An event to raise money for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award grant fund and encourage people out onto the hills begins next week.

Seven geocaches have been hidden on seven hills.

Participants must register for the challenge of finding them by purchasing, for ?10, a book containing clues to their locations.

Clues include compass bearings from the summit, grid references and GPS coordinates, although a GPS isn’t necessary to solve them.

Alison Gawne, Awards Co-ordinator, said: ‘To celebrate the 60th birthday of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, I wanted to run an event that inspires people to get out on the hills and enjoy our beautiful Island.

‘Each geocache has been sponsored by a local company or organisation and all funds raised will go into the Mann 2000 Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Grant Fund, which supports young people with the costs of taking part in the Award.

‘We have had great fun planting the caches and I hope people of all ages will take up the challenge.'

The sponsors of the caches are:

The Venture Centre
Manx Telecom
Ardwhallan Outdoor Education Centre
McGarrigle Architects
PDMS
GoMann Adventures
The Youth Service.

Each book of clues will be numbered and entered into a prize draw.

Prizes include two return flights from Citywing, weekend use of Ardwhallan hostel, a year’s family ticket for the Groudle Glen Railway, vouchers and equipment from: Ramsey Outdoors, Mountain Warehouse, Newsons Trading, the Nautilus Gym, the Palace Health Club, Discover Diving, Promenade T-shirts and a goody bag from Manx Radio.

Registration forms and books can be obtained from Alison Gawne (Tel: 686051/a.gawne@doe.sch.im) at the Department of Education and Children’s Youth Office at Hamilton House, Peel Road, Douglas.