Treasure hunt unearthed under Unst cottage carpet after nearly 20 years

Richard Mouat with the findings.

Richard Mouat with the findings.

WHEN the owners of a self-catering house in Unst were pulling up old carpets they unearthed something they were not expecting – a treasure hunt hidden by two girls back in 2004.

Richard and Victoria Mouat naturally followed the instructions on the treasure map and found a total of £1.12 in coins hidden under carpet tiles in another room.

The note was left at the North Dale Cottage in Haroldswick in August 2004 by Becky and Bethany, then aged 11 and 12, when they were visiting from Lerwick.

Thanks to the social media the identity of the pair has now come to light.

Speaking this week, Becky Tilston said she could only “very vaguely remember” hiding the treasure hunt with her friend Bethany Johnston.

The hunt itself said: “Go to the top of the stairs, in between the two rooms and go into the room on your right.”

Carpet tiles were then given letters and numbers – with whoever who came across the note told to try ‘F4’.

What was left underneath was a pound coin as well as some pennies.

The note also said the pair had a “great time” in Unst – apart from the weather.

Victoria Mouat said the couple will now be offering Becky and Bethany a free weekend “to come and see how the cottage has changed since they were little”.

The house has been in the family for years – Tony Mouat, Richard’s dad, was born in it more than 80 years ago.

The family renovated it in the mid-90s, with Richard’s mum running it until 2019 when the couple took it on and set up the company Unst Self Catering.