Newbie questions

Hi,

I'm keen to start letterboxing with my two seven-year old sons (need to do something to get them away from the telly!). I understand the concept of following clues to find the box and have grasped the stamps thing but I don't know how to start. Where do I find the clues? Are they all within the 100 Club book or available from organisations who are raising charity money or are there others to follow without having to purchase these? Should the stamps be custom made or are mass produced shop-bought ones acceptable? Should I have a stamp for each of us or would a single family stamp do? What guidance is there on equipment/clothing necessary? Where can I learn the rudiments of navigation with a map and compass and would a grasp of the rudiments be enough? Is this a suitable passtime for 7 year olds or might some boxes be inaccessible to them?

I'm keen to get started ASAP but if I have to buy special kit, wait for the clues book to arrive and have to design my own stamp and then get it made up then it looks like a couple of weeks at least before we can get out on the moor.

I'm sure there is a FAQ dealing with these types of questions but haven't found it yet. Hope someone can help

Cheers.

Hi

Welcome to the site.

Most of your questions have been answered within the threads if you have time to look through.

A single shop bought stamp for stamping in people's visitor books will be fine for now, or even just a handwritten note, until you have decided whether it is the hobby for you. There are plenty of areas that you could take two 7 year olds to get them started. Again, lots of hints throughout the threads.

You need some basic safety equipment to get you going, including good walking boots, wet weather gear and a compass. You'll also need a stamp pad or postcards and an ink pad. Always make sure you have plenty of hot and cold drinks and food with you. A torch is also handy and a walking stick for poking in holes.

Good luck and as I've said above, plenty of hints and tips throughout the threads, including a good section of navigation.

You can send off for the charity walks although you will do a lot of searching under rocks until you've got your 100 stamps and then become eligible for the cluebook. Later, when you've become more established, you may also be included on people's Word of Mouth mailing lists, where extra clues are available.

Good luck.

Tina

Hi Jock 1967

Let me add my welcome to that of Tina's

In short pretty much anything goes with letterboxing. Tina has spoken about stamps so I will not add anything but to say WH Smith do quite a large range for a few pounds.

I have recently introduced by 4 year old grandson to the hobby and he love it. To get the kids started I would suggest you visit Saddle Tor - just one down from the famous (and big) haytor rocks. Saddle Tor is litterally covered with letterboxes, most placed by children and very easy to find. My experience was there were so many there (most round the back of the tor) that my grandboy was simply rushing from box to box and not bothering to collect the stamps.

Saddle tor is close to the road and within just a few minutes walk you can be amongst the boxes but do be safe, good boots being the minumum really.

If you would like to talk to someone please send your telephone number across by private message and I would be happy to answer any further questions

good luck

Dave and Karen - the searchlighters

Hello,

You don't need a stamp in order to do letterboxing. I spent many years initially without any stamp at all. I just signed the visitors book with the date/time.

Good luck,


John.

Hi, Jock 1967.
Welcome to the wonderfully addictive world of letterboxing. We have been doing it for just over 2 years, having started without really knowing what it was all about. We managed to get the 100 Club clue book before starting, so had something of a head start.
Hopefully, most of your queries have been answered, together with looking through previous posts on the forum to get further information.
We haven't yet got around to having our own stamp made, but use sticky labels with our logo and name - some purists may think this is not right, but quite a few people do it.
It should be said, though, that children should be well supervised, especially when hiding the boxes that they find. Many boxes get left in the open, lids not on correctly or open altogether - obviously leading to destruction of the contents. There are some letterbox thieves who take great delight in spoiling our fun by removing letterboxes - we don't like to make it too easy for them!

Hope you have great fun.

Regards,
Generation Gap

Welcome to the Site Jock
Having read your post - reminded me of my early days of letterboxing. I wanted everything all at once...

I would go along with the line of waiting - you might find something within your family name that means a lot to you and you could incorporate it into a "family stamp" if you and the family decide that boxing is for you.

At the present moment - all you need is a book and a couple of ink pads. Black initially, blue, Green, and Red (watch out for other stamps that will contaminate the red ink pad). An old tooth brush to clean the stamps a sponge or cloth to clean/dry the stamps, a couple of pencils and something to carry it in.
Learn/refresh your navigation skills (ideally go out with someone who knows the area and is willing to refresh your skills) A basic first aid kit is essential.
A brilliant place to learn navigational skills is your local Scout group, another great way of learning navigational skills is to get an ordinance survey map of your area and use local knowledge to find things that relate to the map.
Learn how many paces it takes you to walk 100 metres - and learn what the legend means on the side of the map.


Big trouble with this time of year is the bracken it will hide children all to readily.

As for the clue book... depends if you want to be traditional or not? The clue book is still available ... but a lot will probably be missing and it is essential to have the updates to keep on top of your box hunting.

If you were to put up a post saying you are going out this weekend for example, and say where you are going I am sure someone on here would be more than happy to be your guide.

As others have stated there are some really good threads on how to use a compass on here and how to use a map.

Thanks for the replies guys. Think I'll get the boys kitted out with boots and waterproofs this weekend, buy some stamps, brush up my navigation skills and head for some of the areas you've suggested.

Hi Jock, and welcome to the forum

Welcome jock1967.

Well we went out to Pew Tor, Feather Tor and Heckwood Tor yesterday. Spent four enjoyable hours there with the boys which was longer than I thought they would last, especially considering the on/off rain. Only two midge bites.

Only found 4 boxes though! Two had no stamp, one was just a soggy book without a box and the other, which had a stamp, pad, visitors book and pens had only been left that day. Is it usual that letterboxes don't have a stamp or had they been stolen/mislaid?

Any clues as to why we found so few? By all accounts (in this forum anyway) Pew Tor is full of boxes. We looked all over the Tors, in every nook and cranny, yet only found four (only one of which will count towards our first hundred).

Asked the boys if they wanted to do it again. One said yes and the other no. When I said that next time we would follow clues and so should hopefully find more boxes they both said yes. I know the address for the Ireland walk is on this forum but does anyone know of any others that are still running that would be suitable for 6 year olds?

You have to look for boxes away from the tors themselves, and it is a case of learning where and how the boxes are hidden. If you had gone down towards Sampford Tor (South from Pu tor) you would have found a lot more - however the bracken at this time of year really doesn't help boxing in that area.

If you parked down by Sampford Tor and walked up then you would have found a few more boxes but if you parked aat Four Winds (where the ice cream van is) - I always return by folllowing the leat via Feather Tor and time permitting an occasional visit around the base of Vixen tor.

With regards to boxes with no stamps in them - this is the legacy of the Dartmoor Letterbox thief, who is quite happy to take the stamp and leave the box.
Also as the weather is so bad it will destroy letterboxes big time by making a lot of them very soggy. A lot of this is down to the type of container and the previous visitor(s) putting the top back on the pot/box properly.

A tip - it is worth while reading the visitors book and if you find a WOM box (word of mouth) make a note of the address inside. Even if it is a catalogue box make a note of the email addyinside and drop them a line asking if they have any more clues you could have or just to let them know what state their box is in, even if it is in good condition.

Nik - KOTM wrote:If you parked down by Sampford Tor and walked up then you would have found a few more boxes but if you parked aat Four Winds (where the ice cream van is)

Surely you mean by Pork Hill/Barn Hill car park - Four winds is by Kings Tor.

I would add to look in the back of the Visitors book too. It used to be that a clue to a further box, not necessarily in the same area mind, may be written at the back of the book. It doesn't seem to happen very much at all nowadays, but when I started it was quite common. Probably the letterbox thief made it not such a good idea


John.

You are right - just testig your obsevation or was I just having one of those senior moments.... eeek.