A North Yorkshire author and mum Lorna Garrity has created a puzzle book for family days out inspired by her own childhood memories of treasure hunts and I-spy.
Word Hunt Adventures is designed like a treasure hunt for hidden words using map-reading, clues, riddles, mystery solving and crosswords.
The book features 15 top destinations – from York to Hawes, and Harrogate to Whitby – and is perfect for getting children exploring North Yorkshire’s most beautiful villages, towns and cities.
Lorna Garrity returned to Richmond with her family in 2021 after living overseas for several years.
She said: “When we first arrived back, I loved exploring the historic villages, towns and cities in Yorkshire.
"I admired how every street had a story, an old sign or a hidden alleyway. There were so many castles to explore, as well as abbeys and rivers. Yorkshire is like a treasure trove of adventures.
“My children weren’t as excited as I was to explore, so I looked for treasure hunts to keep them occupied while I indulged in my expeditions. As I wanted to visit so many places, it would have been quite an investment in all the individual treasure hunts available.”
Lorna, a life coach and poet, mapped out a word hunt for Richmond using words carved above doorways and on plaques on historical monuments - with the idea to give it to local schools.
She said: "I had so much fun, I decided to do another town and another village and a city. And 15 locations later, Word Hunt Adventures was born.”
The travel-friendly book also includes Durham, Pateley Bridge, Ripon and Saltburn-by-the-Sea.
The book takes readers to ruined castles, old churchyards and historic streets as well as down winding alleyways, past playgrounds and along riversides.
By using the maps to find clues in unexpected places, each word is entered into a crossword puzzle. When completed, this reveals a mystery motivational word.
And if anyone in the family likes steam trains, the book contains three North Yorkshire Moors Railway locations - Whitby, Pickering and the village of Goathland, the setting for Hogsmeade Station in the first Harry Potter film.
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Lorna, who left a corporate IT career in Sydney, Australia, for life in Yorkshire, said: “I’m a huge fan of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway - it’s like stepping back in time or journeying to Hogwarts. Plus, one adult ticket gets you a year of free travel - and the kids go free.
“Every location in the book has its own hidden treasures to uncover and its own unique magic. All you need for a family adventure day out is the book, a pen and a picnic.”
Word Hunt Adventures is available to buy on Amazon by clicking HERE.
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