F

aded maps, the threat of pirates, and the lure of hidden bounty - treasure hunts are great. And today, thanks to advances in technology, it is possible to recreate all that Spanish Main excitement with the exciting sounding pursuit of ‘geocaching’ - a 21st century version of hide and seek.

The idea is simple. You head out into the countryside with your GPS and attempt to locate hidden containers called geocaches. All you need to do is register online, enter into your GPS device the coordinates of your first cache and get hunting.

Around Malham Tarn, Yorkshire’s highest natural lake, there are a total of six caches to be found. As your GPS feeds you instructions, you’ll have to scramble across the rugged moorland and limestone cliffs of Malham Cove, being sure to keep your eyes peeled for that cache.

As well as being a great excuse to get the family out in the Yorkshire Dales, it’s also a way for adults to discover their inner child. And once you’ve successfully located your treasure and returned home, you can relive the whole experience by sharing your stories and photos with an online global community of fellow geocachers.