Geocaching

Geocaching is a fantastic way of getting out and about to visit our parks, open spaces, woodlands, and beaches. North Somerset Council supports this recreational activity. To help you through the process of installing a new geocache, we have provided the following guidance.

If we own the land, please get in touch with our Parks and Seafront team.

Please provide us with:

• your contact details
• the coordinates and a What3words reference of the proposed location
• the type of geocache
• a description, including a rough size

For the safety of all involved, if you want to geocache on our land, we require the following:

• ensure the cache is safe and accessible throughout the year - there should not be a need to clear vegetation to gain access
• your chosen location should be safe and accessible without the need to stretch, climb, or access dangerous areas
• caches must not be buried, or holes dug to place a cache. They also must not be hidden in animal holes or runs
• site features such as trees, plants, fences and walls should not be damaged when placing or seeking a cache
• there must be no visual sign of disturbance when leaving a cache
• no items of food or drink, matches, or flammable objects should be placed in the cache. Only items deemed safe and acceptable for an unaccompanied child to find should be placed in the cache
• the cache container must be clearly marked with a label noting
  • that the contents are harmless
  • contact information, such as an e-mail address or any other contact method, of the person who placed it

The geocache should be registered on the Geocaching Association of Great Britain website.

Geocache sites that will generally not be approved include any areas protected by law, or areas of high risk, such as:

• Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), such as Uphill Hill Nature Reserve
• Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAM), such as Castle Batch
• local wildlife sites and nature reserves
• flood risk areas or infrastructure