Disappointing first trip...help!

Hello!
I went on my first letterboxing trip last weekend, Id done a bit of research and figured that Pew Tor was a safe bet for an encouraging start. I found about 6 letterboxes which had been done by familes/children, are these official? One of these was in quite a dangerous place too which i didnt think was right. I fond one 'official' letterbox notebook but no stamp and then a v.impressive stamp but no book!!
I felt like I really did have a good look but Im guessing, from looking at other posts, that I have to be a lot more extensive!!!

Any other ideas for good starter sites?

good starters, look on the charity page, and have a look around widgery cross there are a few up there, plus if you get hold of a catalogue then you will have a load of clues to help you. other than that get a stick and poke under every rock..

That was good for your first trip so don't beat yourself up over it.

Not all boxes will also have a visitor's book in it. That is down to the owner of the box, also if it is part of a walk in the area, you may find the visitor's book is in just one of the boxes on the route.

It will take many trips before you begin to recognise the signs of where boxes are hidden. After many years of boxing I might only pick up a handful of boxes in a day, some days are just like that. Other people can pick up 40 or 50 in a day.

You could try around Cox Tor, the Staples, etc., if you want to box in the local vicinity, otherwise if you go over to Saddle Tor, you will find lots of children's boxes as well as others over there. They all count towards your 100. Once you've got your hundred, you will then qualify to get the catalogue.

Good luck.

What Tina said, after a bit you get your eye in. Scan across an area and see if your eye trips up over something that doesn't quite look right and go poke under that rock. A walking pole is a great accessory as it saves you having to bend down for every rock.

Kirsty, I've pm'd you a few clues of boxes I've put out to get you started. A nice afternoon's walk for you.

Thanks so much for the encouragement and the clues Fulchet!! I think id just got my hopes up because Id read on another site that someone found 44 there in one outing I definitely need to get into the letterboxing state of mind, hopefully it'l come to me over time!!!

I remember our first trip, it was recomended that we try around sheeps tor, we spent hours if not the whole day looking for boxes under every rock, we only found about three on the first trip which was off putting. So my advice is don't go up there till you have your eye in and a few clues. But saying that we did find the pixies house by chance having our dinner.

Don't give up hope - it takes time to learn how people put their boxes out, each has their own ways of doing things, for myself I prefer to use a natural hole with nothing to cover the hole. Others will build a wall in front

Then you have to look for the tel tale marks like a worn patch around the box well chipped rocks etc... and now the bracken is becoming a factor it makes it harder

I've heard lots of people talk about Pew Tor before and kinda keen on having a go there could someone tell me a grid reference or where abouts its located.....it would be much appreciated!

532 734 hope that helps.

Hi Simsy

Grid ref. for Pew Tor 53 73. I have only given a four figure grid as you will find many boxes in this square. Just go and have a poke around with your walking pole and look for the tell tell signs.

Thanks a lot guys its much appreciated...hopefully will be able to find something.

if you get really stuck we have some boxes up on roos tor over the road in a walk but not sure how many are let as they have been out for a while but hopefully bringing them in before the next meet.

Hi, I've been out and around Pew Tor, Feather, Heckwood and Sampford tor today and it was 'horrible' walking and searching. The bracken is already almost thigh high in places, and even with clues it was very difficult to see the rocks, and pathways to get to the boxes. So if I were you, I would try and pick somewhere 'brackenless' to have a poke around.

I have to agree with comments about Sampford Tor the southern slope of that part of the moor is very dangerous on the legs and ankles and potentially leg breaking.

Pew Tor is better in the Spring would recommend Roos Tor upto and around the flagpole

I might have pooh-poohed such cautious counsel had I not gone an almighty pearler on the slopes of Pew Tor yesterday! Some of those rocks are slippery!

Still smarting,
Duckpool

Hope you didn't hurt yourself.

Thanks, only bruised pride!

Duckpool

I seem to remember Hen Tor being quite bad for bracken and rocks too - large rocks, with a good size drop between them and loads of tall bracken around. Not very nice. As for wet rocks - well that's why I hate crossing rivers!

I was told that most injuries on the moors are 'lower-limb' injuries - twisted ankles, etc. Have slipped up a few times myself - even just on wet grass - usually just a shock, but could be serious the next time of course!



John.

I started off around Pew Tor and Feather Tor when I started boxing back in Feb of this year. Should get you get on your way to first 100 but it takes a while to develop your letterboxing eye.

I went boxing today for the first time since April 16th and didn't find any so I need to retrain my eye!

Wondered where you had been Panomobile. Hope you and your lovely dog are well.

Thanks Fulchet. My dog was one of the reasons I got out of the habit of letterboxing as he had a bad right elbow and the vet suspected it to be 'elbow dysplasia' so I wasn't allowed to exercise the little scamp for very long for about a month. The limp stopped for a long time thanks to some tablets he was prescribed.