What is Letterboxing?
Letterboxing was started in England over a hundred years ago and involves following clues to find hidden containers in different areas. Our Letterboxes focus on historical sites in Amesbury used for recreation. We hope through your hunting you get out and into a public outdoor space you didn’t know about before!
What do I need?
You’ll want your own stamp and inkpad as well as small notebook or journal that can be stamped in when you go searching. You will also want to have a Trail Name. It can be your real name or can be a created one.
You can make your own stamp as most Letterboxers do or buy one that represents you. Here’s a video about carving your own stamps:
How do I do it?
It’s super easy and you can do it whenever you like! Follow the clues below to locate the boxes around the city! Once you find one, open it and stamp your notebook with the stamp you find in there. Then imprint your stamp in the notebook in the letterbox. Close the box back up securely and rehide it exactly where it was for the next person.
Clues for Historical Amesbury Letterboxes
Letterbox: Row, Row, Row, your Boat.
Paddling at Powow Canoe Club Tuxbury Pond
Park in visitor the Tuxbury Pond Park lot. From the first beach inlet to the far left look for a trail. 50 steps in on the pond side look for three trunks that support one that’s bare. Your box is tucked inside there.
Letterbox: Slick Sheet to Shovel
Skating at Patten’s Pond
Park at the Patten’s Hollow shopping center. Cross the street to the Patten’s Pond Bird Sanctuary. Follow the sidewalk toward the Post Office and enter the park on the south side. Go left past the bench and big drain pipe. Take 17 steps down the path then a slight right toward the water. Your box is nestled in the roots. Be sure to cover me back up!
Letterbox: Thrills and Spills on a Hill
Skiing at Locke’s Hill
Access this box from the high point in town. Batchelder Park on Powow Street has room for a handful of cars to park. Walk to the granite pillars and pass through. Walk toward the sign and map. As you turn right take in the view and follow the tree line down to the left of the red bench. Keep going. And Keep going. The grass area will narrow as you enter the trailhead. Pass two trail markers on wooden posts. After the second you will come into a meadow. Continue on until the trail reenters a wooded area full of birch trees. Look for the cluster of five with one mini on your right. Your box is nestled in the middle.
Letterbox: Dip, Dive, Dunk
Swimming at Bailey’s Pond
Park in Hatter’s Point Marina lot in the spots marked “Public Access Easement.” Facing the pond head to the far right end of the parking lot. A narrow trail enters the woods. 75 steps into the stand of pines you will see an assemblage of logs and limbs on your left sloping down the hill toward the water. Your box is tucked amidst them.
Be sure to look for the landing in the photo. When you exit the woods turn right and follow the water to the small retaining wall where this photo was taken.
Letterbox: Great Catch!
Fishing at Lake Attitash
Follow Kimball Road past the Strathmere Club. As you crest the hill take a left onto Birchmeadow Road. Wind your way down the hill and land at the dam. Park on the right hand side of the road. Behind the swans and along the stone wall you fill find your box.
Letterbox: Way to Ruin a Nice Walk
Golfing at Amesbury Country Club
Park in the Country Club lot (and be sure to walk over and check out the fieldstone clubhouse!) follow the driveway back the way you came toward the red fire hydrant. Look for a granite pillar with an Open Space Access sign. Go 25 steps down the path and look to a small cluster of trees on your right. Your box is under a rock. Say hi to the neighbor’s dog if she’s out!
Letterbox: Fuel Up!
Driving Smith’s Chain Bridge Filling Station
Park in visitor lot at the Chain Bridge Filling Station at 520 Main Street before the Hines Bridge. Before the stairs find the spot where you can see Salisbury. Behind the bench your box is held by steel.
Letterbox: A Wet Place to Land
Boating at Merrimack River Public Boat Launch
Where Main Street and Merrimac Street meet in the Ferry district drive past the Marina and park in front of the guardrail at the Public Boat Launch lot. From the left side of the guardrail walk 16 steps toward the retaining wall to the left. There your box is sandwiched.
Want more information or to find other letter boxes around (there are over 90,000 across the country!)?
Letterboxing.org is a great place to find clues and info on how to get started
AtlasQuest also has clues and tips for letterboxing