Not content with writing Trails, we go on them too!

Last week when we were on holiday in Newquay, we went on three different Trails written by the Cornwall team! We had such fun and what made it so great, was they were all three very different.

Perranporth was the first one we did. On arrival in Perranporth, we thought it looked like a small touristy type of town which wouldn't be particularly interesting. As it happened, it most likely isn't that interesting because the Trail took us out of town!! Anyway, we had to start at the Tourist Information Centre which isn't that far from the front and then we headed towards the beach, picking up clues on the way. We left the beach and headed back towards town to find the answer to a great clue on the Museum. Really liked it and will copy it and incorporate it into one of our Herefordshire or Worcestershire Trails. It said ... "At the library, find how many letters are in the word after Heritage. What letter appears in the corresponding position in the name of the museum?" Made us stop, think and count!! The Trail took us into a gorgeous little park with a boating pond and then to a seat commemorating the guy who gave his name to the Austin Healey car - very interesting little plaque. Finally, we walked through a playground, up a big hill and out onto the cliffs and the most gorgeous views. Stopping on the way for a chat with a man who owns the castle at the top of the hill! Last clues were on a gigantic sundial which we NEVER would have seen without the Trail taking us up there! We met a pair of fellow trailers too - they were from Reading and it was their first one - virgin Trailers!!

A couple of days later we tackled the Truro Trail. This was a very different kettle of fish. Unlike the Perranporth Trail which was out in the countryside and incidentally, a spy mission. This was in the county town and murder mystery! We drove towards Truro and as we weren't sure where the start was and we knew we needed to finish by the cathedral, we decided to start the Trail half way round - at Clue 9 to be precise! There are so many great things about the Treasure Trails, and one of them is that you can start wherever you like! Lots of the Trail is written in rhyme as well which is fun! For example, Clue 11 says.....
Return to the Shops, left you go,
When the cathedral is in sight, take it slow.
Around this square of 2 buildings a name is engraved,
This man didn't do it - his reputation is saved!

We raced around the Trail, because we knew that at the end we had a lunch date and we wanted to spend a bit of time in the Treasure Trails Head Office too. The best part of the Trail was in the Victoria Gardens, close to the viaduct which we learnt was built in 1904 replacing Isambard Kingdom Brunel's original one. It was a lovely garden which fountains and band stands but we were a little early for the spring flowers which in a week or two would be gorgeous.

We gave ourselves another day of rest and then set out for our final Trail. This was a driving Trail called Carn Brea. More on that in my next blog!

Endorsement from the Ramblers

We were really happy to see our Trails reviewed in the book section of this week's Rambler's Magazine! Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Article in the Cornish Guardian

The quality isn't great, but its great to see the publicity!! Click on the picture to enlarge it.

And another week ends

I can't believe how fast time flies - I must be having fun! Actually, I am in no doubt - I am having fun!!

The week started with a meeting in our local church with the Church Events Committee - a formidable group of ladies, chaired by a sole gentleman, who determine the events that will fund raise for the church. Last year they asked us to run a treasure hunt for them and it seems they want something similar again this year! We are delighted to be asked and presented some ideas on Monday all of which they seemed very excited about! Just need to work out how to do a treasure hunt round a very small village that has already had treasure hunted round it before! Think we will most likely come up with a hunt, a game and a puzzle and then the ubiquitous limerick as the tie breaker!

Spent some of the week liaising with the Change4Life lady to get the adverts just right on our Trails - they have sponsored 5 of our Hereford Trails which we are delighted about. Next steps are to put together an organised event with them!

Later in the week we met up with two representatives from the Worcestershire branch of The Prince's Trust fund raising committee and had a fab lunch with them at The Glasshouse in Worcester. Great food and good company. Viv and John had some thoughts and ideas about how we could market Treasure Trails and we hope to work with Viv and HotelShopUK in the future using the Trails as promotional incentives. Probably not until early next year, but watch this space! Viv also offered me some telesales training and I think I will take her up on it!

Have prepared for the stand we are on at Crufts - it is a stand run by rgtperrybarr.co.uk/ who are giving us a tiny space on it and so, I've sorted out 90 Trails for them together with a poster and a crib sheet. The plan is that I will sell on Day One and then leave them to it for the remaining days. Hope the Trails go down well with all those doggy people! Stand number is in Hall 4 Stand 76 - come and say hi.

Today, I've been in creative mode - twittering as usual but have also written two draft press releases, both of which will be pasted in here just as soon as they are agreed to by the other interested parties - Change4Life and the Kings Head Hotel, Ross-on-Wye.

The desk is tidy, but the floor and the sofa are littered with stuff and so the next job on the To Do List is to get them cleared and the whole office looking tidy ready to start the next week!