What Makes a Great Car Treasure Hunt?

By Tim Carter (Owner of Black Cat Treasure Hunts)

I have written a car treasure hunt that is coming up soon. I am so excited about it I want to share with you what makes a great one. I`m also going to let you know why Black Cat Treasure Hunts keeps most of them off the website.

1. Route Inspiration.
This is really a collaborative effort between the person booking and Black Cat. I am based in Sussex but will want to keep it away from the bigger places such as Brighton and Crawley and maybe the larger towns. However, combining a countryside drive with Sussex villages and a town here and there is an absolute winner. The key is enjoyment and a nice drive. You don`t want to be stuck in known traffic black spots, but it is likely that you will want the route to be accessible or starting from where you actually live.

2. How far will I be driving?

With petrol costs spiralling at the moment, Black Cat is only too aware of the need to keep the route compact. Typically, I look at a route that is around 25-30 miles long. Relating to 1. above it will normally be a circular route too. This means you are not driving more than on a day out.
3. How is the content different to a walking treasure hunt?
This is an interesting question, the answer to which I became quickly aware of when starting to write these as an option. The questions will generally have more basic answers to a walking one as the participants will generally be driving around 30mph past the answer. It wouldn`t be a Black Cat treasure hunt without a cryptic side or a hint of dry humour though, but the answers to the questions will be easy when you are in the right place! 
The car treasure hunts are not all about driving non-stop though. The aim is to drive to interesting places or places with incredible views or just places you may be unaware existed. At the stops Black Cat will set harder questions or more likely some fun challenges involving taking photos/video clips of your team.
4. Why are there only a couple of car treasure hunts on the website?
The short answer is that they are much harder to keep up to date and time consuming to put together.The Mad Jack treasure hunt was chosen almost by mistake when I discovered information about the incredible (and tiny) village of Brightling. The Pooh Bear treasure hunt has a more obvious goal, but nevertheless incorporates such a wide range of experiences that I`m pleased I have kept it on the website.
I have to be extremely careful when compiling a driving treasure hunt as I am looking for clues as I drive. I have to stop when it is safe to do so and/or when I arrive at a particularly clue -worthy site! Generally, it is easier to wait for an enquiry for a car treasure hunt and develop it from there. When they come together there is nothing better.
5. Give examples of Black Cat`s off-line car treasure hunt routes.
Thinking back, I realise that most of the off-line driving treasure hunts are personalised birthday treasure hunts. This is probably another reason to add to 4. So...I have written a circular one back to Pevensey Bay that took in Bexhill and Herstmonceux...I did one starting and finishing in Rye that went just over the border into Kent, but back via Icklesham and I also completed one from Ringmer that passed through a number of nearby villages.
The one coming up is a repeat booking from a family in Newick. The first one came down towards Glynde and back around via Isfield whereas the one soon is going north to Maresfield, Crowborough and back via the Ashdown Forest. There are some incredible views and things to find out. Did you know for example that Sherlock Holmes` author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle lived in Crowborough.
6. How can it be personalised?
Similar to the walking treasure hunts I can include info/photos about the participants. However, the cars taking part in the Newick treasure hunt are all in fancy dress. I can`t wait to see what they all come as. So far I have heard that Shaun the Sheep, Super Mario Brothers and Avengers Assemble may be making an appearance.I will have plenty of material for Instagram after this! As mentioned these make great and original birthday presents and the year of birth can form the basis of an excellent challenge on route too.
7. Value for money.
Although the minimum cost for one of these is higher than say a hen party treasure hunt or a personalised walking treasure hunt, the cart treasure hunts represent great value when you have a group of people.
The event is not a race (of course!) so you actually get around 3 hours' worth of fun and games out on the route and the distance travelled will be no more than a local day trip to somewhere else. Doing the marking/judging afterwards can be a lot of fun too or you can ask me to do it for you with a little presentation for a small optional, additional fee.
Combine it with a celebratory meal or home buffet afterwards and I guarantee that compared to other birthday (anniversary etc) ideas for a day you will not get better value.
8.Summarise in 3 words what a great car treasure hunt should be.
Fun, original, value.

Contact me (Tim) on info@blackcattreasurehunts.co.uk to discuss your car treasure hunt or call and leave a message or speak to me on (01323) 655346.