay by Paypal, Nochex or by card over the phone. There isn't enough time to be able to pay by cheque prior to the event unfortunately.

4. On the checkout confirmation page you will see the free Xmas Bash delivery option you selected earlier, you will also see the preferential discount applied to your order.

5. Click on the "Confirm Order" button and you will be transfered to either Paypal or Nochex to pay for your order or you can then call us to pay over the phone.

6. Print off and bring your e-mail receipt with you to the event to prove it was you who placed the order (we don't want to give your order away to any Tom, Dick or Sally) and collect the order from us at the Xmas Bash.

I hope all that makes sense and I look forward to seeing everyone again at the Christmas Bash in Swadlincote.

Happy Caching

Kathy

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 fo Small Businesses in the UK, registered for VAT 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.

Welcome to Ukgeocachers

We are proud to announce that after our move to Ashbourne in Derbyshire we are opening our doors and have become the United Kingdoms first walk in geocaching shop as well as providing our usual first class online store.

We hope that anyone passing by can manage to drop in even if just for a chat so that we can put faces to some geocaching nicknames.

We supply quality Geocaching products and Geocaching related items to the global Geocaching community at affordable prices, providing customised products as well as off the shelf Groundspeak and geocaching items from other manufacturers from around the world.

Coming Soon

We have the following products and services in the pipeline:

• Free Wi-Fi access for passing geocachers - site survey completed we are just waiting for installation now.
• Stand alone computer to allow you to update your finds online when visiting us here in Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
• We are looking into being able to hire out Garmin GPSr so you can try one of the latest models out before you spend your hard earned cash.

We will post more information here as these services come online.

Walk In Shop Opening Times

Mon-Fri: 10am - 3pm

Sat: 10am - 1pm

( 1 Vote )

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

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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]

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Compatability

Known Compatability (Please let us know if they work on other models)
GPS Model	UK Map (No Contours)	UK Map with Contours
Garmin GPSmap60c	Yes
Garmin GPSmap60Cx	Yes	Yes
Garmin Etrex Legend Hcx	Yes	Yes
Garmin Colorado	Yes	Yes
Garmin Oregon	Yes	Yes

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Area Coverage

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

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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.

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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.

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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

Campaign Started: 22 August 2008. Here at UKgeocachers we have always been very patriotic and we have been looking for a charity to support and couldn't think of a better one than Help For Heroes (commonly abbreviated to H4H). H4H was set up by Bryn and Emma Parry in 2007 to raise much needed funds to help wounded servicemen and women returning to the UK from operations abroad. The charity is not politically biased and is non-judgemental realising that conflicts happen under any government but what matters are the men and women who put themselves in harms way in the name of us all. "What is H4H all about? It's about the blokes, our men and women. It's about Derri, a rugby player who has lost both his legs, it's about Carl whose jaw is wired up so he has been drinking through a straw. It's about Richard who was handed a mobile phone as he lay on the stretcher so he could say goodbye to his wife. It's about Ben, it's about Steven and Andy and Mark, it's about them all. They are just blokes but they are our blokes; they are our heroes. We want to help our heroes." Make a Donation by clicking HERE The "Penny-O-Meter" We have now presented our first cheque to Help for Heroes On Friday 22nd May we presented our first cheque to Help for Heroes for £1,060. It was great to walk around their HQ looking at the walls that were literally plastered with newspaper articles, letters and pictures of the people that they have helped and of people trying to raise much needed funds for this worthy cause. It was a very humbling experience. We look forward to presenting the next cheque and thank you to everyone who has helped us raise this money.   Our aim is to raise £2,000 for H4H and we intend to do that in a number of ways: You Can Round Up Your Order. Help For Heroes Geocoin. Help For Heroes Event/Activity. Round Up Your Order Our customers now have the option of rounding their order up to the nearest whole unit. That money will be put to one side, automatically added to our thermometer shown above and then when we reach our target we will be presenting H4H with a nice cheque. Here's how it works: If for instance your order came to £13.47, you can tick a box that you'll see during the checkout process to round your order up to the nearest whole Pound. If you ticked the 'Donate Your Pennies' box our site would then add £0.53 to this order to make it a nice round £14.00. The £0.53 will go into the H4H kitty and update our fund raising penny-o-meter shown above. So it's a nice way of donating pennies to a good cause, purely optional of course but we know you'll want to support this great charity. This option is only available if you opt to pay for your order in Pounds Sterling (£ GBP). Help For Heroes Geocoin We are delighted to announce the Help For Heroes Geocoin. This coin will be minted and £1.00 will be donated to H4H for everyone that we manage to sell on our site. After consultation with Help For Heroes they have agreed to let us mint this geocoin to aid their appeal. We have now had the first proof image from the mint and the coin looks amazing. We're pulling out all the stops on this geocoin project. Here are the specs so far: Size: 70mm x 37.5mm x 5mm - This geocoin is big, chunky and very heavy weighing in at appozimately 118g, thats even heavier than two of our large Shropshire Geocoins. Finish: The coin will have a two tone finish. The base finish will be Antique Gold, the four bears will be in 3D relief and plated in Nickel giving them a shiny silver appearance. Front Colours: A black border with the Union Jack paint filled and epoxy coated for durability. Rear: Black imitation hard enamel on border, silhouette and text, the medal ribbon will be in translucent imitation hard enamel. The recessed portion of the back will be gritty in appreance and the medal will be 3D. The tracking code will be laser engraved and filled with black paint. In essence, its big, heavy and very, very shiny - want one yet? If you do, great, we will be taking reservations for them very soon so keep watching this space. We'll also keep subscribers to our newsleter abreast of this geocoin project as it gains momentum. Price: £7.95* each, this includes a £1.00 donation to help for heroes. *This is a price estimation and depending on customs charges may fluctuate slightly. GET YOURSELF ONE OF THESE STUNNING GEOCOINS Help For Heroes Event We are currently speaking with Groundspeak and Help For Heroes to do something special in the UK to raise awareness of Help For Heroes and also to promote geocaching to a wider audience. Keep watching this space for developements on that front. Forces Discount Members of HM Forces can get a 5% discount in addition to our usual discounts. To get yourself set up with the discount drop us an e-mail with your account details and information about who you are and where you are serving.

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 have moved our home and business to Derbyshire this the year and this will allow 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.

Our range of Travel Bug and Geocoin Passports will be incresed to include some new designs and formats to allow even more customisations of your TB's before you release them.

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