Belper, Derbyshire

A real family treasure hunt in Belper

Alpha's Hunt is a self-guided treasure hunt through the heart of Belper. Your family solves clues at real landmarks, collects the digits they reveal, cracks the code on a combination padlock and opens a real treasure chest. Every crew takes treasure home. No actors, no app to fight with, just a printed map, sharp eyes and a proper adventure.

Next date: to be announced · £9.95 per family · about 90 minutes · ages roughly 4 to 12 with their grown-ups

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What a hunt day feels like, start to finish

  1. Book your private start slot online

    Pick a 10-minute start slot that suits your family, any time between 10:00am and 3:30pm. That slot is yours alone.

  2. Hunt morning: an email arrives

    It brings your first clue and tells you where in Belper to collect your printed, illustrated treasure map. The adventure has already started before you leave the house.

  3. Collect your treasure map

    A proper printed map, drawn to be pored over. Little fingers trace the route, grown-ups keep hold of it between clues (usually).

  4. Solve clues at real Belper landmarks

    Each clue asks you to look closely at something real: a carving, a date, a detail most people walk straight past. Younger explorers spot things, older ones do the working out. Every solved clue gives you a digit.

  5. Crack the padlock

    Your collected digits are the combination. Line them up on the padlock, feel it click, and lift the lid on a real treasure chest.

  6. Take your treasure

    Every crew that completes the trail takes treasure from the chest and earns a Code-Cracker certificate to carry home. Nobody leaves empty handed.

Who the hunt suits

If you have been hunting for outdoor activities for kids in Derbyshire that do not involve a screen or a soft play queue, this is the one. The hunt is built for:

Unlike a paper-only treasure trail, this Derbyshire hunt ends at something you can actually open. The chest and the padlock are real, and that moment when the lock clicks is the bit children talk about for weeks.

Your own private start slot

Every family books a private 10-minute start slot. You are not funnelled off in a crowd at a fixed time, and there is no pack of other hunters breathing down your neck at the first clue. You arrive in your window, pick up where the email left off, and the trail feels like it belongs to your crew alone.

Families tell us this is one of their favourite parts. The booking experience scored 9.8 out of 10 at our founding hunt, and parents especially liked choosing a slot around nap times, lunch plans and football kick-offs. Slots run between 10:00am and 3:30pm, so morning adventurers and after-lunch wanderers are both well served.

The founding families' verdict

Our first hunt ran on Sunday 28 June 2026, and we asked every crew to mark us honestly. Here is how it scored:

8.1/10Overall experience
9.8/10Booking
9.4/10Communications

Best of all: every single one of the 12 crews who gave feedback said they would come again.

"On the walk home our daughter asked if we could do the hunt again another day." Stacey, founding hunt family
"Unlocking a real treasure chest was smashing." Emma, founding hunt family
"Just right for our first adventure. Now we are hungry for more!" Lynn, founding hunt family

Questions families ask

How long does the treasure hunt take?

About 90 minutes at a comfortable family pace. There is no timer and nobody hurrying you along, so crews with little legs or a pram can take as long as they like.

What happens if it rains?

The hunt runs happily in light rain, so bring coats and carry on. If the weather turns properly foul the hunt moves to a new date and your booking carries over automatically. You can also get a full refund up to 7 days before the hunt for any reason.

Do we need a phone?

Only on the morning. Your first clue and the map collection point arrive by email, so you need to be able to read one email before you set off. Once the printed treasure map is in your hands the hunt itself is screen free.

How much walking is there?

Around two miles on pavements, parks and proper paths, with plenty of places to pause. The route is pram friendly and suits an easy family stroll rather than a hike.

Alpha's Belper Hunt: a date to be announced

£9.95 per family

One ticket covers a family of up to 5 (crews of 6 or more just need a second ticket). Choose your private 10-minute start slot between 10:00am and 3:30pm.

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Full refund up to 7 days before the hunt. If weather postpones the day, your booking carries over automatically.