Treasure Hunters Find A Treasure Trove of Hartland Treats

Intrepid explorers, Rebecca Ward and her partner, Ian Howes, unwittingly struck gold when they won “A Treasure Trove of Hartland Treats” in a competition organized by the Hartland Peninsula Association and supported by local businesses.

Rebecca and Ian, from Staverton, Northamptonshire, along with their four children, aged from 5 to 8 years, successfully solved the mystery of “The Smugglers Secret Stash” as they explored the peninsula with the help of the Hartland Peninsula Treasure Hunt Trail, written and devised by multi-award winning Treasure Trails Devon.  Their correct answer for the mystery, which involved exploring the spectacular Hartland Peninsula by car and on foot, was picked at random and the couple won a multitude of goodies donated by local businesses.

Rebecca and Ian were delighted with their prize, which included a night’s accommodation at the Hartland Quay Hotel, a cream tea at Docton Mill Gardens, free entry to Hartland Abbey, a mounted photograph courtesy of Shoreline Photography, a manicure at Hartland House Spa, award-winning Litehouse Ale from Forge Brewery, a homemade fruit cake and preserves from Hartland Farm Shop, as well as Sunday lunch at The Anchor Inn.

Rebecca and Ian were given the Treasure Trail during a holiday to North Devon last summer.  They found that it kept the family entertained for most of the day whilst getting some beneficial fresh air and exercise at the same time.  “The children had such a fun time with the Treasure Trail,” enthused Rebecca. “We found the trail really easy to follow, the clues were not too difficult to solve and it turned a dull day into a very bright day! We all absolutely loved our adventure!”

Avid trail setters, Sandy and Rod Tilke, managers of Treasure Trails Devon, devised the Trail to help visitors explore the landscape and history of this wild and rugged corner of North Devon, whilst also having a bit of fun. “In order to solve the mystery of “The Smuggler’s Secret Stash,” you need to follow easy instructions to hunt out answers to sneaky clues which can be discovered on buildings, statues, monuments and plaques,” explained Sandy. “Along the way, you will also learn a whole range of fascinating facts about shipwrecks and smuggling as well as discovering the stunning scenery along this remote stretch of the North Devon coast.”

Yvonne Heard, Vice-Chair of The Hartland Peninsula Association, commented, “We are very pleased with the amount of visitors the Treasure Trail is bringing into the Hartland Peninsula, which helps to support our local businesses.”

The Trails are available to purchase from The Post Office in Hartland, the Hartland Peninsula Association or from www.treasuretrails.co.uk