The 9 Usual Suspects have been around since 2014, we are a group of Geocaching friends based in North West Wales of diverse ages and abilities. Our primary purpose is to get together, place caches, hold events, leave our environment in a better state than we found it and most importantly have fun. On average we hold about 20 events a year from monthly Nosh ‘n’ Natters, several Cache in Trash Outs (CITOs) and hosting the Geocaching Souvenir moments.
Happy New Year/ Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!
We would like to wish everyone a very happy, healthy, prosperous 2026 with lots of fun and geocaching adventures.
New Caches
To celebrate the New Year we have a new series that went live to coincide with our event, ‘9 Usual Suspects UnBoxing 2026’. We would like to thank Penrhyn Estate and Gwynedd council for permission to place the caches.
GCBGKZJ Penrhyn Path, Bryophyta by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D4/T1.5
GCBGKZP Penrhyn Path, Rock On by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCBGM00 Penrhyn Path, Hazel Tree by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2.5/T1.5
GCBGM02 Penrhyn Path, Brian by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCBGM07 Penrhyn Path, Muddy Buddy by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCBGM18 Penrhyn Path, Bath House View by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D3/T1.5
GCBGM1Z Penrhyn Path, Stumped by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2.5/T2
GCBGM27 Penrhyn Path, Fir Bob by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D3/T1.5
GCBGM2P Penrhyn Path, Twll Broga by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCBB9BW Gwers yr Hen Ysgol by RichieBlod Traditional D3/T1.5
New Event
GCBGZ71 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 85 by 9 Usual Suspect Event D1/T1.5
When: Thursday 29th January 2026
Where: The Australia, 31,The High Street, Porthmadog LL49 9LR
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves
For this months Nosh & Natter we are at the Australia, Porthmadog. We have not been here for a long while as the pub didn’t take table bookings, since they have extended up stairs they now take bookings. If you intend to attend please log ‘will attends’ in advance to ensure we book enough space.
Event Reviews
GCBF9M0 9 Usual Suspects Say Goodbye to 2025 by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1
For our finale event of the year we returned to the Airport Cafe, Caernarfon, where we held the first event of 2025. The airport kept us entertained with lots of comings and goings, with a variety of planes, helicopters and other flying machines while we enjoyed our delicious breakfasts and cakes. A big thank you to the staff for looking after us all so well.
Two TB’s made it back to this event after a year of travelling.
GCBF9MF 9 Usual Suspects UnBoxing 2026 by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1.5
We took a risk with the weather hosting this event but even though it was bitterly cold the promised wintery showers held off. We were also surprised by today’s turnout seeing the conditions last time we were here. After hot drinks and cakes we headed off to find the new caches along the coastal path.
A few photos of our day. Note no MUD!
TB Race
The TB race ended on the 31st December, 2025. The results will be announced shortly once everyone has finished their logging for the holiday period.
Kids Project Geocoin Competition
Looking for something to keep your little ones busy? This could be the answer. Click here.
2026 Confirmed Souvenirs
Here is the confirmed list of souvenirs for 2026. Note there are extra souvenirs for hiding a caches for Blue switch Day and International Geocaching day.
Currently Available Souvenirs
Hider 2026
Hider 2026 is available from January 1st-December 31st.
To earn this souvenir simply hide a geocache in 2026.
Unboxing 2026
Earn Unboxing 2026 souvenir by finding one geocache or Adventure Lab® Location between January 1st-8th.
We have four new caches to report since our last post and have a couple of event reminders:
GCBGG5Y Lon Eifion, Frosty… by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D1.5/T1.5
GCBGG67 Lon Eifion, Rocking Around the….. by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D1.5/T1.5
GCBGG6M Lon Eifion, Chimney Pot John by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D1.5/T1.5
GCBGPDH Penrhos Link by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T2.5
Event Reminders
GCBF9M0 9 Usual Suspects Say Goodbye to 2025 by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1
When: 31st December, 2025
Where: Airport Cafe, Dinas Dinlle, Caernarfon LL54 5TP
Time: 11am-12pm
Our last event of 2025 and a chance for a quick catch up before the New Year Celebrations begin. There is no better way to start your New Year celebrations than meeting up with your geocaching friends!
This event marks the end of our TB race, will any TB’s make it back?
We have 3 tables booked in the Conservatory, last orders for breakfast is 11.30am.
GCBF9MF 9 Usual Suspects UnBoxing 2026 by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1.5
When: 1st January, 2026
Where: Bangor LL57 3YH
Time: 1pm-1.30pm
Our first event of 2026! Why not join us at Traeth Lafan Nature Reserve? After the event 9 Usual Suspects invite all attendees to join them on exploring the Coastal Path and can confirm there will be a few new caches to find.
We can assure everyone that there is not the mud like our previous adventures here!
Closing of 2025 Beginning of 2026 Souvenirs
As 2025 comes to a close two new souvenirs will be available, Closing 2025 and Unboxing 2026.
Earn Closing 2025 by finding any geocache, attending any Event, or completing an Adventure Lab® Location between December 24th to 31st, 2025.
Earn Unboxing 2026 by finding any geocache, attending any Event, or completing an Adventure Lab® Location from January 1st to 8th, 2026.
Locationless Cache, Last Chance to Log
GCA2025 Where’s 25? – Locationless Cache by Geocaching HQ D1/T1.5
As part of Geocachings 25th anniversary celebrations HQ released this Locationless cache. The cache is available until 31st December 2025, claim by posting a picture of a ’25’ found somewhere in the real world.
Here are the logging requirements:
Logs that do not include a photo will be deleted. The cache page will be archived and locked on January 1st, 2026
Lôn Eifion Cycle Path Closure UpDate
Lôn Eifion Cycle Path remains closed from Penygroes to Inigo Jones roundabout. We have no date for when this stretch will reopen.
And Finally…
We would like to Thank everyone for their support through the ‘ups’ and ‘downs’ of the last year and would like to wish you all a very Happy & Fun filled 2026 with plenty of Geocaching adventures.
We have no new caches or events to report but we do have a new Treasure Collection.
Latest Treasure Update
After listening to geocachers comments on ‘Treasures’ Geocaching HQ have made some improvements. It is now easier to switch between collections and to see if a cache qualifies for a Treasure.
All collections are now active by default for Premium members. Setting “Priority collections” is optional, you can choose up to five collections to prioritise. When you log a cache that qualifies for more than one collection, you’ll collect Treasure from the highest-ranked priority collection. If a cache doesn’t match any of your priority collections, but does qualify for another collection that’s not in your priority collections, you’ll collect that Treasure. If you don’t set any priority collections, you’ll continue to collect Treasure from any collection that matches your finds.
Viewing Treasure on cache pages on Geocaching.com
Premium members can now see which collections a cache qualifies for directly on the cache page on Geocaching.com. This makes it easier to plan your next outing.
To see what collections a cache qualifies for directly from a cache page, go to a cache page on Geocaching.com and click on “View Treasures” in the list menu on the right hand of the page below the “Log geocache” button. A window will appear that shows which collections the geocache qualifies for.
New Treasure Collection
Classic toys collection was released on the 19th December and consisting of 6 treasures.
To collect find and log: Any non-Event geocache type except Adventure Lab®, any size, with the Recommended for kids attribute OR any Event Cache.
December Souvenir
The December Solstice Souvenir is available from Friday 19th to Monday 22nd December, to earn find and log any geocache, Event, or Adventure Lab® Location.
And finally….
Another bad Christmas joke…
Why do reindeer wear bells?
Because their horns don’t work!
We have disabled our caches, until further notice, along Lôn Eifion from Penygroes to Inigo Jones roundabout Groeslon due to the cycle path closure caused by a landslide.
From the council:
“The Lôn Eifion path remains closed following the damage caused during the recent severe weather.
The path is closed between the Inigo Jones roundabout in the Groeslon and Penygroes area to protect the public. Barriers have been put in place to ensure this section of the path is not used, and we ask the public to respect the warnings signs that the path is closed at present.
We apologise for the temporary inconvenience.”
A couple of new caches and an event have been published since our last post:
GCBFP48 Lon Eifion, No Sign by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D1/T2
GCBFTRA Lon Las Ogwen – a cache by a tree by ShadowTheNinjaWolf Traditional D1.5/T1.5
Events
GCBFR57 Piratemania On Tour #1 by Piratemania Crew Event D1/T1.5
When: Saturday 31st January 2026
Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ
Time: 2.30pm to 5pm
A chance to meet and support the Piratemania Crew as they promote Piratemania 18 [2026]. Never been to Piratemania? Come along and find out what you have been missing. There will be a raffle and other merchandise on sale with all proceeds going to fund Piratemania 18 Mega event.
When: Friday 24th July to Wednesday 29th July
Where: Kelmarsh Hall & Gardens, Main Road, Kelmarsh, Northampton NN6 9LY
GIFF Results
The votes have been counted, and we are excited to present this year’s film festival awards: the Signal Award (chosen by community volunteers) and the People’s Choice Award (voted for by geocachers). This year, an interesting phenomenon occurred, volunteers and geocachers chose the same winner.
HARD WORK by Harogs Team
(harogs, geocachingclown, and commge)
This clever Swiss made film took a unique look at the workings of a gadget cache, but only came 2nd in the vote held at our GIFF event. If you missed the films or would like to watch them again: find them here: GIFF 2025 finalist films.
The Geocaching International Film Festival will return in 2027.
December Souvenir
The December Solstice Souvenir is available from Friday 19th to Monday 22nd December, to earn find and log any geocache, Event, or Adventure Lab® Location.
Event Reviews
GCBDKZD Christmas Dinner – Nosh & Natter 84 by 9 Usual Suspects
Our Christmas Dinner event is always a popular event and a great way to start the festive season. This year was no exception, an evening full of fun and laughter. Big Thank You’s to Mike & Gail for the quiz and prizes, Gra for the lovely dragon magnets, the Secret Santa and of course the staff of The Goat for the lovely food and looking after us.
GCBERY8 9 Usual Suspects: Escape Room. by 9 Usual Suspects
Bess’s Friends, Julie, assisted by Ray crafted a fantastic geocache event in the form of an escape room set in a pub. It was a radical shift from our normal events and required teams to solve a series of cleverly designed clues to ‘break out’ of the pub before closing time. The pressure was on as our local PanIQ escape room owner and their partner attended joining one of the teams. Solving the clues required a combination of teamwork, observation, deduction and lateral thinking only when these were combined, escape was possible. A great afternoon which everyone enjoyed and appreciated the work involved by Julie & Ray to make this event possible. We are hoping that there will be a repeat event…
And finally….
It’s nearly Christmas, the season of bad jokes…
What never eats Christmas dinner?
The turkey, it’s stuffed!
Since our last post we have a couple of events published over New Year and a couple of event reminders:
GCBF9M0 9 Usual Suspects Say Goodbye to 2025 by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1
When: 31st December, 2025
Where: Airport Cafe, Dinas Dinlle, Caernarfon LL54 5TP
Time: 11am-12pm
Our last event of 2025 and a chance for a quick catch up before the New Year Celebrations begin. There is no better way to start your New Year celebrations than meeting up with your geocaching friends!
GCBF9MF 9 Usual Suspects UnBoxing 2026 by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1.5
When: 1st January, 2026
Where: Bangor LL57 3YH
Time: 1pm-1.30pm
Our first event of 2026! Why not join us at Traeth Lafan Nature Reserve? After the event 9 Usual Suspects invite all attendees to join them on exploring the Coastal Path. We can assure everyone that there is not the mud of our previous adventures here!
Event Reminders
GCBERY8 9 Usual Suspects: Escape Room. by 9 Usual Suspects
When: Saturday 22nd November
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle LL54 6BB
Starts: 2pm
Ends: 5pm or when the last person leaves
Enjoy escape rooms? Then this event is for you. Julie has designed a pub themed escape room full of tricky puzzles to solve.
Christmas Dinner
GCBDKZD Christmas Dinner – Nosh & Natter 84 by 9 Usual Suspects
Where: Tafarn Yr Afr/Goat Inn, Glandwyfach, Porthmadog LL51 9LJ
When: Saturday 29th November
Time: 7-9pm or when the last person leaves
Dress Code: Anything Christmas
This is the last call for food orders, if you have not already let us have your food orders please can we have them ASAP.
We have just two new traditional caches to report since our last post:
GCBF3MQ Ynys Môn view by ShadowTheNinjaWolf & kiethchaos Traditional D1.5/T1.5
GCBCJP3 TFTC by Clueless_Goose Traditional D5/T1.5
Treasures
Three new Treasure collections have been introduced: Snow globes, Origami animals and Dog figurines.
The Snow globes collect consists of 7 treasures. To collect find:
Any Traditional, Multi-Cache, or Mystery, any size except Micro, Small, or Virtual
with a minimum of 2 Favourite points
The Origami animals collection consists of 14 treasures. To collect find:
Small sized Traditional caches with a minimum of 4 favourite points.
The Dog figurines collection consists of 9 treasures. To collect find:
Any Micro cache with the Dog friendly attribute.
End of Year Souvenirs
As 2025 comes to a close two new souvenirs will be available, Closing 2025 and Unboxing 2026.
Earn Closing 2025 by finding any geocache, attending any Event, or completing an Adventure Lab® Location between December 24th to 31st, 2025.
Earn Unboxing 2026 by finding any geocache, attending any Event, or completing an Adventure Lab® Location from January 1st to 8th, 2026.
TB Race Update
We have just 7 weeks left in our TB race, here is the current leader board:
1) I Met Signal Tag owner ECOBAKE 43.605.5 km
2) Golden Goose owner Clueless_Goose 32,484.8 km
3) Racing Pirate owner Ann@Birdbrook 22,904.7 km
4) GraPeS The Bear owner Bess’s Friends 22,719 km
5) Lackey Tag owner Mossfamilymacc 21,241.3 km
6) DJ’s Dolphin Adventure owner Cwm DJ 20,426.7 km
7) Leap Year Devon Mega 2017 owner FfiLli 16,113.9 km
8) Incy owner sionyn68 16,040.8 km
9) 2025 New Adventure Racing Hummingbird owner wendy2000 16,000.9 km
10) 9 Ususal Suspects Race 2025 Go For It owner escapefromwork 15,911.9 km
11) Compass Winnie owner Bess’s Friends 14,591.4 km
12) 74jen Signal Race Tag owner 74jen 13,233.6 km
13) BONUSTOWN I’M IN A RACE Tag owner lostnwet 5,985.7 km
14) WanderBug the World Traveler owner naturesbyte 4,939.4 km
15) RACING KINGFISHER owner YnysMonBirders 4,481.2 km
16) Travel Sun Geocoin owner WelshDisneyMum80 1,184.6 km
17) Stitch Lackey owner Geojade2013 1,184.6 km
18) Mardi Gras 2015 owner Mossfamilymacc 583.4 km
19) Piratemania Chorley Chuckle owner jude100 194 km
20) Clogging all over the world owner Team Marzipan 0 Km
The total distance traveled by all TB’s, 273,827.4 km.
30 Countries have been visited: Argentina, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Falkland Islands, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, USA, Uruguay
Event Review
GCBC20Q GIFF 2025, Geocaching International Film Festival by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1
This was the 8th GIFF we have hosted our first being at Witch’s Brew, Pwllheli way back in 2015. For a history of GIFF and to take a look at all previous qualifying films visit Geocaching HQ GIFF.
Watching the GIFF films with geocaching friends was a great way to spend a wet miserable Sunday afternoon. As well as the films we enjoyed popcorn, sweets, flapjack, cake and soft drinks. A big thank you goes to everyone for helping set up, Julie for manning the shop & raffle, Jen for the flapjack and making the tea, Pete for manning the projector and tech, and all who helped clear up at the end of the afternoon.
I think we were all in agreement that the films this year were of a higher standard than we have had in previous years.
To vote in the worldwide GIFF People’s Choice Award, go to Official Voting Survey
Here are the results of our voting:
1st Place
The Bison Buddy 5000 by Skimbosh 171
2nd Place
Hard Work by Harogs team 155
3rd Place
If You Hide It… by Team Vlogger aka geocachingvlogger and Seemyshell 144
Joint 4th Place
David CachinBro – First Lamp Post by DNF Hound 139
Never a Straight Path by Justcarlo 139
5th Place
The Island by Blackcoconut 127
Joint 6th Place
Geocaching is a Journey by Defoz 125
Dogeza by nokos team 125
7th Place
Gadget Cacher by PerGremlin team 121
Joint 8th Place
Tree-m Work by GeoBeeps 114
Here’s My Card by Ptowngirl229 114
Flavors of Stealth by CheekyBrit team 114
9th Place
GIFF Planning by Barucci 112
10th Place
Return of the Cache Napper Trailer by ZippyZipperZoo 111
11th Place
2000 by lpoded 109
12th Place
Super Cacher Maintainer by Team Kuropi 107
13th Place
Little Apple Tree by Rassis on tour 101
14th Place
The Inheritance by Maxagri60 team 100
15th Place
The Best Finds Are Other Geocachers by Owlfly 95
16th Place
Orthoceras by Breizh Geocacheurs team 65
Here are a few pictures from the afternoon:
Just one new cache that should have been published for Halloween but we didn’t get in for review and an event:
GCBEV9R Frankenstein by 9 Usual Suspects Mystery D2/T1.5
GCBERY8 9 Usual Suspects: Escape Room. by 9 Usual Suspects
When: Saturday 22nd November
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle LL54 6BB
Starts: 2pm
Ends: 5pm or when the last person leaves
Enjoy escape rooms? Then this event is for you. Julie has designed a pub themed escape room full of tricky puzzles to solve.
Event Reminder
GCBC20Q GIFF 2025, Geocaching International Film Festival by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1
Where: Talysarn Community Centre, Station Road, Talysarn, Caernarfon LL54 6HL
Date: Sunday 9th November 2025
Doors open: 3.00pm
Film showing starts: 3.15pm approx, duration approx 1 hour 15 minutes
Venue closes: 5.00pm
This will be the 8th GIFF we have hosted our first being at Witch’s Brew, Pwllheli way back in 2015. For a history of GIFF and to take a look at all previous qualifying films visit Geocaching HQ GIFF.
Do you want an event souvenir? If so please log a “will attend” in advance and in your geocaching name. Please note only those that have logged a “will attend” will receive a souvenir.
As at previous GIFF events we will be voting on our favourite films, there will be free refreshments, a shop selling a variety of geocaching containers and our latest 9US geocoins. The on going TB raffle will also be drawn.
Here are this year’s 20 GIFF films:
We will be having a ten minute intermission after film 10.
Christmas Dinner
GCBDKZD Christmas Dinner – Nosh & Natter 84 by 9 Usual Suspects
Where: Tafarn Yr Afr/Goat Inn, Glandwyfach, Porthmadog LL51 9LJ
When: Saturday 29th November
Time: 7-9pm or when the last person leaves
Dress Code: Anything Christmas
We are now taking menu choices, please note all food has to be ordered in advance and we need orders by 21st November. See menu below:
Piratemania 18 2026 Up-date
The Piratemania Crew have announced the dates and site for next years event.
When: Friday 24th July to Wednesday 29th July
Where: Kelmarsh Hall & Gardens, Main Road, Kelmarsh, Northampton NN6 9LY
GCBEP2C Lon Eifion, Fun Guys… by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCBEJJ6 Squirrelled away by ShadowTheNinjaWolf Traditional D1.5/T1.5
GCBEFN1 Pen Braich bike trails by ShadowTheNinjaWolf Traditional D1.5/T2
Event Reminder
GCBDZHV 9 Usual Suspects- Let’s Meet! by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1
Where: The Australia. 31, The High Street, Porthmadog. LL49 9LR
When: Saturday 1st November, 2025
Time: 14.00 hrs – 15.00 hrs
9 Usual Suspects invite you to join them at one of their favourite pubs, The Australian, for a catch up and for any visitors to the area to meet local cachers.
Event Review
GCBC2HX Happy Halloween by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1
The weather was not on our side, we battled with the strong winds and rain managing to set up most of our scary props. Those that didn’t appear this year will hopefully make an appearance next year!. Between the heavy showers there was plenty of spooky fun, pumpkin competitions, quizzes, BBQ and lots of banter. Thank you to the witches, other scary characters and everyone for attending and supporting our events.
Here are few pictures from the evening:
Several new Traditional caches and a couple of Earthcaches have been published since our last post, just in time for half term.
GCBDZQP Pont droed Desach by Tirion_Trailblazer Traditional D2/T3
GCBE6Z8 Lôn Gwyrfai 1 by Math1212 Traditional D2/T1.5
GCBE6ZV Lôn Gwyrfai 2 by Math1212 Traditional D1.5/T2
GCBE8QW Lôn Gwyrfai 3 by Math1212 Traditional D3/T1.5
GCBE8X8 Lôn Gwyrfai 4 by Math1212 Traditional D2/T1.5
GCBE8XW Lôn Gwyrfai 5 by Math1212 Traditional D2/T2
GCBE9VW Lon Eifion, Hook, Line & Sinker by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCBE9W2 Lon Eifion, Meet Pigwidgeon by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2.5/T1.5
GCBE9WC Lon Eifion, Spectacular Style by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D1.5/T1.5
GCBE9X6 Lon Eifion, Meet Jack O… by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D1.5/T2
GCBE9X1 Lon Eifion, Deathly Hollows 2 by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D1.5/T2
GCBE869 Penmaenmawr Rock by MrMagnaDefender Earthcache D2.5/T1.5
GCBE82C The Acid Volcano by MrMagnaDefender Earthcache D3.5/T3
Event Reminder
GCBC2HX Happy Halloween by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1
When: Saturday 25th October
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle LL54 6BB
Party Starts: 5pm
Party Ends: 8pm or when the last person leaves
Attire: Optional Halloween Fancy dress
A repeat of last years event with a few extra scary surprises. Wrap up warm, as, weather permitting, we plan to have some outside activities including a pumpkin lantern competition. There will be prizes for adults and children, to enter bring your carved pumpkin on the night. Of course there will be a BBQ and the bar will be open to late.
Our latest slate coins will be available to purchase at £14 each, pre-ordered coins will be available for collection.
Anyone wishing to purchase coins can contact us through the comments or email SlateCoins@9usualsuspects.uk
Virtual Rewards 5
This year, Geocaching HQ is saying thank you to cache hiders with 4,000 new opportunities to place a one-of-a-kind Virtual Cache. With Virtual Rewards 5.0, you could have the chance to create a Virtual Cache in 2026 if you hide three non-Event geocaches in 2025.
Geocachers who meet these criteria are automatically eligible for selection on February 3rd, 2026: