Technology is being used to attract a new generation of adventuresome tourists to Tayside in what is being hailed as a UK first.
With the launch of the country’s first GeoTour and a new Android phone app, the Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust aims to bring visitors from all over the world to east Perthshire.
The Cateran Trail a 103-kilometre (64- mile) circular long-distance walking route that begins and ends in Blairgowrie will be at the heart of the initiative, which it’s hoped will bring huge financial benefits to the region.
It aims to tap into the growing popularity of geocaching a hi-tech treasure-hunting game in which participants use Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to seek out a cache hidden at a specific location.
There are currently more than five million registered players worldwide and more than two million caches hidden in every corner of the globe.
The potential for a tourism boost offered by the pastime was made plain in 2010, when Perthshire hosted the annual UK Mega Cache event.
It attracted participants from 21 different countries from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, the USA and South Africa and generated around £300,000 for the Perth and Kinross economy.
Since then, local tourism and outdoor organisations have continued to work to utilise the activity’s increasing popularity and Perthshire wants to build on its reputation as the geocaching capital of Scotland.
Increasingly, geocachers plan days out, weekend breaks and even annual holidays around “cache rich” environments, and this has led to a new tourism initiative the GeoTour.
There are just 15 GeoTours worldwide at present and the Cateran Trail GeoTour number 16 will be the first based in the UK.
The Cateran Trail takes its name from the feared cattle thieves who raided the rich lands of Strathardle, Glenshee and Glen Isla.
And geocachers across the world will be encouraged to visit east Perthshire and follow in the footsteps of the Caterans along their old drove roads.
Twenty special caches have been hidden across the five stages of the circular trail and reflect the rich mix of woodland and forest cover, moor and farmland in the area.
The Countryside Trust is working in partnership with local businesses that are members of The Blairgowrie and East Perthshire Tourist Association (Bepta) to provide visiting cachers with great places to sleep and eat during their stay.
To take part, geocachers will record finds in a special passport, with points earned by finding caches (one point), by stopping to eat (two) or staying overnight (three).
A collectable bronze geocoin will be awarded to geocachers who collect 25 points. An antique silver geocoin will be awarded to geocachers who collect 30 points.
Visitors can also download the new free Cateran Trail Android phone app and enjoy stories, legends and insights into points of interest along the trail.
Bob Ellis, chair of Bepta, said the project was hugely exciting.
“The Cateran Trail is the number one attraction on TripAdvisor for visitors to the area and Bepta recognises its importance as an asset to both local people and businesses,” the local councillor said.
“The beauty of the GeoTour is that it is targeting a new and rapidly-growing tourism market.
“Bepta members taking part will display a distinctive GeoTour window sticker and will enjoy additional spend on overnight stays and food and drink from geocachers.
“We believe it could have the potential to bring a significant economic boost to east Perthshire.”
The launch of the Cateran Trail GeoTour and phone app are part of the ongoing offering from Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust during Year of Natural Scotland.
The GeoTour is funded by Forestry Commission Scotland, Perth and Kinross Council and Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust.
Players can start their Cateran Trail geocaching adventure by visiting geocaching.com. The free Cateran Trail app can be downloaded for your smartphone from Google Play.