Looe
Shops, Cafes, Pubs & Restaurants
Looe is a quaint historic fishing village and seaside holiday town and has many amenities. The vibrant town of Looe has cafes, restaurants, pubs, shops, a supermarket, a bank and golden sandy beach to explore. Many hours can be spent rock pooling, crabbing or watching the daily catch come in.
Cornwall is renowned for its award winning Cornish Pasties,
Fish ‘n’ Chips, Ice Creams and Cream Teas.
From Langunnett Cottage there is a short 2 minute drive into Looe and parking can be found at the Harbour, Riverbank, Millpool and West Looe carparks. Should you choose to walk the easiest route is to walk past the end cottage (turn left on the pathway leaving Langunnett) down steps to the Commonwood Manor, walk partly down that driveway and follow the signs onto “Johns Way”, (we have right of way access) the path leads to St Martin’s Road, which can be quite busy with traffic, there is an unpaved section of approximately 100 yards until you are able to cross the road onto a pavement. The route has steps, down hill and flat sections and takes approximately 15 minutes at an easy pace.
Beaches
East Looe Beach
… is an ideal location for sunbathing and swimming. The golden sand is great for castle building and you can promenade along the sea front enjoying an ice cream, where you can sit and watch the world go by.
Hannafore Beach
...is located at West Looe and has views of Looe Island. With its long promenade the seafront at Hannaford is a great place to spend a few hours. The beach itself is shingle with some sandy stretches at low tide, it's great for rockpooling with large shallow pools full of starfish and crabs. There are two beach cafes.
Banjo Pier
From the Banjo Pier next to the beach you can watch the many fishing boats come and go while crabbing is the favoured pastime for kids along the nearby harbour walls.
Things to do in and around Looe
Boat Trips, Fishing Trips, Golf, Canoeing, Surfing and Guided Tours to name but a few things to do. There is a Tourist Information Centre, which can be found at The Guildhall, Fore St, Looe PL13 1AA, Telephone: 01503 262072.
Looe Island Guided Tour
The visit starts with the fun of a boat trip from Looe’s bustling fishing harbour. Once landed on the Island you will be greeted by a resident Cornwall Wildlife Trust warden who will introduce you to the fascinating nature and history of the island.
You will find out how the Atkins sisters, Babs and Evelyn, bought the Island in the 1960’s to live a lift of self-sufficiency. They bequeathed the island to the Trust for £1 to prevent development. Discover how work continues to protect and enhance the Island’s wildlife. Contact for information- Cornwall Wildlife Trust – 7814 166718 (Booking online only). Looe Island has now become a popular Wedding venue.
Local Walks
For those who enjoy walking, there is the stunning South West Coastal Path for some spectacular walks. There are many coastal and countryside walks. A very popular walk is from Looe to Polperro, around the headland. This takes about two and a half hours. Another popular walk is along the coastal path to Millendreath or you may enjoy a longer walk to the beautiful Talland Bay.
Old Guild Hall Museum
Step back in time by visiting the Old Guild Hall Museum to see an exhibition of Looe’s history.
Cobbled Streets
Wander the narrow cobbled streets, and sample the delights of the Town’s award winning restaurants and cafes. Looe town is a friendly place with ample of Cornish atmosphere.
Boat Trips & Fishing Trips
There are various boat and fishing trips at the Quayside including deep sea fishing trips and sightseeing trips around the coast.
Boat Trips - Many boat trips leave from the Quayside to explore the beautiful coastline and Looe Island, which is a wildlife sanctuary just off Hannafore Point and there’s even a glass bottom boat from where you can observe the marvels of local marine life.
Fishing Trips - From wrecking to reef and rough ground fishing, mackerel fishing to deep sea fishing Looe Fishing Trips can make your trip into an unforgettable experience.
Canoeing
East Looe Beach is described as one of the best kayaking spots in Cornwall. A kayak hire shop can be found at Looe beach. The beach is sheltered and can be very calm and tranquil during summer while out of season, the risk of more adverse weather is ever present.
Exploring the coastline around this area of Kernow is a particularly pleasurable experience – rocky outcrops and cliffs provide the perfect backdrop to your kayaking adventures. You can also explore the Looe River.
Golf
The nearest Golf Course is at Looe Golf Club, 3 miles away. Designed by the late Harry Vardon, British Open Champion. Telephone to book: 01503 240239.
Surfing
Looe is a fairly exposed beach that has inconsistent surf. Winter is the favoured time of year for surfing here. Offshore winds blow from the north. Wind swells are much more typical than ground swells and the ideal wave direction is from the southwest.
Tennis
Looe Lawn Tennis Club is a private tennis facility located at Hannafore. There are five tennis courts. To book a court you
can contact the club on 01503 269290.
Cycling
The Camel Trail is an 18 mile virtually level trail, which provides access to the beautiful Cornish countryside along a disused railway line between Wenfordbridge, Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow. The trail falls into three main sections:
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Padstow to Wadebridge - 5.5 miles
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Wadebridge to Bodmin (Boscaren) - 575 miles
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Bodmin to Wenfordbridge - 6.2 miles
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Bike Hire is available at Padstow, Wadebridge, Bodmin and Wenfordbridge
Other local and nearby attractions include:
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The Monkey Sanctuary
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Eden Project
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Carnglaze Caverns
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Lanhydrock House and Gardens
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Bodmin Moor
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Adrenalin Quarry
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Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park
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Lost Gardens of Heligan
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Charlestown
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Polperro
There really is plenty to keep all the family entertained.
By car there is short drive away to the picturesque fishing village of Polperro with its winding streets and whitewashed cottages. Its tiny harbour was once a thriving centre for the area’s smuggling of brandy and tobacco.
A little further is the delightful harbour town of Fowey. You can take the coastal path to explore the secluded coves of Talland Bay and Lanivet Bay. By train you can enjoy a day out on the railway taking the scenic Looe Valley line to Liskeard town.
Looe is a great base in which to explore Cornwall and Devon. You can explore and discover over six thousand years of legend, tradition and heritage from the moors, mines and mansions of the region. There are beaches to suit everyone, including the spectacular four mile stretch of Whitsand Bay, which is a fifteen minute drive away.
Spring and Summer are not the only times to visit Looe, as there are events all year round such as an annual Literary Festival, Looe Music Festival, Looe Carnival, Looe Raft Race and even and annual Rubber Duck Race!
At Christmas the town of Looe sparkles with illuminations along the Quay. Other festivities include a Christmas Market and Gin Fair, torch-lit procession, disco and Carol Service.
On New Year’s Eve there is a fancy dress party throughout the town and a spectacular firework display.
The attractions mentioned above are a guide, which we do not endorse but are purely information on what Looe and Cornwall has to offer to you. There are many fantastic attractions to visit and places to explore during your stay in Cornwall. You will find a number of leaflets in a basket in the bookcase of the Cottage.
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Langunnett Cottage is the perfect retreat for a relaxing holiday, whilst exploring Cornwall and Devon.