The history of letterboxing goes all the way back to the 19th century, when in 1854 James Perrott, placed a glass jar within a small cairn at Cranmere Pool on Dartmoor. Within this jar, people could leave calling cards of their visit after journeying to the remote location.

This began to grow, as more hikers explored the trails, with each one starting to leave a letter or postcard within a box at the site. This is where the name “letterboxing” comes from.

The next person who discovered the letterbox would then take the letter or postcard and post them.

Now letterboxing has grown into a treasure hunt, by replacing the postcards with unique stamps to collect. It combines outdoor activities such as walking and orienteering with treasure hunting and puzzle solving to discover each letterbox.

This provides a skill-developing and educational day out with an escape in the great outdoors.