For many UK Airbnb and holiday-rental hosts, the best guest recommendations are not copied from a guidebook. They come from local knowledge: the quiet lane with the best view, the carved detail above an old doorway, the story behind a market square, or the riverside path visitors rarely find on their own.
That knowledge can become more than a list of tips. It can be turned into a self-guided guest experience that helps visitors explore independently, gives them a stronger connection to the area and creates an additional income stream for the person who designed it.
HUNTA lets local people create and sell walking treasure hunts that players complete on their phones. Think of it as the Airbnb for treasure hunts: creators build the local experience, travellers choose and play it, and the creator receives 60% of each sale.
Why local hosts are well placed to create experiences
Hosts answer the same questions repeatedly. What can we do this afternoon? Is there an activity suitable for children? Where can we walk without needing a car? What is worth seeing beyond the main tourist attractions?
A well-designed treasure hunt can answer all of those questions at once. Instead of simply pointing guests towards a town centre, a host can offer a structured route filled with clues, observations and short pieces of local history.
The experience does not need to be a formal guided tour. Players follow the route at their own pace and solve clues based on things they can see around them. They might find a date on a building, count carved figures, identify a symbol on a sign or notice a feature they would otherwise have walked past.
A practical extra for holiday rentals
Guest experience matters in a crowded accommodation market. Small, thoughtful additions can help a stay feel personal without creating hours of extra work for the host.
A local hunt can be recommended before arrival, included in a digital welcome book or mentioned alongside restaurant and transport information. It gives families, couples and small groups an activity they can start when it suits them.
For hosts in smaller towns, the opportunity may be particularly useful. Many places have rich history and distinctive streets but fewer bookable activities than major cities. A treasure hunt can package those local details into something visitors can understand and enjoy.
What makes a good treasure-hunt route?
A strong route begins with a pleasant, safe and walkable area. It should pass places that are publicly accessible and contain details that are unlikely to disappear overnight.
Useful clue locations might include:
- historic plaques and memorials
- churches, bridges and civic buildings
- public art and unusual street furniture
- local legends connected to visible landmarks
- architectural dates, symbols and carvings
- independent businesses that form part of the town’s character
The best clues are clear and objective. A player should be able to look carefully, find the answer and feel a small moment of satisfaction. Short hints can prevent frustration, while a few sentences of local context help the route feel meaningful rather than random.
From local idea to published experience
Creating a HUNTA route does not require coding or specialist equipment. A creator chooses a route, adds clue locations, writes the questions and hints, tests the walk and publishes the finished hunt.
Anyone can create a treasure hunt for free with HUNTA, and there is no fixed limit on the number of hunts a creator can build. The platform handles player access and digital delivery, so the creator does not need to meet every group or personally run each experience.
Income is not guaranteed. Sales depend on the location, quality of the route and how effectively it is promoted. However, a good digital hunt can remain available to future visitors and generate repeat sales without the creator leading the same walk every day.
Real examples from UK towns
This format works outside the country’s largest tourist destinations. HUNTA already features routes in towns where local details are the main attraction.
Hidden Green Northampton turns a local walk into an interactive route through overlooked parts of the town. In Buckinghamshire, the Hare Hunt in Olney uses the same idea to help players notice local history and character while exploring on foot.
These examples show why a hunt does not need a world-famous landmark. It needs a route worth walking and a creator who knows what makes the place interesting.
How hosts can promote a local hunt
Once a hunt is live, promotion can begin with the people already looking for things to do nearby. Hosts can add the link to welcome messages, printed information folders, QR cards or pre-arrival emails.
Local cafés, guesthouses, campsites and independent shops may also be willing to share a nearby activity, especially when the route encourages visitors to spend more time in the area. A creator can approach walking groups, local-history communities and tourism organisations with a clear explanation of who the hunt suits and how long it takes.
Promotion should stay useful rather than pushy. The strongest message is simple: here is an enjoyable way to discover the area independently.
Start with the streets you already know
A useful first step is to walk through the area slowly and make a note of everything that could become a question. Look above shopfronts, examine plaques, notice dates and follow the small details that reveal a town’s story.
For expats and hosts, this process can also deepen their own connection to the place. Researching a route often uncovers stories that are easy to miss during everyday life.
If you know a UK town, village, park or neighbourhood that deserves more attention, you can start creating with HUNTA and turn that knowledge into a self-guided experience for future visitors.





