Dates: July 19–20, 2023
Route: Oslo – Dublin – Bray – (later Edinburgh)
Highlights: Europe’s oldest geocache, a Norwegian geocaching event abroad, and a few thorny encounters 🌹
✈️ Flying into Dublin – The Quickest Way to Go
There are many ways to get to Ireland, but the fastest and most practical is still by air. I landed in Dublin on July 19, around 3 PM. The weather? Well, typically Irish. A little sun, a little cloud, and the perfect temperature for wandering around with a GPS in hand.
🚗 Rental Car and Left-Side Driving – A Quick Reality Check
I’ve rented cars many times before, and this trip started the same way. Except for one small detail. I sat down on the left side to start driving – and there was no steering wheel. Of course, in Ireland (like in the UK), they drive on the left, and the steering wheel is on the right.
After a quick trip around the car, I was ready. The first few roundabouts were a bit of a mental workout, but it went surprisingly well. Focus, mirror checks, and mental reminders about which side to drive on – that’s the key.
🧭 Geocaching in Dublin – Virtuals, Traditionals, a Multi, a Wherigo, and an Event
First stop of the trip: I tried to log a reverse Wherigo that I had solved in advance. (Yes, I cheated a bit! :)) It wasn’t the easiest to find. After wandering around, approaching the coordinates from several angles, getting pricked by a thorn bush, and doing a bit of climbing – it sadly ended in a DNF.
Luckily, finding caches in central Dublin was much easier. Not a huge number of them, but they were good quality. I logged a few virtuals and traditionals – and one multi-cache focused on The Great Famine. That one took me to a memorial along the River Liffey, commemorating the devastating famine that hit Ireland between 1845 and 1852.
More than one million people died during that period, and even more emigrated. The tragedy left deep marks in Irish society, and the memorial served as a sobering reminder. The cache was a meaningful way to connect with that history while exploring the city.
The geocaching event later that day was hosted by Norwegian cachers – and yes, the world is small! Eo, who attended the event, had actually joined a few of my events in Målselv years ago. We had plenty to talk about and it was great meeting again, this time in a different country.
In the evening I drove down to Bray, just south of Dublin. The hotel? Surprisingly good. I’ll add the link when I find it again – definitely worth recommending. Bonus: It was within walking distance of Europe’s oldest active geocache – GC43 – Europe’s First.
⛰️ A Hike to GC43 – Europe’s Oldest Geocache
The next day, I hiked up Bray Head – a scenic viewpoint with a large cross at the top. There were several caches along the way, and I arrived at the summit a bit sweaty but smiling.
I wasn’t alone. The Norwegian cachers from the event joined for the full day – including the quest to find Europe’s oldest cache. Great company, great views, and lots of laughter.
The trail to GC43 was steep and overgrown with thorns, gorse, and low bushes. I got a bit too friendly with one rose bush but managed fine. And the cache? It was right where it should be. Not exactly hidden – but you wouldn’t find it unless you knew what you were looking for. Just as it should be.
🚙 Road Trip with New Cache Friends
Later that day we took a small caching trip outside the city. The others didn’t have a car – I did. Easy choice. We explored some older caches in the countryside and got a great feel for the Irish landscape – both from behind the wheel and on foot.
One of the highlights was GC322 – a classic from 2001. Always a pleasure to add an oldie to the collection. We parked as far up the road as we could and walked the rest. I suspect the locals know there’s geocaching gold in those hills!
🇮🇪 Final Thoughts: Ireland Delivered
Short trip – but packed with experiences. It might seem a bit crazy to travel all the way to Ireland just to find one specific cache. But Europe’s first is a big deal. And as it turned out, there were lots of great bonuses along the way.
Friendly people, rich history, beautiful views, and memorable geocaches – Ireland really delivered. I’d gladly go back. Maybe next time with thicker pants, in case the rose bushes are still there.
✈️ Next Stop: Edinburgh
After a couple of rewarding days in Ireland, I flew on to Edinburgh to meet my better half and some friends from Harstad. But that – that’s another story…
Comments