Newquay is known for surf, sunshine, and summer holidays — but after dark, the town has a very different personality. Beneath the neon lights and beach bars lies a coastline shaped by shipwrecks, storms, ancient lookouts, and centuries of whispered stories.

If you’re ready to explore Newquay’s eerie side, lace up your shoes and follow this haunted walking tour through some of the town’s most atmospheric spots.

🕯️ Stop 1: The Headland Hotel — Newquay’s Grand Haunting

Start at: The Headland Hotel, perched above Fistral Beach

Your tour begins at one of Newquay’s most iconic buildings — and one of its most haunted. The Headland Hotel has stood watch over Fistral since 1900, and guests have long reported:

• A ghostly maid drifting through the corridors
• Footsteps in empty rooms
• A Victorian woman near the grand staircase

Even if you don’t see anything, the building’s red‑brick grandeur and Atlantic backdrop set the perfect tone for the night.

Walk: Follow the coastal path toward Towan Head.

👁️ Stop 2: Huer’s Hut — The Watcher on the Headland

Location: Towan Head

This whitewashed lookout dates back to the 14th century, when “huers” would call out to fishermen below. Today, it’s one of the most atmospheric spots in Newquay.

Visitors have reported:

• A shadowy figure inside when the hut is locked
• Voices carried on the wind
• A “watcher” who appears at dusk

Stand here at sunset and you’ll understand why this place has inspired stories for centuries.

Walk: Head down toward Towan Beach and the harbour.

🌊 Stop 3: The Old Lifeboat House — Echoes of Stormy Nights

Location: Towan Beach

Now a café and event space, this building once housed Newquay’s lifeboat crew. Stormy nights brought danger, rescues, and sometimes tragedy.

Modern visitors claim to hear:

• Heavy footsteps on the slipway
• A man in oilskins standing by the doors
• Voices during rough weather

It’s easy to imagine the ghosts of sailors lingering here, watching the waves they once braved.

Walk: Continue toward the harbour and climb up toward Trenance.

🏡 Stop 4: Trenance Cottages — Victorian Whispers

Location: Trenance Gardens

These beautifully restored 19th‑century cottages look charming by day — but after dark, they’re known for:

• A woman in Victorian dress seen near the windows
• Doors closing on their own
• A child’s laughter when the site is empty

The gardens around the cottages are peaceful, but the shadows between the trees have a life of their own.

Walk: Follow the path toward the Gannel Estuary.

🌫️ Stop 5: The Gannel Estuary — Home of the Gannel Crake

Location: The Gannel, near the footbridge

The Gannel is one of Newquay’s oldest supernatural sites. For centuries, locals have spoken of the Gannel Crake, a strange, unearthly cry heard along the water at night.

Other legends include:

• A ghostly horse and rider crossing the tidal sands
• Lights drifting across the mudflats
• A woman in white near the water’s edge

At low tide, the estuary feels vast and empty — the perfect setting for a haunting.

Walk: Loop back toward town or end your tour here for a dramatic finish.

🌙 Optional Final Stop: St Columb Minor Church

If you want one last chill, head slightly out of town to this ancient church, where:

• Monk‑like figures
• Phantom bells
• Shadowy shapes in the churchyard

…have all been reported.

It’s a fitting end to a night of Newquay’s darker side.

⭐ A Perfect Blend of Coastline & Ghost Stories

Newquay’s haunted history isn’t about jump scares — it’s about atmosphere. Wind‑carved cliffs, centuries‑old buildings, and the restless Atlantic create the perfect backdrop for stories that linger long after the walk is over.

Whether you believe in ghosts or just love a good tale, this walking tour offers a new way to experience Newquay: not as a beach town, but as a place where the past still whispers through the salt air.

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You can download a free, printable format of this tour here. 

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