General trail information

Smugglers Run is a one-of-a-kind cultural trail on Mudeford Quay (Dorset, UK) that follows real-life smuggler John Streeter, the most notorious of the 18th century Christchurch smugglers. The trail includes 16 publicly-accessible signs that incorporate text, illustrations, models, rubbings, and audio re-enactments that take site visitors on a fascinating journey through time by recounting John’s memories of old Mudeford and other local smugglers – reckless ‘Slippery’ Rogers, business-like Isaac Gulliver and his White Wigs, motherly Hannah Seller of Haven House, and spirited Lovey Warne. Signage locations are intrinsic to the story as it unfolds and, alongside the audio scenes, bring to life the locations as they would have been in the 18th century. 

A pioneering project

The trail is a pioneering collaboration between Arts University Bournemouth and BCP council to enhance the cultural and historical offering of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Instead of a traditional museum or gallery context, the trail installation benefits the local community, providing interest for both tourists and locals alike, bringing the area’s history alive in a relatable and accessible way for a modern audience on the site where many of the events took place. Specifically, the trail enhances Mudeford Quay extending the cultural offering beyond the typical historical focus of Christchurch town centre. The trail has been very positively received with many people commenting that they had planned their day around the trail – leading to evidence of micro-tourism and investment in the quay facilities, parking and increases in shop, café and pub footfall volume.

Accessibility information

The free, publicly accessible, self-guided historical walk takes around 60–90 minutes to complete around Mudeford Quay. The high-quality signs are family-friendly, the surface is paved/accessible, as well as dog-friendly. The trail is accompanied by a map that includes an activity sheet and rubbings for children to collect on each sign. The audio tour can be accessed by anyone with internet access, with a permanently accessible link on the local council (BCP) website. Additionally, each sign includes a QR code that links directly to the audio file for each story and can be accessed by anyone with a smartphone and phone signal. 

About the audio tour

The 16 x 1–2 minute character-driven audio scenes were created to work as a both standalone pieces for people passing by, and as part of a longer narrative arc for people following the whole trail. The trail is rooted in historical fact with fictionalised aspects to transport the listener back in time, engaging them in a narrative journey. The audio scenes include a balance of drama, humour, moving moments and excitement to appeal to all ages. The audio trail compliments the illustrated signage of the trail, without repeating what was said, to offer contrast and interest. The primary format uses a direct-address (the actors speak in-character to the listener) by confiding their secrets; bantering with one another for the listener’s attention and inviting listeners to co-conspire in the intrigue of the narrative. Many pieces are truly emotive – for example with the real story of how the young Dr Arthur Quartley saved a smuggler’s life by performing a midnight operation to remove a musket ball shot into his back – bringing in elements of heroism, risk and acts of kindness and moral duty. The high-fidelity production quality of the audio scenes includes rhythmic, lyrical and theatrical dialogues, with plucky characters whose voices sparkle with daring and drama. The scenes are set amongst the backdrop of atmospheric soundscapes that include rowdy sea shanties and crowded pubs; the call of gulls; the crunch of sand beneath feet; the shouts of men as they ready for battle; and the wind as it whips up the violent sea that smashes a ship and its panicked crew onto a hidden sand bar.

According to BCP, the audio has been accessed a total of 2429 times from August 2025 to June 2026.

Inclusive critical content

Critically, in contrast to many other historical smugglers’ stories that focus wholly on men, many of the signs and audio scenes feature multiple unheard perspectives. In particular the trail features a strong cast of women and girls with a key focus on inn keeper Hannah Seller; wild child smuggler Lovey Warne, as well as smuggler’s wife Rose Button and her daughters. The trail centres on the moral issues that an often-desperate local population faced when close to poverty. Simply put: many folk took to smuggling because they had little choice to involve themselves in order to survive, while other smugglers became so prosperous that they rose up the ranks of society to become business owners that employed hundreds of locals. The trail also highlights the dramatic shifts that took place in the region during the 18th century: with the area becoming popular with tourists for sea bathing, bath houses and recreational sailing – and is therefore more reflective of recent leisurely south coast offerings. 

Credits

The content was co-created by a team of over 20 people! Including: local historians, local residents, Arts University Bournemouth staff, students and alumni, a local writer, a local illustrator and a local sound designer. A collaborative approach was taken throughout the creation process, for example during the research and development stage for the script, staff, acting graduates and students from AUB worked alongside the writer to develop the characters and their voices, taking inspiration from events, people and stories shared by local historians from Mudeford’s smuggling past. Additionally, local historian’s worked with the illustrator to ensure historical accuracy to the clothes, weapons and technology of the time.