Seaton Valley - Menheniot to Portwrinkle

Navigating The Route

This is a driving Detective Mystery through Seaton Valley from Menheniot to Portwrinkle, with Detectives helping Chief Inspector Les Solvet and his team gather the evidence and identify who was responsible for the death of local wildlife advocate Annie Maluvva.

The investigation covers 1.5 miles walking or 14 miles driving and should take around 3.5 hours to complete. You'll walk around several villages, using a car to reach each crime scene, starting in Menheniot village at the parish church of St Lalluwy before moving between places including Hessenford, Seaton, Downderry and Portwrinkle, where the route finishes.

This Trail is wheelchair accessible and pushchair accessible. The paths are mostly paved, but some roads are very narrow, especially between Clues 09-10, and there are some unavoidable crossings on busy roads.

Take particular care when crossing the A38, especially the westbound carriageway at the bottom of the hill where traffic may be travelling at 70 mph. Keep Mini Detectives close on the busy road in Seaton and on the seafront, especially when the tide is in. The Menheniot War Memorial stands in the middle of the road, so take great care there too.

Getting There

By car: Start your investigation in Menheniot village, in the centre of Menheniot village at the parish church of St Lalluwy (PL14 3RS), using ///kitchen.grafted.tortoises.

Copley Arms car park (PL11 3HJ), using ///coder.rollover.spill, is an alternative parking stop. Park here on your right when you reach Hessenford.

The car park closest to the Smugglers Inn (PL11 3JF), using ///hides.shower.crush, is another stop on the route. You will require at least one hour here, and it is a great stop for a picnic and to review your findings.

Inn On The Shore car park (PL11 3JY), using ///enchanted.gadgets.army, is the Downderry stop. Turn right into the car park in the centre of Downderry, then continue on foot to the village.

Finnygook car park (PL11 3BP), using ///bibs.chipper.stable, is the Portwrinkle stop. Park here in Portwrinkle, where there are two more clues between here and the harbour.

By public transport: Make your way to the centre of Menheniot village at the parish church of St Lalluwy to begin the investigation. This is a driving Trail, so you will need transport between the villages as the case moves between crime scenes and finishes in Portwrinkle.

Need the Loo?

Toilet facilities can be found in Seaton, making this the place to plan a comfort stop during the investigation.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Detectives are welcome to join the case. 🐾

The route uses a car between villages and includes paved paths, narrow roads, unavoidable busy road crossings and seafront sections. Keep canine colleagues close around traffic, take extra care on the busy road in Seaton and along the seafront when the tide is in, and be ready for careful stops around the Menheniot War Memorial in the middle of the road.

Food & Drink Stops

Evidence-gathering is hungry work, and there are chances to stop for refreshments and stock up on snacks along the way.

In Seaton, park near the Smugglers Inn, where the stop is described as a great place for a picnic and to review your findings. You can also pack supplies and enjoy a picnic on the beach in Seaton. In Downderry, the route passes a restaurant opposite one clue point and a café at the other end of the car park.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Menheniot church of St Lalluwy

Your investigation begins at Menheniot church, which stands on the raised circular graveyard, or llan, at the centre of the village. A church building here was consecrated in 1293, while the present building is 15th century. Little is known of the church's patron saint, St. Lalluwy, which gives this opening crime scene a suitably mysterious edge.

Seaton Sea Wall and seafront

The Trail takes a short stroll along Seaton Sea Wall, across the road from The Beach House, and also uses the seafront in Seaton. It's a good place to pause the case for sea air and a beach picnic, while taking care when the tide is in.

Portwrinkle harbour and Smugglers cottage area

The final stretch leads through Portwrinkle towards the harbour and past Smugglers cottage. With Finnygook and a café at the other end of the car park also noted along this section, it's a fitting coastal finale once the evidence trail has led your team to Portwrinkle.

Adrenalin Quarry

Close to Menheniot station, Adrenalin Quarry was formerly known as Clicker Quarry and was once very active extracting a hard rock known as blue elvan. Blasting could be heard from as far away as Looe, and the quarry operated from 1932 to 1969 - handy background intel for Detectives who like a bit of local industrial history with their mystery.