Letterboxing Vs. Geocaching, what’s the difference?
First, let’s look at their origins!
Letterboxing started in 1854 when James Perrott set up the first letterbox on Dartmoor, United Kingdom, with further letterboxes established between 1894 and 1962, and this number has continued to grow to this day.
Geocaching, is a much newer hobby, with its creation in Oregon, United States of America, in the year 2000. An adaption of letterboxing.
How are they different?
Letterboxing traditionally uses a map and compass with clues from books, websites or word of mouth to work out where the letterbox is hidden. This mixture of skills and problem-solving and searching the area is what makes it such a great activity. Once found a stamp is collected or a card is left for the next person to find and the cycle continues.
Whereas Geocaching has developed with technology and the use of the internet and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) devices, allowing the caches to be located from their GPS coordinates. With the use of technology, the group in Oregon wanted to re-invent letterboxing.
Why Letterboxing and not geocaching?
We at Shropshire Letterboxing decided letterboxing over geocaching. If it is broken, don’t fix it. Although they are both similar, letterboxing is the original and brings more of a challenge to locate the boxes. It also allows an escape away from technology.
However, if you find the clues too difficult and want an easier experience you can request their grid references or What3Words location from us, but that does spoil the fun.
Shropshire Letterboxing 