High Wycombe - Baths & Town Centre

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Treasure Hunt around High Wycombe Baths & Town Centre, with Adventurers sent by The Exploration Society to follow a map and clues linked to the notorious highwayman I. Gotchaloot and uncover his secret stash.

The quest covers approximately 2.5 miles and should take around 2.5 hours to complete. You'll start in The Rye, a large park, head through waterside sections and into the town centre around The Guildhall, Paul's Row and Church Square, continue towards the museum near Clue 21, then investigate Pann Mill gardens before returning through the park alongside the river.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. You'll encounter cobbles, steps and inclines, including 26 down steps on a bridge over the railway, so the route is not ideal for pushchairs. The recreation park may also be muddy after heavy rain.

Take extra care around open water, busy roads and the railway bridge steps, which may be slippery when wet. The Trail loops back to the Holywell Mead car park behind the Lido swimming complex.

Getting There

By car: Start your treasure hunt at Holywell Mead Pay and Display car park, Bassetsbury Lane, off the A40 London Road (near HP11 1QX). Gather your Explorers here before setting off into The Rye.

By public transport: Make your way to Holywell Mead Pay and Display car park on Bassetsbury Lane, off the A40 London Road, to begin the quest. The circular route returns to the Holywell Mead car park area once I. Gotchaloot's stash has been tracked down.

Need the Loo?

Public toilets are available on Paul's Row, behind The Guildhall, near Clue 12 - a handy town-centre pit stop part way through the hunt.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Explorers are welcome to join the quest 🐾

Supervise dogs at all times, especially around the open water sections and busy roads. The route also includes cobbles, inclines, steps and park paths that may be muddy after heavy rain, so keep paws steady and leads close where needed.

Food & Drink Stops

Treasure hunting through town and parkland calls for good supplies. There are places to grab a bite or pick up provisions throughout the journey, with pubs and restaurants especially around Clues 10 and 11.

There is also a cafe at the end of the first section by the water, and the museum near Clue 21 has a cafe. If you're bringing your own feast, pack a picnic to enjoy in The Rye, the large park where you start and finish your quest.

Want to Make a Day of It?

The Rye

The quest starts and finishes in The Rye, a large park that gives Explorers a green and spacious setting for the beginning and end of the adventure. It's also the suggested picnic spot, so it is a natural place to stretch the day once the highwayman's trail has been followed.

Museum

If you have time, visit the museum near Clue 21. Admission is free, and there is a cafe too, making it an easy extra stop for Adventurers who want to add a little more High Wycombe exploring to the quest.

Church Square and the churchyard

The town-centre section takes you past the churchyard and War Memorial, with clues around the gates and inside the churchyard. Once you are no longer scrutinising every detail for I. Gotchaloot's trail, this is a good spot to pause and take in one of the route's historic corners.

Pann Mill gardens

Near the end of the hunt, the route leads you into the gardens of Pann Mill before returning through the park alongside the river. It makes a gentle final flourish for Adventurers who enjoy a quieter waterside wander after all that clue-chasing.