Padstow Ghost Walk lights a lantern for St Petrocs, one night only

Somewhere in Padstow‘s old streets, a lantern is being readied for a very particular kind of night. Twenty-five people will follow it. And almost every penny they pay will go somewhere else entirely.

The Ghost Walk Padstow is putting on a special Friday evening walk in aid of St Petrocs, Cornwall’s leading homelessness charity.

It takes place on Friday 23 October at 7pm, giving visitors and local residents the chance to experience the town’s darker history while helping people experiencing homelessness across Cornwall.

Tickets are £12, and £11 from every ticket will be donated directly to St Petrocs. The remaining £1 covers essential booking, payment-processing and administration costs.

Ghosts, smugglers and shipwrecks

The Ghost Walk runs regularly in Padstow, bringing together local history, folklore and tales of ghosts, smugglers, shipwrecks and mysterious happenings.

Each tour is led by the ‘spirit’ of Thomas Rawlings, a local merchant who lived from 1757 to 1820. The group evening walk lasts 80 to 90 minutes and takes in the town’s historic streets, St Petroc’s Church and Prideaux Place, with stories of merchants, rivalry, shipwrecks and local folklore along the way.

Expect atmospheric storytelling and a little light theatre. It is family and dog-friendly and suitable for all ages, with no extreme scares.

The charity evening follows the same familiar Ghost Walk experience. The difference is where the money goes.

Why St Petrocs?

The choice of charity has a strong connection with Padstow.

St Petroc, the saint after whom the charity is named, has a long association with the town and is traditionally linked with the establishment of a monastery there. He also has a reputation for welcoming strangers and offering hospitality, values which remain just as relevant today.

Geoff, creator and guide of the Ghost Walk, said: “Choosing St Petrocs felt completely natural. St Petroc has such a strong connection with Padstow, and his reputation for welcoming strangers and offering hospitality feels particularly appropriate.

“Ghost stories remind us of people forgotten by history. This special evening gives us an opportunity to enjoy the stories and history of Padstow while also doing something positive for people in our community who need support.”

What St Petrocs does

St Petrocs is an independent local charity working to end homelessness in Cornwall, because every person has the right to a safe and secure home.

It provides the support people need to find a route out of homelessness. That includes advice, support and medical services at community resource centres in Truro and Penzance, and around the county through an outreach team. Its supported accommodation houses more than 186 people across Cornwall.

There is also a skills, training and employment programme to help people return to independence, and Freshfield, an in-house counselling service and telephone helpline.

The charity’s work focuses on four areas:

• Preventing homelessness
• Making homelessness an exception
• Making the experience of homelessness short
• Supporting people out of homelessness for good

How to book your space

The charity walk departs at 7pm on Friday 23 October 2026 from in front of the Old Custom House on Padstow Harbour. Only 25 spaces are available.

Tickets cost £12 per person and can be booked through the Ghost Walk Padstow website.

Geoff added: “I’m particularly pleased that we can donate £11 from every £12 ticket directly to St Petrocs. It means that people coming along for an enjoyable evening can make a genuine contribution at the same time.”