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Old 06-28-2011, 11:10 AM   #1
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Default Guide to visiting The Lost Crown/Barrow Hill Locations

I've had a few people ask me for advice on how to visit the locations used by Jonathan and Matt in their games. I have therefore put together this short guide of three "walks" that you can do on your visit to Cornwall. You can see the majority of the locations by walking or taking public transport, so don't be put off if you do not have access to a car.

If there is enough interest I may put together a PDF booklet with maps and photos that you can print or read on your smartphone while you visit beautiful Saxton!

Walk 1 - Polperro to Looe (5 miles), following the South West Coast Path (SWCP) along the cliffs

Polperro (Saxton) - SX209509
Everything is here, just as it is in The Lost Crown. You can follow the exact route Nigel does to get almost all of the locations (although don't go looking for Gruel's Antiques or Saxton Station here as they are in Looe). You will spot Harbour Cottage easily, right next to the harbour, along with the exterior of The Bear, the Harbour Wall, beach, caves etc. Next to the Blue Peter Inn is a path to the cliffs and the Old Net Store overlooking the harbour.

Over the little bridge near the jetty slipway is House on the Props (Lighthouse Cafe), which does good lunches. Just north up the hill from the cafe is Nanny Noah's cottage and the Museum, with the little newsagents you can see in the game. (If you were to keep heading north from here, out of Polperro, you would reach the Crumplehorn (SX205515), where the Western Greyhound Bus to Looe picks up/drops off, but ignore that for now.)

Head back to the House on the Props and go south this time, along The Warren, part of the South West Coast Path (the coast path is marked in green on the map, with little diamonds every couple of centimetres). There is a smuggling museum a minute or so along the path, and just around the corner from that is Bob's Workshop and Celtic Corner. Continue along the path, up the steep hill past the benches, and you will reach Reuben's Walk, with good views over the town.

The Lighthouse - SX213509
A few metres along the SWCP you will need to take an unmarked footpath on your right, heading down the cliff. Wind your way down the path and you will quickly spot the lighthouse. You will need to take another path on the right to reach it. When you are done here, head back up to the SWCP, and continue east.

The War Memorial Cross - SX220509
About a mile east of the lighthouse is the memorial. It is just off the SWCP, so you will not miss it.

Talland Bay (Ulcombe) - SX224515
Continue along the SWCP from the memorial, turn right where the path divides (down the steep, steep slope!) and along the driveway to Talland Bay. There is a nice little beach and cafe here. Just up the slope, past the toilets, you will find The Telephone Box from Barrow Hill. Turn right at the telephone box and go along the road to another cafe.*Opposite this second cafe, in the dirt car park, is the SWCP, heading up the edge of the cliff, but ignore that for the moment.

Walk up the road behind the cottage instead, around the sharp bend and up the steep hill. It is a tiring 100 metres, but you will be rewarded with a visit to Ulcombe Church! *(SX229516) A sign on the right will lead you into the churchyard. The exterior and interior of the church are very similar, although the area where Timmy is hiding in the shed is on the northern side of the church, rather than the eastern side as in the game.*The church usually opens around 10am, and has a history exhibition. If you do find the church closed in the week (unusual, but is has happened to me once), return to the church at the weekend and it will be open.

Return to the SWCP, either by going back down the hill to the car park, or preferably, head to the highest part of the churchyard, closest to the tower. Behind the bench is a short flight of steps into the field. Cross to the cliff edge across the field and you will quickly rejoin the SWCP. Turn left/east and follow the SWCP along the cliffs.

Meadow & Bridge - SX241515
Another mile or so along the SWCP, you will cross a wooden plank bridge. This is the bridge and meadow where Nigel collected the Pasque flower. There is a big tree growing there now, but you can recreate the game scene if you step down off the path. You will also see Looe Island (Hallowed Isle from TLC2!).

The Pinnacles - SX258525
You will soon reach a large grassy field with a few picnic benches. There is a pleasant detour to a ruined chapel signposted here. Continue to the end of the large field, through the gate and you will enter Hannafore, a residential part of Looe. Take a path on the right opposite the houses down to the sea defence wall.

You will get good views of Looe Island from here, and as the coast curves towards the north you will see The Pinnacles on the right. If you come at low tide you can head down onto the beach and walk amongst the rocks.

When you are done here you can head up to the road and follow it into Looe, with views of the beach and Martello Tower. A ferry usually runs across the river, or you can do the longish walk to the bridge and get into the main part of Looe that way. There are several bus stops on each side of the river, so you should not have a problem finding a bus back to Polperro. When you are on the bus heading back to Polperro, look out for the "Barrow Hill" Petrol Station on the left.
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Old 06-28-2011, 11:10 AM   #2
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Walk 2 - Looe (1 mile) - Do at low tide

There are a few game locations to visit in Looe, but you can only see some at low tide, so plan accordingly. For example, if you missed The Pinnacles at Hannafore Beach on Walk 1, return at low tide in order to explore the rocks.

Just south of the Tourist Information Centre in East Looe is the EXTERIOR of Gruel's Antiques and Saxton Station, on Fore Street. You can't miss it, as it is on the main route through the heart of the town.

Keep walking down Fore Street and turn left into Higher Market Street. On the right down this road is the Old Guildhall Jail and Museum. The museum is great, and the lower level is the INTERIOR of Gruel's Antiques, with a bit of creative photoshopping from Jonathan.

Turn right when you come out of the museum, and follow the road all the way to the end at the beach. You can walk along Banjo Pier to the Martello Tower, or down onto the beach at low tide to get the in-game view of the tower.

At low tide, go east along the beach, climb up the large, ugly concrete sea defence wall, and down onto the rocky beach the other side of the rocky outcrop at the far end. Pick your way across the rocks at the base of the cliff. About 100 metres east is a small cave, that inspired the smugglers caverns scene in The Lost Crown. It is a small, square opening in a recess of the cliff. Take extra care when climbing up to it as the rocks are treacherous here, and can be slimy and wet.

I have not visited it yet, but you can see the mobile phone mast from Barrow Hill on West Looe Downs (SX252535).

Walk 3 - Sedgemarsh, Northfield, Raven Lane, Barrow Hill (5 miles)

This one is a bit more complex as the locations are more spread out, and you will need to use public transport to get to them. Do stick with it though, as these are some of the prettiest and most diverse locations from the games (including my personal favourite).

Sandplace Station (Sedgemarsh Station) - SX249571
To get to the first location, head north out of East Looe to Looe Railway Station. You can take a train here along the picturesque Looe Valley Line. I don't know about ticket prices, but there are usually 2 or 3 trains per hour. The train functions much like a bus, so you will have to request it to stop when you want to get off.

The first stop is Sandplace Station (Sedgemarsh Station from the very beginning of the game). If the train driver is friendly, you may be able to get out for photos etc. for a minute or so. If not, you can return here on foot at the end of the walk.

Causeland Station (Northfield Junction) - SX249591
The next stop after Sandplace is Causeland. You want to leave the train here. The station itself is not very impressive, but opposite the exit gate is the little bridge at Northfield Junction in The Lost Crown. Jonathan did a lot of photoshopping on the field behind it to incorporate a lane and woods!

St Keyne's Well (St Anneka's Well) - SX248602
This one is a bit of a detour, but well worth the visit. Of the three Holy Wells in the area, St Keyne's is the one that Matt Clark based St Anneka's Well on the most. Exit from Causeland Station, and turn right. Follow the lane north, ignoring the next lane on the right that crosses the bridge. Follow the lane uphill for about half a mile, passing a hotel. Where the road forks, you will find the well on the right. When you are finished here, head back down the lane to Causeland Station.

The Old Barn - SX247590
Continue south past Causeland Station. Fifty metres along is a crossing of three roads. Take the rightmost road, Stocks Lane. The Old Barn is a few metres along here.

Stocks Lane (Raven Lane)
Continue down the lane past the barn. After a short stretch with high hedges on each side of the road, you will reach the crossroads area of "Raven Lane". Across the stream on the right there are two paths, one leading up the hill into Stocks Wood (Carrion Wood). The other leads to Northfield Church in The Lost Crown, but in reality it only leads to a locked gate, and is not worth the walk. If you like, you can head up the hill and explore the woods.

When you are done, head back to the road and continue up the hill. This is my favourite location, especially on a sunny day, as it is so peaceful and green. Further up the lane, another path will join from the right. Look back down the hill at this point to recreate another scene from the game.

Pass between the hedgerows, crammed with plant and animal life until you reach a gate on the right opposite a cottage. This is the location of some ingredients for the Karswell's stew.

Continue walking to the end of the lane, and then turn left and follow the B3254 for half a mile until you reach Duloe. Take extra care here as there can be fast moving traffic along the road and there is no pavement.

The Plough Inn (The Bear Interior) - SX235585
Continue walking through Duloe, passing some convenient toilets, and look out for The Plough Inn on the left. The interior of this pub was photoshopped for use as The Bear. The internal layout is fairly similar, with the bar and fireplace, and toilets around the corner, but the details are quite different. When you are finished at the pub, continue to walk down the road.

Duloe Stone Circle (Barrow Hill Stone Circle) - SX236584
You can visit Duloe Stone Circle, the inspiration for Barrow Hill, by following signs along a footpath between some cottages. The stones are quite unusual because of their large size relative to the circumference of the circle. The stone circle is located in a small field, populated by sheep and two friendly cats, and a sign gives a little bit of history.

Duloe Church (Northfield Church) - SX235581
A few metres further down the road from the stone circle is the church, usually open every day. The in-game version is remarkably similar to real life, although there is now a large tree in the graveyard obscuring the view through the churchyard towards the tower. Look out for the flock of crows in the trees! The vestry in the game is located elsewhere

St Cuby's Well (St Anneka's Well) - SX241579
Continue along the road from the church for about half a mile, through two sharp bends. Take care when walking as there is no pavement for part of the route. When the road heads downhill, you will soon pass Cornish Orchards (worth a quick visit!). Just a few metres past the entrance to the orchard, on the right, is St Cuby's Well, part of the inspiration for St Anneka's Well in Barrow Hill.

This is the last location on this walk. You can either walk back into Duloe and take a bus to Looe from there, or continue down the hill for another half a mile, winding through the beautiful woods until you get to Sandplace Station. You may want to do this if you didn't get to stop there earlier on. Then you can either take a train to Looe, or catch a bus just across the road.

Extra Locations

There are a few other places featured in the games that are more difficult to get to, but if you have time and transport, are worth the trip.

Pelynt Church Vestry (Northfield Church Vestry) SX203551
The church at the centre of Pelynt, a couple of miles north of Polperro, is home to the vestry at Northfield. It has been heavily photoshopped for the game, but the layout is quite similar.

St Nonna's Well, Nun's Well (St Anneka's Well) SX224564
The third Holy Well that inspired St Anneka's Well. Pretty tricky to get to without a car/taxi. It is two miles in either direction to Pelynt or Duloe, either along the lanes from Pelynt, or along footpaths from Duloe. The religious paraphernalia, structure and location of the well make this a rewarding trip however.

Cothele Mill (Bob's Workshop Interior)
If you get chance to head to this National Trust property, north-east of Looe (on the banks of the Tamar river that divides Cornwall and Devon), you can see the interior of Bob's workshop.

Morwhellam Quay, Devon (Ager/Karswell House)
Over the border into Devon, on the bank of the Tamar, is this living history museum. There is a mining museum, train ride and various shops and workshops. Near the waterwheel is a cottage and laboratory, the Ager/Karswell House. This is almost identical to the scenes in the game. If you get chance to stop here, the ticket price is excellent value for the thrill of seeing the well-preserved Lost Crown location, and for the other exhibits around the quay.
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Old 06-28-2011, 12:43 PM   #3
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I and my friends did walk 1 this year in May, but in the opposite direction as we were staying in Looe.
I highly recommend it for anyone either interested in the game locations or just likes to hike.
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Old 06-28-2011, 03:31 PM   #4
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Wow, this is awesome! Thank you very much for all of the information.

This post does make me sad though. My sister had a trip to Cornwall planned for us, but she passed away unexpectedly 9 months ago. I plan on making the trip myself someday, but it's going to be very sad for me.

Last edited by J-Boo; 06-28-2011 at 03:37 PM.
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Old 06-30-2011, 01:13 AM   #5
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I'd like to take advantage of this thread to publicly thanks Tom (the OP) for all the help he is offering, and all the info and pictures he is sharing!
I'll be visiting Polperro & surrounding this early September, and I'm sure all this information will prove invaluable!

Cheers!

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Originally Posted by J-Boo View Post
My sister had a trip to Cornwall planned for us, but she passed away unexpectedly 9 months ago.
Aw that is sad. Allow me to extend my condolences.
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Old 06-30-2011, 08:56 AM   #6
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I am so using this in May!!!
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Old 06-30-2011, 02:00 PM   #7
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Cheers all! It is my pleasure. Have a great trip ZeframCochrane!
Ooh, so you finally get to make the trip too Fantasysci5?
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Old 06-30-2011, 08:13 PM   #8
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Yep, I'm finally going to go! It's my dream to go to England, and I've saved up about $6,000 to go. My fiance and I agreed we'll go for our honeymoon, next May, and although I'll be paying for everything, it'll be nice to share my dream with him.

The Polperro locations are my #1 thing to see, and I'm hoping to stay most of my two weeks there at the Bed and Breakfast in Polperro. I'm excited!!!
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Old 07-01-2011, 09:40 AM   #9
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amazing work amunptah !

I hope that it will be of use for me someday
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Old 07-01-2011, 09:50 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fantasysci5 View Post
Yep, I'm finally going to go! It's my dream to go to England, and I've saved up about $6,000 to go. My fiance and I agreed we'll go for our honeymoon, next May, and although I'll be paying for everything, it'll be nice to share my dream with him.

The Polperro locations are my #1 thing to see, and I'm hoping to stay most of my two weeks there at the Bed and Breakfast in Polperro. I'm excited!!!
Good work on saving up the money, you'll have a great time Fantasy!
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Old 07-01-2011, 10:01 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZeframCochrane View Post


Aw that is sad. Allow me to extend my condolences.
Thank you
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Old 07-09-2011, 10:11 AM   #12
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Wow this is brilliant. I am planning to visit these locations too when I'm in England so these guides are great!

Edit: What do all these numbers like SX258525 mean?

Last edited by tsa; 07-09-2011 at 10:22 AM.
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Old 07-09-2011, 12:01 PM   #13
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You will be right at home. There are stacks of visitors from the Netherlands in Cornwall all year round!
Those SX numbers are grid references for Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 107: http://www.shop.ordnancesurveyleisur...-and-liskeard/
The OS Map is an essential walking map system that covers the whole UK, showing footpaths, roads, amenities and even individual buildings.
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Old 01-25-2012, 04:23 PM   #14
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I really just wanted to say again how lovely this is that you've layed out all the places to go. I feel really comfortable that I'll know where to go when I'm over there, and that I don't have to do all the researching myself...

EDIT: With your travels, did you see any really cool lighthouses (besides the smaller one in your tour). I wanted to see one kind of like in Dark Fall 2.
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Last edited by Fantasysci5; 01-25-2012 at 06:00 PM.
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Old 01-27-2012, 07:47 AM   #15
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This thread is REALLY NERDY...

...I like it!

Makes me wonder if adventure games will ever become so popular that we'll see commercial vacation-packages to locations, similar to how you can go on 'Da Vinci Code'-tours and such.
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