Fowey - Gardens & Esplanade

Navigating The Route

This is a Detective Mystery route around Fowey Gardens & Esplanade, with Detectives helping Chief Superintendent Ivanta Crackadiscase stop APEX, the Anti-Pasty EXtremists, from ruining the Fowey Regatta and targeting Cornwall's beloved Cornish pasty.

The investigation covers approximately 1.5 miles and should take around 1.5 hours to complete. You'll start at the parish church in South Street, Fowey, then work through the town centre, the busy quayside and Town Quay, past Fowey Museum, up towards Bull Hill, into the Old Grammar School garden and along the Esplanade and harbour edge.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs. It is also marked as not pushchair friendly, as there are several steep hills and some flights of steps along the route. Lighter pushchair users should still be able to access some of it though.

Expect a mostly urban route with steps, steep hills, uneven surfaces and narrow streets with no pavements. It can be slippery after periods of rain, and later sections include very narrow roads, steps up to Bull Hill, a steep metal stair descent into the Old Grammar School garden and an unfenced drop by the water on the Esplanade.

Take care around busy traffic, open water on the quayside and the unfenced drop into water on the Esplanade. Keep Mini Detectives close on road sections and anywhere the route gets narrow.

Getting There

By car: Start your investigation at the parish church in South Street, Fowey (PL23 1AR). Parking is limited, so it's best to leave the squad car at the Main Long Stay car park (PL23 1ET). From there, it's a short walk downhill into Fowey town centre, or you can use the minibus service, which will drop you at the start point.

To get back to the squad car after cracking the case, return to Esplanade and turn right. On foot, turn left at the end, left at Place View and head up the steps to Central Car Park. By minibus, turn right at the end and follow the road around to The Ship Inn and the church.

By public transport: Make your way to the parish church in South Street, Fowey, to begin the investigation. A minibus service will drop you at the start point.

Need the Loo?

Comfort stops are available at the car park, on Town Quay and near Clues 04 and 05, so there are a few chances for Detectives to regroup during the case.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Detectives can join the investigation, with one important restriction 🐾

Sniffer dogs are not able to access the area around Clue 19, and sniffer dogs are not allowed in the Old Grammar School Garden where Clue 19 is hidden. They must remain at the gate of the Old Grammar School Garden.

The route also includes narrow streets with no pavements, busy traffic at points, steep hills, steps, open water on the quayside and an unfenced drop into water on the Esplanade, so keep canine colleagues close throughout.

Food & Drink Stops

Anti-pasty extremist activity is best tackled on a full stomach. There are many shops, cafes and pubs en-route, with The Ship Inn mentioned on the route and Pebble & Salt passed later on.

Want to Make a Day of It?

St Fimbarrus Church

Your case begins beside St Fimbarrus Church, which stands on a Christian site dating back to the 6th century. Much of the church dates from 1460, after Fowey was rebuilt following the French raid of 1457, and the wood used is from a Spanish galleon - excellent evidence for history-loving Detectives.

Town Quay

The investigation enters the busy quayside area and heads onto Town Quay, making it a natural place to pause and soak up Fowey's waterfront atmosphere. There is open water here, so keep the team close while you take it all in.

Fowey Museum

The route passes opposite Fowey Museum and then continues down past it, so it's an easy local-history extra if your Detectives want to add another stop to the day's evidence file.

Fowey Esplanade and harbour edge

Later in the case, the route follows Esplanade, with a slipway down towards the harbour light and the water close by on the left. It's a scenic stretch to enjoy at a slower pace once the anti-pasty panic is under control, taking extra care by the unfenced drop into the water.