Boscastle - one witch short of a coven
Mystery Walks in Cornwall - Explore Cornish Towns/Villages as an Outdoor Escape Room

Boscastle - One Witch Short of a Coven

Explore Boscastle as a self-guided outdoor escape room. A spellcasting mishap by an apprentice witch has turned one of the coven into a snail. Can you reverse the spell? Use the app to solve the puzzles and unlock directions of a walking route that will lead you to the answer.

The Story

The coven have enlisted Merlin's help to cast the spell needed to return Demelza from the cabbage patch. Merlin has chosen you as his apprentice, hoping you can tell a rune from a prune. Explore Boscastle and solve the puzzles needed to piece together the words of the spell.

Stats

  • Distance: 2.7 miles/4.4 km
  • Approximate duration: 2.5 - 3.5 hours
  • Steepness grade: Moderate
  • Dogs: considerations
  • Access for wheels: no

Get the app

A family doing a mystery walk
The mystery walks are an outdoor escape room combined with a mystery tour. They are done using a mobile app.
Phone showing walk directions page in the iWalk Cornwall app
For each one, there is a story with an overall mystery to solve. To do this, you solve puzzles to unlock each direction of a walking route.
Walking along a path
Each step of the way there are detailed walking directions and live map showing where you're headed to next.
Solving a puzzle
The puzzles also gradually build up a set clues to solve the overall mystery when the end of the walk is reached.
Phone showing facts section in iWalk Cornwall app
The puzzles are designed for adults although children may enjoy helping to spot clues and helping to solve some of the easier ones.
Couple solving a puzzle
Every puzzle has a ladder of hints starting from harder and progressing to very easy to cater for a range of aptitudes.
Solving clue overlooking the sea
A mystery typically takes around 3 hours to complete. It's not a race so you can take your time, take photos, stop for refreshments etc. and have a nice day out.
A family
The price (per group) is £14.99. It can be done all in one day or split over two.
Puzzle by a Celtic church
Once a mystery has been downloaded, it runs completely offline using GPS with no need for a phone signal or data/internet connection (it's Cornwall-proof).
Phone showing iWalk Cornwall in the App Store
Download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play and then browse/purchase the mysteries using that.