Smuggler tunnels and ghost stories are featured on a new trail encouraging visitors and locals to explore Porthleven.

Porthleven Town Trail takes in 13 historical buildings centred around the harbour.

It lets walkers discover more about Porthleven’s past and people, including the history of the harbour as a working port, the discovery of china clay on nearby Tregonning Hill and the rumours of smuggler tunnels and ghosts at the Ship Inn, through a 20-page colour booklet or a free to download smart app for Apple and Android devices.

The project, which is the last of five to be completed by the Porthleven Community Interest Company thanks to a £100,000 grant in 2013, has taken nearly a year to bring into life.

It has been led by Andy Wallis and Louise Winterton, who said: “This has been a fascinating project and, being a Porthleven girl, one which is very close to my heart.

“We really could not have completed the project without the great support of so many people who supplied us with information, pictures and historical documents. In helping put together the trail, I have thoroughly enjoyed looking through old photographs and information about my home, and I hope others get the same pleasure.”

The town trail map has been created by Caitlin McLintock, a local girl who has just completed the second year of her illustration degree course at Falmouth University, while the slate plaques have been crafted by stonemason Steven Dyer of J Ching stonemasons of The Gue, Porthleven.

Images for the trail have been supplied by Tony Tregowlen, who also helped with information from his books, as well as Rod Stephens, who put together the picture archives found at Out of the Blue, Roger Hosking and Helston Museum.

The trail has been written by Suzie Inman of Mightier, a copywriting and marketing company based in Porthleven, who said: “It has been a fascinating exploration of discovery working on the town trail and delving into the many stories of Porthleven’s past. The challenge for me was then to craft the information into a form that is interesting and easy to digest for anyone who wants to find out more.”

The Porthleven CIC has thanked the owners of the 13 buildings who have given permission for their building to be used, including Porthleven Harbour and Dock Company owner Trevor Osborne, Mr and Mrs Richards, Rick Stein, Jane and Jude Kereama of Kota, Colin and Helen Wiley and the mayor and councillors of Porthleven Town Council.

The CIC has also set up a community marquee hire business, opened the 72-space Withy Field car park, set up the Porthleven CIC website and provided up-lighting to the Bickford Smith Institute clock tower, to showcase the port’s most famous building. More projects are now in the pipeline.