Since our last post we have a couple of events published over New Year and a couple of event reminders:
GCBF9M09 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!
GCBF9MF9 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
GCBERY89 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
GCBDKZDChristmas 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:
GCBF3MQYnys Môn view by ShadowTheNinjaWolf & kiethchaos Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GCBCJP3TFTC 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
GCBC20QGIFF 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.
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
Just one new cache that should have been published for Halloween but we didn’t get in for review and an event:
GCBEV9RFrankenstein by 9 Usual Suspects Mystery D2/T1.5
GCBERY89 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
GCBC20QGIFF 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:
GIFF Planning by Barucci
2000 by lpoded
Geocaching is a Journey by Defoz
Tree-m Work by GeoBeeps
Hard Work by Harogs team
Here’s My Card by Ptowngirl229
Dogeza by nokos team
Super Cacher Maintainer by Team Kuropi
The Bison Buddy 5000 by Skimbosh
The Best Finds Are Other Geocachers by Owlfly
Gadget Cacher by PerGremlin team
Flavors of Stealth by CheekyBrit team
If You Hide It… by Team Vlogger aka geocachingvlogger and Seemyshell
The Island by Blackcoconut
The Inheritance by Maxagri60 team
Orthoceras by Breizh Geocacheurs team
Little Apple Tree by Rassis on tour
Return of the Cache Napper Trailer by ZippyZipperZoo
David CachinBro – First Lamp Post by DNF Hound
Never a Straight Path by Justcarlo
We will be having a ten minute intermission after film 10.
Christmas Dinner
GCBDKZDChristmas 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
GCBEP2CLon Eifion, Fun Guys… by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5 GCBEJJ6Squirrelled away by ShadowTheNinjaWolf Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GCBEFN1Pen Braich bike trails by ShadowTheNinjaWolf Traditional D1.5/T2
Event Reminder
GCBDZHV9 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
GCBC2HXHappy 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.
GCBDKYT9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 83 by 9 Usual Suspects When: Thursday 30th October 2025 Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves
Several new Traditional caches and a couple of Earthcaches have been published since our last post, just in time for half term.
GCBDZQPPont droed Desach by Tirion_Trailblazer Traditional D2/T3 GCBE6Z8Lôn Gwyrfai 1 by Math1212 Traditional D2/T1.5 GCBE6ZVLôn Gwyrfai 2 by Math1212 Traditional D1.5/T2 GCBE8QWLôn Gwyrfai 3 by Math1212 Traditional D3/T1.5 GCBE8X8Lôn Gwyrfai 4 by Math1212 Traditional D2/T1.5 GCBE8XWLôn Gwyrfai 5 by Math1212 Traditional D2/T2 GCBE9VWLon Eifion, Hook, Line & Sinker by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5 GCBE9W2Lon Eifion, Meet Pigwidgeon by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2.5/T1.5 GCBE9WCLon Eifion, Spectacular Style by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GCBE9X6Lon Eifion, Meet Jack O… by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D1.5/T2 GCBE9X1Lon Eifion, Deathly Hollows 2 by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D1.5/T2 GCBE869Penmaenmawr Rock by MrMagnaDefender Earthcache D2.5/T1.5 GCBE82C The Acid Volcano by MrMagnaDefender Earthcache D3.5/T3
Event Reminder
GCBC2HXHappy 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:
You must have three geocaches published in 2025, excluding Adventure Lab® and Event Caches.
You must have created your geocaching account before July 29th, 2025.
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.
Prior Virtual Reward recipients are eligible to participate.
Since our last post we have had a couple of new traditional caches and a new earthcache published:
Bwlch Mawr Trig Point
GCBC6PXYOSM #0187 Bwlch Mawr by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T3 GCBDNEJThe Captain’s bench by Tirion_Trailblazer Traditional D2/T1 GCBDMQ0Llewellyn by MrMagnaDefender Earthcache D2/T1.5
Event Reminder GCBDCQGMeet & Greet in Porthmadog by Hammer66 D1/T1 When: Saturday 11th October 2025 (tonight) Where: Porthmadog Harbour Time: 6pm to 6.30pm Hammer66 is on holiday in the area and would like to meet local and not so local cachers to discuss our wonderful hobby.
International EarthCache Day
Earn the International EarthCache Day 2025 souvenir by visiting any EarthCache and completing the logging requirements from October 10 through October 12, 2025. Since 2004, EarthCaches have encouraged geocachers to explore and celebrate our planet’s extraordinary geological features. All non-Premium EarthCaches are open to everyone throughout the weekend on the Geocaching® app from 12:00:00 UTC on Friday 10th October, until 12:00:00 UTC on Monday 13th October, 2025.
Treasures
Recently 4 new Treasure collections have been released, GIFF Gnomes, Celebrating GIFF, Fossils and River Expedition Puzzle. Collections now have to be activated to collect treasures, with only 3 collections active at any one time. Some juggling of active collections may be needed to ensure maximum treasures are collected. Here are the requirements for each new collection: GIFF Gnomes: Find 5 Mystery caches of Any Size with the Available 24/7 attribute. Celebrating GIFF: Attend 8 Events all types count. Fossils: Discover 6 Earthcaches, all D/T’s count.
River Expedition Puzzle: This new Treasure collection is only available for Premium members, and it’s a little different from previous collections as each treasure is piece of a jigsaw. Complete the collection to complete the puzzle and earn a souvenir. The puzzle has 16 pieces, and each piece has unique criteria based on difficulty and terrain ratings.
East Anglia UK Mega 2026
GCB910MEast 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
Are you planning on camping at the UK Mega next year? If so are you aware that there is a 10% discount for Early Bird booking available until the 31st October. Camping is available from Tuesday 4th to Monday 10th August and can be booked on this website. Full size 10m x 12m pitches at £30 per night. Small tent pitch 5m x 6m at £22 per night. £50 per week for optional EHU. Book from 2 to 6 nights. (Minimum booking is 2 nights.)
The pitches are all on a large grass field. The site has permanent toilet and shower blocks, electricity is generated by solar panels on the roof of the exhibition hall.
GCBD2G7CITO 2025 Season 2 by 9 Usual Suspects When: Saturday 4th October 2025 Where: The Old Bridge, Morfa Parc, Caernarfon Time: 2pm – 3.30pm
We will be meeting at the old bridge, Morfa Parc, Caernarfon, on Saturday 4th October 2pm. Our task for the day will be to pick up as much litter as possible starting from the the bridge, around the park then following the River Seiont to Lon Eifion. If we get enough volunteers we will pick the wooded area behind Tesco.
GCBDKZDChristmas Dinner – Nosh & Natter 84 by 9 Usual Suspects Where: Tafarn Yr Afr/Goat Inn, Glandwyfach, Porthmadog LL51 9LJ When: Friday 29th November Time: 7-9pm or when the last person leaves Dress Code: Anything Christmas
Just one new cache and 3 new events have been published since our last post.
GCBDJB6Pwmp Dŵr Rhos Isaf by Math1212 Traditional D2/T1.5
Events
GCBDCQGMeet & Greet in Porthmadog by Hammer66 D1/T1 When: Saturday 11th October 2025 Where: West Highland Railway Platform, Porthmadog Time: 6pm to 6.30pm Hammer66 is on holiday in the area and would like to meet local and not so local cachers to discuss our wonderful hobby.
GCBDKYT9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 83 by 9 Usual Suspects When: Thursday 30th October 2025 Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves
Christmas Dinner
I know it is only the beginning of October and no one wants to think about Christmas but for our Christmas Dinner Event we have to book way in advance to get our preferred date and venue.
GCBDKZDChristmas 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
Will Santa be attending? Who knows, but for those that wish to take part there will be the usual ‘Secret Santa’, presents price guide £5-£10. Please find the menu below:
Please note all food has to be ordered in advance and we need food orders by 21st November.
Event Reminders
We are weather watching, according to the latest info, with luck, Storm Amy should have passed by 2pm tomorrow, so we are not canceling the following events. We will review weather/conditions tomorrow morning and make a decision whether to go ahead or cancel. An event announcement will be made to confirm our decision.
GCBD2G7CITO 2025 Season 2 by 9 Usual Suspects When: Saturday 4th October 2025 Where: The Old Bridge, Morfa Parc, Caernarfon Time: 2pm – 3.30pm We will be meeting at the old bridge, Morfa Parc, Caernarfon, on Saturday 4th October 2pm. Our task for the day will be to pick up as much litter as possible starting from the the bridge, around the park then following the River Seiont to Lon Eifion. If we get enough volunteers we will pick the wooded area behind Tesco.
GCBD32K9US Cake & Brew by 9 Usual Suspects When: Saturday 4th October 2025 Where: Old Bridge,Parc Dre, Caernarfon Time: 3.30pm to 4pm As a Thank You to our hard working volunteers we will be supplying refreshments and a chance to catch up, swap TB’s and enjoy some geochat while having a brew and cake.
9US 10th Anniversary Coins
Last chance to pre-order and save £2!
Celebrate a decade of discovery with the limited edition 9 Usual Suspects 10th Anniversary Geocoin! Crafted from slate. This unique Geocoin features an engraved mountain scene on the obverse, on the reverse the iconic 9 Usual Suspects logo along with a trackable number. The Geocoin is a limited run with just 20 available, it’s a must-have keepsake for collectors and geocachers alike, marking ten unforgettable years of adventures for the 9 Usual Suspects.
Pre-order price is just £12, the coins will normally retail at £14. To order please contact us through the comments or email SlateCoins@9usualsuspects.uk Coins will be available to purchase and collect from our events.
