The Ghost Walk Padstow

The Ghost Walk Padstow runs on selected evenings throughout the week. Timings vary by season. Check the booking calendar for upcoming departures. Or contact us to arrange a private walk.

👻 The Ghost Walk Padstow

Step into the shadowy streets of Padstow after dark and discover a town shaped by centuries of maritime trade, local legends, and unsettling tales that refuse to be forgotten.

The Ghost Walk Padstow is a guided evening walking experience that blends true local history with atmospheric storytelling, led by your costumed 18th/19th-century merchant guide, Thomas Rawlings.

This is Padstow as you’ve never seen it before.

The Harbour

Historic fishing harbour filled with stories, trade, and maritime legend.

St Petrocs Church

Ancient spiritual landmark steeped in centuries of Cornish history.

Prideaux Place

Elizabethan manor surrounded by mystery, heritage, and whispered local tales.

🌙 About the Experience

Join a small-group evening walk through the historic harbour town of Padstow, where real events and folklore intertwine.

As darkness falls, you’ll be guided through narrow lanes, hidden corners, and historic streets while hearing stories of:

  • Old merchant rivalries and harbour life
  • Shipwrecks, superstition, and sea legends
  • Strange happenings recorded in local history
  • The darker side of well-known Padstow landmarks

This is not a jump-scare ghost tour. Instead, it is an immersive storytelling journey combining history, atmosphere, and theatrical narration.

🕯️ Your Guide – Thomas Rawlings

Your host for the evening is Thomas Rawlings, a characterful 18th/19th-century Padstow merchant, who brings the past vividly to life. He was a real person (1757-1820) who helped shape the town,

Through his eyes, you’ll experience:

  • Life in historic Padstow
  • Tales passed through generations
  • Accounts drawn from documented local history and folklore

Expect storytelling with humour, drama, and a strong sense of place.

🗺️ What You’ll See on the Walk

The route takes in some of Padstow’s most atmospheric and historic locations, including:

⚓ Padstow Harbour

Where the walk begins, and where centuries of trade, fishing, and folklore collide.

⛪ St Petroc’s Church

One of Cornwall’s oldest religious sites, full of history, legend, and local mystery.

🏛️ Prideaux Place (Exterior)

A grand Elizabethan house surrounded by stories, secrets, and generations of local intrigue.

🏘️ Historic Lanes & Inns

Hidden corners of the old town where everyday life once mixed with superstition, rumour, and maritime myth.

👣 Tour Details

  • Duration: approx. 90 minutes
  • Walking distance: around 1 mile at a gentle pace
  • Group size: 25 maximum or book a small private group for a more personal experience
  • Style: guided storytelling walk with theatrical interpretation
  • Suitable for: adults, families, and older children

The walk is outdoors and moves through public streets and footpaths with regular stops for storytelling.

🌧️ Important Information

  • The tour runs in (almost) all weather conditions
  • Comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended
  • Some areas may be uneven or dimly lit after dark
  • A small torch or phone light can be helpful
  • The experience is designed to be atmospheric rather than frightening

🐕 Family & Accessibility

  • Family-friendly storytelling (no actors or jump scares)
  • Well-behaved dogs are welcome
  • Suitable for most fitness levels with moderate walking
  • Some sections include slight slopes or uneven surfaces
  • Suitable for mobility scooters and most wheelchair users

If you have mobility concerns, please contact in advance so advice can be given on suitability.

🎟️ Booking Information

Tours run on selected evenings throughout the year, with times varying by season.

Advance booking is recommended as group sizes are limited to preserve the experience. Book from this page.

Private tours are also available anytime on request.

You can tell a lot of research and care was taken when creating the walk and Geoff was brilliant at setting the atmosphere as the spirit Thomas

"You can tell a lot of research and care was taken when creating the walk and Geoff was brilliant at setting the atmosphere as the spirit Thomas."

- Gina on a Google review