Decipher Clues, Unearth Gold!

Charlestown - Historic Town & Harbour

Charlestown

Historic Town & Harbour

Charlestown - Historic Town & Harbour

Track down Redbeard's lost treasure trove!

£10.99 GBP

Sale Sold out

Trail format Instant Download Printed & Posted

Trail Information at a glance View full details

5* reviews from
8,000+ happy families

They are a really good and fun way to explore a new town or city, or your local area... Suitable for all ages. We are in our 70's.

– Laura Reeves

We were a group of 3 generations between 17 and 70ish – you really don't need to have children with you to enjoy these trails.

– Sarah Smith

Makes exploring towns really fun.

– Karunen Pillay Vencatasawmy

Great little adventures... and at £10.99 they are good value.

– L Stewart

Fantastic time spent exploring, treasure hunting, seeing new places.

– Jane Stevens

We got to see new places and things you wouldn’t notice, if you were simply walking round.

– Laura Beale

Brilliant fun, covering all ages. I've done these alone, with my teen kids and even did one as a first date!

– Zara Lyford

A great way of visiting a place in a way you wouldn't normally.

– DaveB3650

You look at features of towns you don't normally notice.

– Rachel Hill

Enjoyable solving clues and going to places in the town which we never knew existed.

– Mr Stephen Parnell

An excellent way of exploring a new or familiar place.

– Lucien Riviere

We learnt new details about a location we thought we knew.

– Kate Hood

Explore Charlestown Differently

Discover somewhere new - or rediscover somewhere you thought you knew.

A family reading a Treasure Trails booklet together on a sunny street

Follow a carefully planned self-guided route through the area
Use real landmarks and features to crack around 18 clever clues
Notice fascinating features you'd normally walk straight past
Great fun for everyone from 6 to 106
Around 2 hours of exploring
Around 1.75 miles of walking
One trail is perfect for up to 5 people

How it Works

1. Choose how you want to explore

Use the App, print your Trail at home, or let us print and post it to you.
2. Access it
instantly

Your App and PDF are ready immediately, whichever option you choose.
3. Explore
& solve

Follow the route and crack the sneaky clues along the way.
4. Submit
your answer

Enter your final
answer online to
reveal the ending.

Ready for an adventure?

A trail of clues awaits in

Charlestown

Centuries ago, notorious sea dog Redbeard McClaytips sailed into Charlestown aboard The Black Pasty after a hard day’s plundering. He hid his stolen gold, jewels and trinkets somewhere only he could find them, then swaggered off to celebrate. By sunrise, disaster! Redbeard’s head was foggier than the harbour in a pea-souper, and his treasure map had vanished.

Years later, sharp-eyed Finn Haddock fished the map from the harbour and stashed it away, where it lay forgotten for generations. Now it has reached the Exploration Society, and we need YOU to follow the Trail, recover the trove and stop Redbeard’s haul slipping beneath the waves forever.

Track Down Redbeard’s Lost Treasure Trove!

Embark on a self-guided Treasure Hunt through Charlestown’s historic streets, harbour and clifftop paths. Starting at Charlestown Harbour car park, you’ll hunt for clues on existing buildings, permanent features and monuments as you search for the missing loot.

This circular Trail takes you from the harbour to the hilltop, through churchyard clues, along a steep stretch of Coast Path and back beside the water. Expect cobbles, narrow paths, steep sections and spectacular views as you eliminate empty map locations one by one.

Can you solve the clues, outwit Redbeard’s foggy memory and uncover where his long-lost treasure trove was really hidden?

Your answers hold the key...

Uncover the hiding place and reveal the story behind the treasure.

Trail Information

Trail Location

The Charlestown Treasure Trail starts at:

Charlestown Harbour pay and display car park

Charlestown Road

St Austell

Cornwall

PL25 3NJ

England

Park in Charlestown Harbour pay and display car park

Charlestown Road

St Austell

Cornwall

PL25 3NJ

England

Treasure
Hunt

2+ Hours

1.75 miles

Not
Accessible

Dog
Friendly

Trail Details:

A Treasure Hunt themed walking Treasure Trail around Charlestown
Ideal for discovering more about where you live or exploring somewhere new
Trails are done in your own time at your own pace
This Trail is approximately 1.75 miles long and takes 2+ hours to complete
This Trail is suitable for all ages from 6 - 106 (no children necessary!)
One Trail booklet is enough for 4-5 people
Circular loop Trail
Mobile phone text service for clue answers if you get stuck, ensuring that no mystery goes unsolved
This Trail can be sent to you in the post or downloaded today for instant Trailing fun!

More Information:

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Treasure Hunt around Charlestown's historic harbour, town streets and surrounding lanes, with explorers following pavements, cobbles and coastal paths as they hunt down Redbeard McClaytips' missing hoard.

The route includes some steep hills, a short but steep coastal path section, cobbles and uneven surfaces, so it is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.

Important: You will encounter narrow pavements, busy roads, a small bridge and harbour areas with open water, so explorers should stay alert, walk carefully and keep younger adventurers under close supervision at all times.

Extra care is needed on the coast path section, which can be steep, muddy and slippery when wet.

Getting There

By car: Park in Charlestown Harbour Pay & Display Car Park (PL25 3NH) - your expedition base and official starting point.

By public transport: Charlestown is served by local bus routes from Newquay to Fowey, with Charlestown en route, but services can be limited, so it's best to plan ahead before setting off.

Need the Loo?

Even the boldest explorers need a quick pit stop!

Toilets are located in the harbour car park at the start of your quest. They are pay-to-use, with debit/credit cards the main method of payment, though some machines accept cash too.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged explorers are welcome on the quest 🐾.With a mix of town streets, harbour paths and countryside stretches, it's a great outing for dogs - just keep leads handy near roads, livestock areas and especially along the coast path and harbour edge.

Food & Drink Stops

Treasure hunting is hungry work!

There are plenty of cafés, pubs and places to grab refreshments around the harbour at the start and end of your quest, but you'll be venturing away from these between Clues 03-11, so it's wise to grab supplies early or bring snacks with you.

There are also great picnic spots later in the Trail (around Clues 13 and 15) if you fancy a scenic break mid-expedition.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Harbour Views and Tall Ship Atmosphere

Charlestown's harbour is a proper time capsule, often filled with historic tall ships that make it feel like you've wandered straight into Redbeard's world.

Film Locations and Screen Stars

This harbour has starred in over 100 films and TV shows, from period dramas to pirate adventures - so keep your eyes peeled for familiar sights.

Coast Path Views and Cliffside Breathers

The climb up to Crinnis Cliff Battery is tough but worth it, with sweeping views across the harbour and coastline - a perfect excuse to pause, catch your breath and pretend it's all part of the plan.

Mini Explorer Club

We have three super duper themed Clubs for your child to enjoy as part of their Treasure Trail experience.

Perfect for 4-8 year olds, the concept behind the Clubs is that your child will get a bundle of goodies to excite them about their forthcoming Trail experience, something to keep them entertained whilst travelling to and from the Trail, and something to be given on completion of the Trail as a keepsake.

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