TREASURE TRAILS IN THE NEWS

'an entertaining idea that is likely to appeal to all ages'

Andrew McCloy
Walk Magazine

26/04/2012

Blazing a Trail with Clued-Up Family Fun!

09/08/2010

When Liz Johnston was a child she like nothing better than doing a treasure hunt thought up by her dad. Now she's a mum-of-two, Liz has inherited the family gene and makes up treasure trails for a living.

It all started three years ago when friends were visitng Glasgow with their children. What could four adults, four children and a dog do for the afternoon? The answer was a treasure hunt around Glasgow created by Cornwall-based Treasure Trails.

"The Trail booklet only cost a fiver," remembers Liz. "We did one in the west end too and loved it. Treasure Trails was a new company so they wanted feedback. I phoned and said I though it was brilliant fun. The next thing I knew I applying for my own licensed area."

Since she started in 2008, Liz has written more than 20 Trails based around towns and villages in the north-east of Scotland. The Trails are a self-guided walk which take people around the most interesting parts of a town. You follow clues to get to the next location. The expeditions take the form of a murder mystery, a treasure hunt or a spy Trail.

"The answers to the clues in the murder mystery format relate to a suspect or weapon," explains Liz. "As you solve the clues you rule out suspects or weapons so by the end of the walk you know whodunnit. On the treasure hunt you find out where the treasure is and in the spy trail you find the code to foil the baddie's plans. You can enter your answer via the website and it tells you if you're right. If you get stuck there's a number to text for the answer."

The clues are made up from dates on houses, statues, gravestones, war memorials etc. Making up the Trails is Liz's favourite part of the job. "I ask people where the best parts of their town are, then I spend a day walking to find a picturesque route," she smiles. "I take photgraphs and make up the clues at home. I like to put easy clues at the beginning and end of the Trail and some real stinkers in the middle!"

"My daughter Kirsty likes helping to write the Trails with me and Eilidh loves doing them." Liz admits writing the Trails is the fun part, but there are many other sides to having a successful business.

She took Business Gateway courses to learn about book keeping and marketing. Initially she thought that it would be mostly familes doing the Trials but has been pleasantly surpirsed at the number of retired people who enjoy them. "My mum's 80 and she's tested Trails for me - she does them with ther friends. She thinks it's a great thing her to do with her grandchildren."

As well as having her business Liz teaches children with special needs part time in Stonehaven. She spends most weekends during the summer at fairs and galas selling her Trails.

Her hard work has paid off. Las year she sold more than 1500 Trails - which sell in shops or through the company website at £5 - and is expecting to top that figure this year.

Liz also goes to schools to show pupils how to create their own Trails which they can then sell at school fund-raisers. "It's a huge thrill when I see people doing one of my Trails," Liz laughs. "I've seen many people doing them - but I never help them with clues!"