These three Cornwall walking tours each focus on a different storytelling style: local history in Looe, smuggling and darker harbor tales in Looe, and ghost-themed legends in Padstow. All three are guided walks, but they differ in atmosphere, route emphasis, and the kind of traveler they suit.
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Compare the 3 Tour Options
Use this comparison to match the itinerary, traveler feedback, duration, and key features to your preferred travel day.
| Tour | Best for | Rating | Reviews | Duration | Key point | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Looe history walk | Travelers who want a relaxed introduction to Looe’s history and town character | ★ 5.0/5 | 13 reviews | Approx. 1 hr 30 min | Covers East and West Looe on foot with a 90-minute format. | View on Viator |
 Looe smuggler walk | Travelers who prefer legends, smuggling history, and a more dramatic narrative | ★ 5.0/5 | 12 reviews | Approx. 1 hr 30 min | Keeps the same 90-minute walking format as the history tour. | View on Viator |
 Padstow ghost walk | Travelers who like costumed storytelling and ghost-themed walks with a slightly spooky tone | ★ 4.8/5 | 92 reviews | Approx. 1 hr 30 min | Uses a costumed guide and a clearly themed ghost-story format. | View on Viator |
Explore Each Tour in Detail
Each option includes its own photo gallery, overview, key features, traveler profile, and direct Viator link.
Compare with the smugglers tour if you want a darker storyline.
Looe Walking Tours – Historic Tales
Best for: Travelers who want a relaxed introduction to Looe’s history and town character
This tour is a guided walk through Looe that emphasizes history, local characters, and the town’s changing identity. The route moves through harbor areas, hidden streets, the quay side, the bridge area, and finishes near the beachfront and Banjo Pier. It is presented as a fun, light, and informative experience, with room to ask questions along the way. The included guide is the main confirmed inclusion, and the description also notes that local places to eat and drink may be recommended after the tour. It suits travelers who want a general overview rather than a theme-specific walk.
A broad introduction to Looe’s past and present
- Covers East and West Looe on foot with a 90-minute format.
- Highlights harbor areas, backstreets, quay-side views, and the beachfront.
- Includes a guide who invites questions and shares local recommendations.
Choose this instead of the history tour if you want more legend and drama.
Looe Walking Tours – Smugglers and Skullduggery
Best for: Travelers who prefer legends, smuggling history, and a more dramatic narrative
This experience is another guided walk through East and West Looe, but the storytelling centers on smugglers, wreckers, press gangs, ghost tales, and other dramatic episodes. The tour begins outside the Old Guildhall on Higher Market Street in East Looe and uses the town’s streets, seafront, bay, Banjo Pier area, bridge area, Jolly Sailor, and St Nicholas Church as part of the narrative. The tone is more atmospheric than the general history walk, while still staying on foot and within the same approximate length. It is a good fit for travelers who want a themed route rather than a broad town introduction.
A themed walk built around smuggling and local intrigue
- Keeps the same 90-minute walking format as the history tour.
- Focuses on darker themes such as smuggling, ghosts, and courtroom stories.
- Includes stops or storytelling points around the Guildhall, the bay, Banjo Pier, the bridge area, and the Jolly Sailor.
Pick this if you want a themed walk outside Looe with a stronger ghost-story focus.
The Ghost Walk Padstow – Tour of Cornwall’s Myths and Legends
Best for: Travelers who like costumed storytelling and ghost-themed walks with a slightly spooky tone
This is a themed walking tour in Padstow rather than a general history walk. A costumed guide leads the route through the old town, with storytelling around haunted inns, historic houses, St Petroc’s Church, twisting alleys, and the harbor area. The description emphasizes real ghost stories, strange tales, and a changing set of sightings, so the experience is more atmospheric and narrative-driven than the Looe options. The tour also includes practical notes about dogs, children under 10, and a short uphill section after the church. It suits travelers who want a character-led walk with a spooky edge.
A Padstow walk centered on myths, legends, and hauntings
- Uses a costumed guide and a clearly themed ghost-story format.
- Includes a walking route through old Padstow, alleys, church grounds, and harbor-side areas.
- Welcomes well-behaved dogs and notes accessibility considerations for the uphill section.
Choosing a Cornwall walking itinerary style
If you want a straightforward introduction to a harbor town, the first Looe walk offers the broadest local-history perspective. If you prefer a stronger theme, the second Looe walk leans into smuggling and darker tales, while the Padstow option shifts the mood toward myths, legends, and ghost stories.
Harbor town and backstreet route
A walking route through East and West Looe with an emphasis on hidden streets, quay-side areas, and the beachfront finish.
Smuggling and waterfront storytelling route
A walking route through Looe’s streets, quaysides, and story sites tied to smugglers, press gangs, and hidden history.
Old town and harbor ghost-story route
A Padstow walking route through alleys, church grounds, old houses, and harbor-side storytelling stops.
Travel planning tip
Check the live product page before booking. Departure details, activity order, inclusions, and available options can change.
Booking notes
- These are walking tours, so comfortable footwear is a sensible choice.
- Check the route notes carefully if you have mobility concerns, especially for the Padstow uphill section.
- The included guide is confirmed in the source data; other extras should not be assumed unless they are explicitly listed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tour is best if I want a general walking introduction to Cornwall history?
The Looe Historic Tales walk is the most general of the three. It focuses on local history, buildings, people, and the town’s development rather than one specific theme.
Which option is better for travelers who want a stronger story theme?
The Looe Smugglers and Skullduggery walk is the most theme-driven of the two Looe tours. It centers on smuggling, press gangs, ghosts, and other darker stories.
Is the Padstow tour a good choice for people concerned about accessibility?
The Padstow tour includes a short uphill section after the church and notes that a powered wheelchair would cope, while pushing a manual chair would be difficult. Review those details before booking if accessibility is important to you.