Newquay: The Disappearing Surfer
Explore Newquay as a self-guided outdoor escape room. Use the app to solve puzzles and unlock the directions of a walking route as you explore Newquay and help a detective to find a missing surfer.
The Story
Surfer Jono has gone missing! He was last seen paddling out to the reef break at Fistral Beach and then vanished. His board is missing, and his friends are worried sick. A legendary local detective needs your help to solve the mystery. Use your detective skills and solve puzzles to unlock directions for a walking route that will lead you to clues about Jono's disappearance.
Stats
- Distance: 3.8 miles/6.1 km
- Approximate duration: 2.5-3.5 hours
- Steepness grade: Easy
- Puzzles: 40
- Dogs: considerations
- Access for wheels: no
Gradients
One path involves two short flights of steps.
We had a happy 3 hours searching for Jono, the lost surfer, cracking the codes and disentangling the mystery as we walked around the town. Chat, laughter, and puzzles to test the brain: what could be better?
Get the Mystery Walks in Cornwall app
The mystery walks are a self-guided outdoor escape room combined with a mystery tour. They are done using a mobile 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.
Each step of the way there are detailed walking directions and live map showing where you're headed to next.
The puzzles also gradually build up a set clues to solve the overall mystery when the end of the walk is reached.
The puzzles are designed for adults although children may enjoy helping to spot clues and helping to solve some of the easier ones.
Every puzzle has a ladder of hints starting from harder and progressing to very easy to cater for a range of aptitudes.
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.
The price (per group) is £14.99. It can be done all in one day or split over two.
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).
Download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play and then browse/purchase the mysteries using that.
