Name: The Plymouth City, Hoe & Barbican Treasure Trail
Rating: 5.0

The Plymouth City, Hoe & Barbican Treasure Trail

The Plymouth City, Hoe & Barbican Treasure Trail starts at: Derry's Clock Tower, Old George Street, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2TR, England

6-90 Years

Paid

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Description

The Plymouth City, Hoe & Barbican Treasure Trail is a fun self-guided detective mystery adventure that lets visitors explore Plymouth in an interactive way. Starting near Derry’s Clock Tower on Old George Street, the trail takes participants through the city while solving clues and uncovering a thrilling mystery. It combines sightseeing, puzzle-solving and storytelling, making it a great activity for families, friends and curious explorers.

The experience follows the story of “The Mysterious Disappearance of Paul de Utherwan”, a former Plymouth Argyle striker who vanished while exposing an underground gambling syndicate. Participants follow a 2-mile self-guided detective mystery walking trail through Plymouth’s city centre, the Hoe and the historic Barbican while solving clues hidden on landmarks and buildings. The trail is suitable for ages 6–106, takes around 2 hours to complete at your own pace, includes a text message clue service if you get stuck, and successful detectives are entered into a £100 monthly prize draw.

The trail costs £9.99 GBP per Trail booklet, with one booklet recommended for a group of 4–5 people. Treasure Trails can also be used for birthday adventures, where participants split into teams, follow the route, solve clues and compete to complete the mystery together.

Overall, The Plymouth City, Hoe & Barbican Treasure Trail offers a creative and entertaining way to discover Plymouth’s history and famous landmarks. By combining a city walk with a detective story, it turns sightseeing into a fun challenge for all ages. It’s a memorable activity for visitors looking to explore the city while enjoying a unique mystery adventure.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

The Mysterious Disappearance of Paul de Utherwan

Former Plymouth Argyle striker Paul de Utherwan has vanished without a trace. His family is in shock, denying the rumours that he had accumulated massive gambling debts.
But the National Crime Agency has a different story. According to them, Paul had been working as an informant, exposing an underground gambling syndicate in Plymouth.
Now, The Syndicate is on the hunt for him and it seems like they have made their move! Can you, the top detectives, solve the case and find out what happened to Paul de Utherwan?

The Detective Mystery Through Plymouth

Put on your detective hats and grab your magnifying glasses for this thrilling self-guided scavenger hunt through the vibrant city of Plymouth.
Starting at the iconic Theatre Royal, you will follow a trail of mind-bending clues that will take you on a journey through the city's history and top sights.
But this is not your typical sightseeing tour. Along the way, you will unravel the mystery behind Paul de Utherwan's demise and the underground gambling syndicate that is after him.
Can you crack the clues to reveal the the guilty party and the method they used to kick off poor Paul? Plymouth needs YOU, detectives! Can you finish this case with a clinical touch?

Facilities

Parking: The closest pay and display car park to the Trail start point is at Theatre Royal car park (PL1 2TR), which is right beside the start point. Other city centre car parks are available.
Food & Drinks: The route passes several pubs and a few cafes along the way, and there's a great picnic spot halfway along at The Hoe.
Toilets: There are public toilets available near Clues 13 and 17.

What to see

A self-guided detective mystery walking Trail around Plymouth.
Ideal for kids aged 6 - 106!
2-mile 'linear' Trail (takes roughly 2 hours to complete at your own pace).
Text message service for clues if you get stuck.
Solve the mystery and be entered into a £100 monthly draw!
Learn more about where you live, or explore somewhere new.
Download your Trail now for instant fun (or receive your copy in the post)!

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

£9.99 GBP per Trail. One Trail booklet recommended for a group of 4 to 5 people.

Pricing URL: https://www.treasuretrails.co.uk/products/things-to-do-plymouth-devon

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

Want a birthday that’s actually fun (and doesn’t involve everyone just sitting around)? A Treasure Trail is an easy, ready-to-go adventure that gets people outside, exploring and laughing together. Our pre-written Trails are suitable for children and adults aged 6+, and work best in small teams of around 4–5 people. Everyone follows the route, cracks the clues, and solves the mystery as they go.

How a Treasure Trail birthday works

Pick a location (choose somewhere local, or make it part of a day out).
Split into teams (4–5 per team works best).
Set the mission (a quick briefing + team names instantly boosts excitement).
Start times (stagger teams by 2–5 minutes to avoid copying).
Finish with prizes (more on that below!).

Children’s birthday parties: what to know

We get asked a lot whether Trails work for children’s parties.
Standard Trails are designed for ages 6+, but at that age they’re best enjoyed as a family group or mixed adult/child team, because the directions and clue-solving usually need grown-up support.
If you’ve got 20 energetic 6-year-olds and one adult, a standard Trail probably isn’t the right fit.
For older children (often 9/10+, depending on the group), small teams can work really well, but they’ll still need adult supervision, especially near roads and crossings.

Ready to plan your birthday Trail?

Pick a location, choose your Trail, and you’re good to go.
If you’d like help choosing a Trail that suits your group size, ages, and timings, get in touch and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Visit the website for more information.

You can start your Trail whenever you like, as they are completely self-guided. Everything you need to complete your Trail is in the booklet, including directions and clues to guide you along the route.

Address: The Plymouth City, Hoe & Barbican Treasure Trail starts at: Derry's Clock Tower, Old George Street, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2TR, England

Post Code: PL1 1EW

Council: Plymouth

County: Devon