Professional Writing graduate wins tourism awards for Falmouth tours
16 July 2026
After completing an MA in Professional Writing at Falmouth, Will Hazell turned his interest in local history into Falmouth Uncovered, a walking tour business that brings the town's stories to life. His tours have since earned Bronze and Silver at the Cornwall Tourism Awards, combining careful research, strong storytelling and a fresh look at familiar streets.
We caught up with Will to talk about the moment his idea became a business, what the MA taught him about storytelling and the rich history behind Falmouth's own Woodlane campus.
You've said Falmouth's history needed sharing. What was the moment that conviction turned into an actual business?
I can pinpoint it to one particular afternoon during the pandemic. I was on a run with a friend in that strange lockdown time when you could meet one person outdoors. Overlooking the Helford River, I mused how Falmouth has the most amazing story and that I had half thought about running some sort of tour. My friend Adam promptly got hyped and by the time we finished our run I was convinced!
Looking back, is there a piece of writing or a particular skill from the MA that you still lean on directly when crafting a new tour?
I owe the MA a great deal. Firstly, an understanding of proper narrative structure is very helpful. But I also gained a much greater insight into how good stories have a sense of cause and effect; things don't just happen: everything builds purposefully to deliver the thematic argument. I try to ensure that every historical story I tell does the same thing. Ideally everything I share should contribute to the guests' understanding of my founding theme: that Falmouth has the most vibrant story of any town in the country.
Falmouth Uncovered has picked up Bronze and then Silver at the Cornwall Tourism Awards. What do you think it is about the tours that resonates with people so much?
I think people often have a fear of missing out on the 'real place' when they're on holiday. They want to feel that they've had a taste of something authentic, not just walked around and been ripped off. Falmouth Uncovered basically offers people a way of connecting to the town in a visceral and dynamic way. Hopefully people leave our tours looking at the streets and quaysides with a new sense of excitement.
You describe your approach as engaging the ‘not-bothered’ while satisfying the ‘keen-beans’. How do you write and perform a tour so it lands for both types of guests at once?
I believe very strongly that you don't have to compromise between the audience that wants detail and the one that wants fun. If you tell a strong story with energy and a sprinkling of wit, you can make anyone interested in proper history (or anything at all). I generally find that I can ensure everyone is happy: the keen-beans feel satisfied by the deep research and the not-bothered feel carried along by the narrative momentum.
Could you give us a potted history of Falmouth campus and the surrounding areas on Woodlane?
The Woodlane Campus was part of an estate belonging to the Fox family, a fabulously interesting Quaker dynasty who were at the heart of Falmouth for centuries. Somehow they managed to be deft business people, whilst also promoting art, science and philanthropy in a big way. The campus's beauty stems from their passion for collecting plants from around the world, an instinct also visible at Glendurgan, Penjerrick and Trebah gardens.
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