Month: August 2025

News & New Caches 197

Several new caches and events to report since our last post:

GCBBW14 Foxy’s neighbour by Tiriondavies Traditional D2/T1.5
GCBBTQ4 Cache is calling by Tiriondavies Traditional D1.5/T2
GCBBN8K WMW #2 – Playing with Stones by Wizard_001 Earthcache D4.5/T2.5

Premium Member Only
GCBBK2E Church Micro 15487…LLanddeiniolen by ECOBAKE Traditional D1.5/T1.5
GCBBXDF A Different Kind of Pavement by Mr MagnaDefender Earthcache D4/T4
GCBBXBX Wales Mountain Bowling Green by Mr MagnaDefender Earthcache D3/T5
GCBBW7B Mimetolith by Mr MagnaDefender Earthcache D2.5/T4
GCBBKDM Anglesey GeoMon – Spilite by Mr MagnaDefender Earthcache D3.5/T1.5
GCBBH79 Clogwyn Brith ~ Metasomatism by Mr MagnaDefender Earthcache D4/T2
GCBBGY1 Penygadair by Mr MagnaDefender Earthcache D3/T4
GCBBF7Y War Memorial #2425 – Llanberis by Mr MagnaDefender Earthcache D3.5/T1.5
GCBBFJY Anglesey GeoMon – Porth y Mór by Mr MagnaDefender Earthcache D2.5/T2.5

Events

GCBBXWD SideTracked Railway200 – Pwllheli by GO PUB CACHING
When: Saturday 27th September
Where: Pwllheli National Rail Station
Time: 9.30am to 10am

GCBBXYH SideTracked Railway200 – Caernarfon by GO PUB CACHING
When: Saturday 27th September
Where: Welsh Highland Railway, Caernarfon
Time: 12.45pm to 1.15pm

GCBBGQ7 SideTracked Railway200 – Porthmadog Harbour by GO PUB CACHING
When: Saturday 27th September
Where: Welsh Highland Railway & Ffestiniog Railway, Porthmadog
Time: 18.00pm to 18.30pm

GCBBXTH SideTracked Railway200 – Porthmadog by GO PUB CACHING
When: Sunday 28th September
Where: National Rail Station, Porthmadog
Time: 10.15am to 10.45am

Event Reminder
GCBAX9G 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 81 by 9 Usual Suspects
When: Thursday 28th August 2025
Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves
Please note for this event we are back to normal, tomorrow night.

Diary Dates
We currently have in for review the following events:
GCBC2HX Happy Halloween on Saturday 25th October
GCBC20Q GIFF 2025, Geocaching International Film Festival on Sunday 9th November
More details once published.

Upcoming Souvenirs

September Equinox Souvenir

Geocaching HQ has a new September equinox souvenir available from 19th-22nd September 2025. To earn the souvenir find one geocache, attend an Event, or complete an Adventure Lab® Location.
This year the changing seasons will be celebrated with souvenir artwork inspired by the Sandhill Crane. Why Cranes? Because they represent migratory patterns and seasonal change.

Adventure Day Souvenir

To earn the Adventure Lab® Adventure Day souvenir, complete five Adventure Lab Locations, these do not have to be in the same Adventure, between Friday 17th October to Sunday 19th October 2025.

News & New Caches 196

It’s holiday season and we have a lot of new caches to report to keep everyone busy, all premium member apart from one:

GCBB79Q Holyhead Path Cache by caccbag with the generous help of Glaslyn1 Traditional D2/T1.5

Premium Member Only
GCBB00J A Fine Pair # 1865 ~ Conwy – Rose Hill Street by Hitman9956 Multi D2/T2
GCBAX3P War Memorial #2400 ~ Conwy by Hitman9956 Mystery D2/T2
GCBB09A Church Micro 15474…Conwy – St John by Hitman9956 Multi D2/T2

So nice to see some new caches around Llanberis appear on the map, Llanberis has been in need of some new caches for a very long time.
GC5T0VR REALLY SideTracked – Caernarfon by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T1.5
GCBAF99 LlP 1 – Pont Pen-y-Llyn by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2.5/T1.5
GCBAFA6 LlP 2 – Helygen by Clueless_Goose Traditional D3.5/T2
GCBAFCT LlP 3 – Craig yr Undeb by Clueless_Goose Earthcache D3/T1.5
GCBAFGB LlP 4 – Ffens Pren by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T1.5
GCBAFGM LlP 5 – Twnel Llanberis by Clueless_Goose Letterbox D2.5/T3.5
GCBAFJC LlP 6 – Peipen by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T2
GCBAFJP LlP 7 – Afalau Bach by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2.5
GCBAFK2 LlP 8 – Out on a Limb by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T4.5
GCBAFKB LlP 9 – Samsara Cyclepath by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2
GCBAFKM LlP 10 – Wal Werdd by Clueless_Goose Traditional D3/T2
GCBAFKT LlP 11 – Pont Ddu by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T2.5
GCBAFM1 LlP 12 – Stwmp by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T2.5
GCBAFM6 LlP 13 – Y Glyn by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2.5/T1
GCBAFMK LlP 14 – Rydych Yma by Clueless_Goose Multi D3/T1.5
GCBAFQC LlP 15 – Maes Parcio by Clueless_Goose Multi D1.5/T1.5
GCBAG1C LlP 16 – Llafn y Cewri by Clueless_Goose Multi D2.5/T1.5
GCBAG1P LlP 17 – Stesion Llanberis by Clueless_Goose Multi D2.5/T1
GCBAGZ3 LlP 18 – Cae’r Ddol by Clueless_Goose Multi D1.5/T2
GCBAGZC LlP 19 – Derwen by Clueless_Goose Multi D3/T2
GCBAGZE LlP 20 – Pont Afon-y-Bala by Clueless_Goose Multi D1.5/T1.5

Event Reminder

9US 10th Birthday Party and International Geocaching Day

By attending this event you will earn the International Geocaching Day 2025 finders souvenir.

GCAW0G4 9 US Celebrate International Geocaching Day by 9 Usual Suspects
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle
When: Saturday 16th August, 2025
Time: 2pm-6pm (the bar will remain open until the last person leaves!)
Games Start Time: 2.30pm
BBQ: 5pm
Trackable Raffle Draw: 5.30pm
9 Usual Suspects invite you to join them in the beautiful Nantlle Valley to celebrate their 10th Birthday, 25 years of Geocaching and International Geocaching Day, the theme for this years event is ‘An Afternoon of Birthday Fun Games’. We will also be taking a look back at our adventures over the last 10 years.

Please log will attends so that we have a rough idea on numbers for catering, prizes and souvenirs.

International Geocaching Day Souvenir

International Geocaching Day is always the 3rd Saturday in August, normally just one souvenir, but to celebrate 25 years of geocaching, there are two new souvenirs to earn for International Geocaching Day 2025.
International Geocaching Day 2025 finder:
To earn this souvenir, geocachers must find and log one geocache, attend an Event, or complete an Adventure Lab® Location between Friday 15th and 17th August, 2025.
International Geocaching Day 2025 hider:
Any non-Event geocache type (excluding Adventure Lab®) counts, as long as it is published between Tuesday 15th July and Monday 25th August

Anglesey Column Abseil

Fancy Abseiling the Anglesey Column?
Climb the 115 steps, take in the breathtaking views, log our virtual cache, then abseil 35 metres back down – all under the guidance of the amazing Go Vertical team. Once your feet are back on solid ground, you’ll be treated to a breakfast bap or homemade soup and a drink in the Column Café.
Two dates only – and spaces are limited: Saturday 9th August or Friday 22nd August

Price: £65 per person or £195 for a family of 4 (2 adults + 2 children) plus booking fee
To book follow this link Abseiling Anglesey Column

News & New Caches 195

One new Earthcache, an event and the UK Mega have all been published since our last post:

GCBAVJW Pwllheli Stone Circle by MrMagnaDefender Earthcache D2/T1.5

Events

GCBAX9G 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 81 by 9 Usual Suspects
When: Thursday 28th August 2025
Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves
Please note for this event we are back to normal, the last Thursday of the month.

UK Mega 2026

Today at 10am the cache page for next years UK Mega went live:

GCB910M East Anglia UK Mega Event by EastAngliaMega26
When: Saturday 8th August 2026
Where: Norfolk Showground, Dereham Rd, New Costessey, Norwich NR5 0TT
Time: 10:00am to 4pm

The Norfolk Showground is located just outside Norwich, with easy access by car. The showground has ample space for camping and plenty of toilet blocks and showers.
Evening events will be held in the St Walstan Hall on site.
Camping will be available from Tuesday 4th to Monday 10th August. More details will be added when available.

For more information see their website: East Anglia UK Mega 2026

World Postcard Day Souvenir 2025

Did you know that Wednesday 1st October is World Postcard Day? To celebrate this day Geocaching HQ have announced a new souvenir. To qualify for the souvenir you need to attend an Event from September 28th to October 4th, 2025. All Events, including Community Celebration Events and Block parties, qualify for the souvenir.

CADW Open Doors 2025

This September, more than 200 of Wales’ historic sites, landmarks and hidden gems will offer visitors free entry, events or guided tours.

It’s all part of Open Doors — Wales’ annual contribution to the European Heritage Days initiative, which invites heritage organisations, private owners, local authorities and others to open their doors or offer activities to the public free of charge during September.

Funded and organised by Cadw, to encourage Welsh residents and visitors alike to explore some of the country’s lesser-known and smaller-scale sites ― several of which are usually closed to the public.

Harlech Castle open free weekend 26th/27th September

Last year we took advantage of the free entry to host an event at Harlech Castle. We can highly recommend the castle and the guide tour which is also free.

For further details visit CADW Open Doors

News & New Caches 194

We are now back and catching up after attending the UK Mega events. A nice range of cache types and difficulties have been published in our absence:

GCBAQC4 Walk to the beach by JGibson16062012 Traditional D2/T2
GCBAP8B River below by Theonator8772 Traditional D1/T1
GCBAP78 Ciara’s crash by Theonator8772 Traditional D3/T2
GCBAMGA Stone pole by Jackinnorthwales Traditional D1/T1
GCBAHNZ Bethel, Pont Charlie by Math1212 Traditional D2/T2
GCBAD9Y Dod yn ôl at fy Nghoed by Clueless_Goose Mystery D3.5/T2
GCBA909 The Toy Box by gethv1 Traditional D1/T2

Premium Member Only
GCBAVKR The Bridge, the Beast and the Bounty! by RichieBlod Traditional D1/T1
GCBAMKV Anglesey GeoMon – Orogenic Origins by MrMagnaDefender Earthcache D4/T2.5
GCBAMFB YOSM #1277 Mynydd Bodafon by MrMagnaDefender Earthcache D3.5/T3

Event Reminder
Tomorrow night!
GCBA6JY Come and Join Us at Criccieth by The Creepy Crawlies Event D1/T1
Where: The Lion Hotel, Criccieth
When: Wednesday 6th August, 2025
Time: 6pm-7pm
The Creepy Crawlies will be travelling around Wales for a week on holiday. They would like to meet both local and not so local Geocachers to discuss our fascinating hobby. Also they are fully supporting the UK Mega 2026 Committee and are keen to discuss this event.

9US Birthday Party

GCAW0G4 9 US Celebrate International Geocaching Day by 9 Usual Suspects
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle
When: Saturday 16th August, 2025
Time: 2pm-6pm (the bar will remain open until the last person leaves!)
Games Start Time: 2.30pm
BBQ: 5pm
Trackable Raffle Draw: 5.30pm
9 Usual Suspects invite you to join them in the beautiful Nantlle Valley to celebrate their 10th Birthday, 25 years of Geocaching and International Geocaching Day, the theme for this years event is ‘An Afternoon of Birthday Fun Games’. We will also be taking a look back at our adventures over the last 10 years.

Please log will attends so that we have a rough idea on numbers for catering and prizes.

Virtual Awards 5.0

Geocaching HQ have announced the next release of 4,000 Virtual Caches as part of their 25th anniversary celebrations. Geocachers who meet the following criteria will automatically be eligible for selection on February 3rd, 2026.

  • You must have three non-Event geocaches published in 2025.
  • You must have created your geocaching account before July 29, 2025.
  • Prior Virtual Reward recipients are eligible to participate.
  • Players who opted-in for Virtual Rewards 2.0 and 3.0, and/or who qualified for Virtual Rewards 4.0, but did not receive a Virtual Cache will have a higher likelihood of receiving a Virtual Reward 5.0.

On February 3rd, 2026, Geocaching HQ will randomly select up to 4,000 eligible geocachers to receive one Virtual Cache. Recipients will have one year to create their Virtual Cache page and submit it for review (February 3rd, 2026–February 3rd, 2027). The caches must comply with Virtual Cache-specific guidelines.

Note: An algorithm to help distribute Virtuals will be used favouring countries/areas that do not have many Virtual Caches.

Why not make Virtual Caches available for everyone to hide?
Because today’s active Virtual Caches are rare and generally well-liked, people often forget the problems that led to the Virtual becoming a legacy cache type in 2005.
The Virtual Cache type was initially created to place a cache where physical caches were not permitted or high-traffic areas made a physical cache impractical. While the intent of this cache type was positive, it created significant problems for geocaching community volunteer reviewers and often led to poor cache quality. Some players used Virtual Caches as a shortcut to create basic caches that did not require maintenance. Guidelines were eventually updated to require Virtuals to have special qualities to set them apart from other caches. However, the subjectivity introduced to the review process became difficult for both reviewers and cachers. The decision was finally made for the Virtual to become a legacy cache type to avoid these issues.

GIFF 2025

We have been asked if we are hosting GIFF this year. We intend to host this popular event on Sunday 9th November. We still have to confirm the venue but hope to be returning to Canolfan Talysarn, as soon as the venue is confirmed we will publish the event and further details.