GeoTours and GeoTrails are primarily both a series of geocaches that are designed to bring geocachers to a specific location. The main difference between the two is that GeoTours are listed on the Geocaching.com website and require payment being made to list and promote it whereas a GeoTrail doesn’t. Both often follow a theme and draw people to historical or location-related significant places. Alongside this tourist attractions are often involved. A method in which to attract geocachers to these is through offering a reward of a geocoin for obtaining a certain number of points.
GeoTours
This list is of all the GeoTours which have been held in the British Isles (in date started order):
Cateran Trail GeoTour
The Cateran Trail GeoTour is located in Perthshire and the Angus glens. It is maintained by the Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust. Originally there were 20 special geocaches spread across the route, however, the GeoTour was revised in 2019 and now has 18 geocaches. The trail is a circular route across farmland, forests and moors and has no official start and finish. The route follows the old drove roads and ancient tracks of which some were used by the Caterans (cattle thieves) in the 17th century.
The geocoin associated with the Cateran Trail GeoTour is:
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REFERENCES
The Cateran Trail – GeoTrail on the Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust Website
The Cateran Trail GeoTour on the Cateran Trail Website
Perthshire to launch the UK’s first geocache based tour on the BBC News Website
Cateran Trail GeoTour on the Geocaching Website
South Downs GeoTour (GT58)
The South Downs GeoTour is located in the South Downs National Park. It is maintained by the South Downs National Park Authority. There were 30 geocaches which were spread across the hills, heathland, rivers, ancient woodland, villages and towns of the National Park.
The geocoins associated with the South Downs GeoTour are:
- South Down Geotour Geocoin – Bronze
- South Downs GeoTour Silver Geocoin
- South Downs GeoTour Gold Geocoin
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REFERENCES
South Downs GeoTour (GT58) on the Geocaching Website
Heritage Power Trail 1: House of Manannan Traditional Geocache on the Geocaching.com Website
Explore Royal Deeside GeoTour (GT60)
The Explore Royal Deeside GeoTour is located in the Cairngorms National Park. It is maintained by Visit Aberdeenshire. There were 20 geocaches which were spread across the forests, lochs, mountains and alongside the River Dee.
The geocoin associated with the Explore Royal Deeside GeoTour is:
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REFERENCES
Explore Royal Deeside with Geocaching on the Visit Royal Deeside Website
Royal Deeside – a genuine royal gem on the Visit Cairngorms Website
Explore Royal Deeside GeoTour (GT60) on the Geocaching Website
England’s Creative Coast GeoTour (GT4A5)
England’s Creative Coast GeoTour is the worlds first art GeoTour. It is located on the coast in East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent and Essex at specially commissioned artworks. There are 29 geocaches spread across the 870 miles of coastline.
There are no geocoins associated with the England’s Creative Coast GeoTour.
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REFERENCES
England’s Creative Coast GeoTour Home Page on the England’s Creative Coast Website
England’s Creative Coast GeoTour (GT4A5) on the Geocaching Website
GeoTrails
This list is of all the GeoTrails which have been held in the British Isles (in date started order):
Isle of Man Millennium Way Geotrail
The Millennium Way Geotrail contains 46 geocaches is located across the heart of the Isle of Man. It is looked after by Isle of Man – Department of Enterprise. The Millennium Way was developed to celebrate the Manx Millennium in 1979, the 1000th anniversary of the establishment of the Tynwald (Isle of Mans Parliament). The 28 mile route follows ancient ridgeway known as “Via Regia” (Royal Way), this was used by the former Kings of Man who travelled between Ramsey and Castletown.
The geocoins associated with the Isle of Man Millennium Way Geotrail are:
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REFERENCES
Millennium Way Geotrail on the Manx Geocaching Website
Millennium Way Geotrail Passport (Clicking on Link Downloads a PDF Document)
Isle of Man Heritage Power Trail
The Heritage Power Trail follows the first railway line on the Isle of Man. The Steam Railway covered 10 miles between Douglas to Peel. This was the first official power trail on the Isle of Man. The trail contains 81 Power Trail geocaches, located over the trail. It is looked after by geocachers twoofnine and Stillroaming.
The geocoins associated with the Isle of Man Heritage Power Trail are:
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REFERENCES
Heritage Power Trail (HPT) on the Manx Geocaching Facebook Page
Isle of Man Railway on the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters’ Association Website
Heritage Power Trail Traditional Geocache on the Geocaching.com Website
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REFERENCES
How to Find a GeoTour or GeoTrail Near You on the Podcacher Website