In October 2013 Looe was awarded silver in the British Travel Awards, coming in a close second behind Bournemouth. This is a great acolade for the town and we would like to say a big thank you to everybody who voted for us. It’s good to know that people feel so positive about Looe and we hope this might tempt a few that are not familiar with the place to visit in 2014. We hope that this little guide of ours will also help in planning your holiday. It features a cross section of accommodation providers in and around the town and if you still can’t find what you want, don’t hesitate to go to our website at www.looeguide.co.uk or phone the Tourist Information Centre on 01503 262072, we are here to help. Further into the guide you will also find a list of special events taking place during 2014. These events always bring plenty of people into the town and if you are looking to attend make sure you book your accommodation in advance.
We look forward to seeing you
When should we visit? Spring brings new life to the area with fantastic floral displays in everything from hedgerows to formal gardens. Whether you are an avid gardener or just love vivid colours, you won’t find a better place to be this time of the year than Cornwall. Summer is a time for relaxing on the beach and soaking up the rays or exploring hidden coves and rockpools. If you’re unlucky and get a few wet days, then at least it’s not too far to the Eden Project, the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth or a dozen other indoor attractions. Autumn draws in, life slows a little, things mellow and thoughts turn to long walks and pub lunches beside roaring fires. There are fewer visitors about, accommodation is often a little cheaper and Indian summers are always a possibility! Winter is for those who like the wilder side of Cornwall. Wrap up warm and watch the waves crash against the jagged shoreline. Visit a Christmas market and buy some local produce or come down and see in the New Year in style with one of the best free parties in the UK.
.....Anytime!
Sail away... You are never far away from the sea in South East Cornwall and no visit to Looe or Polperro is complete without a trip on the water of some sort. From deep sea reef fishing to a ferry trip across the river, from kayaking off the beach to a speedboat trip around the bay, even a glass bottom boat trip around Looe Island, there’s a water based activity for everybody.
If you prefer the faster side of life then wait until the middle of August when the Merlin Rocket class of sailing dinghys will be shooting across the bay during their national championships.
But if you don’t like being on the water.... ..just sit on the quayside and watch life float by.....
..there’s no better way to relax!
making plans.com It’s never been easier to plan your holiday in advance now that we have the internet, and to many the idea of a printed guide is as old fashioned as black and white televisions and radiograms. But many of you still like to read through the guide, even if you then go online to book your accommodation. This is why we keep producing the guide, but every year the number of advertisers drops as more and more businesses concentrate on web based advertising. So please mention the Looe Guide if you make a booking or enquiry with any of the advertisers in this guide. If you don’t this might be the last year we can afford to produce one. The internet is taking over, not only is it in our homes but it is also in our hands. Visitors can access information while sitting on the beach or walking the coast path, 24 hours of the day. There are a multitude of websites out there offering easy booking of accommodation, many promising the best prices available. Feel free to use these, but just remember you can often get a better price, and a better choice of room, by speaking to the accommodation provider directly, and you won’t be paying a substantial percentage of the cost to the dot com websites. Cornwall needs tourism, it needs your money! By ignoring the online booking sites and paying the accommodation provider directly, that money is going back into the local economy, it will go back into making the destination better for next time you visit, not into a faceless online company based in the US or who knows where. Please remember this when you are planning your holiday. We are a friendly lot here in Looe, give us a ring, send us an email, we are always happy to help and give you advice and where possible save you some money! ..and for those of you with access to the internet,
www.looeguide.co.uk
Looe Tourist Information Centre stock a good supply of maps and walking books. They can also give advice on any routes you might like to try and supply up to date weather and tidal information.
Ten short walking routes to follow in and around Looe. Pick up a leaflet or download the podcasts at www.looeguide.co.uk or use this QR code .
Tide’s in, Sun’s out....
Rail: Looe has a station linked to the main line at Liskeard by a half hour branch line service. Coach: National Express coaches call at Liskeard. Bus: Regular services run from Looe to Polperro, Liskeard and Plymouth. A service also operates between Looe and Polruan giving access to Fowey via a ferry. Car: Looe is a four to five hour drive from London, four hours from Birmingham. On foot: Why not walk the South West Coast Path, it goes through the town?
Getting to and from Looe
Polperro... Make sure you find time to discover the hidden corners of Looe’s near neighbour. Much of Polperro is tucked away along narrow lanes, beloved by artists and the haunt of smugglers in the past. Discover its galleries, restaurants and traditional pubs, or take a boat trip from the harbour.
..Picture perfect
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Just look for Looe TIC Post us your photos.... ..tell us about your holiday... ...or ask us a stupid question!!!
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Life’s a beach.... …in South East Cornwall! and with so many to choose from we are sure you will find a beach to suit your needs. The large sandy beach at East Looe is easily accessible, (we even have a beach wheelchair for disabled visitors) offers safe swimming and is close to all the facilities you need for a day relaxing. Over the river at West Looe, the beach at Hannafore has less sand but with thousands of rockpools it’s great for exploring or snorkeling over at high tide. Other beaches in the area include... Polperro: Sandy beach below the harbour wall when the tide is out. Willy Wilcox’s cave is ideal for the intrepid explorer. Lantic Bay: Lovely National Trust owned beach, reached by 20 min walk from the car park featuring a steep descent. Swimmers should be aware of strong currents and shelving. Lansallos: Another National Trust beach, this secluded cove at the end of an old smugglers path is popular with families. Millendreath: Sandy beach that can be walked to from Looe. New development offers cafe and water sports facilities. Seaton: Large dog friendly sand and shingle beach to the east of Looe. Parking behind beach. All facilities. Talland Bay: Between Looe and Polperro, mix of rock pools and sand, cafes and parking. Whitsand Bay: Long stretch of sand to the east of the area. Good for surfing and sunbathing, swimming only recommended where lifeguards are on duty. For more information on beaches call in at the Tourist Information Centre or
w w w. l o o e g u i d e . c o . u k
Rambles from the Railway It has been a few years since the Looe area had a good walking guide, but that has now changed witht he publication of Rambles from the Railway. Containing nine walks that link in with the Looe Valley Line, including the classic Liskeard Looe walk, this book is a must for anybody wanting to explore the area on foot. Copies of the book cost ÂŁ4.50 and are available in local shops and Looe and Liskeard Tourist Information Centres.
The Looe Valley Line Looe can be easily reached by train from all over the country, the final part of the journey running the eight miles down the Looe Valley, perhaps the most scenic line in the UK? The line follows the Looe River as it changes from stream to tidal estuary, the last couple of miles giving uninterrupted views across the wide expanse of water, or mud, depending on the tide. The line is a good way to see the birdlife of the valley, with everything from Oyster Catchers to Egrets, Kingfishers to Buzzards only a few feet from the train window. Alternatively get off at one of the stations on the line and take a walk in the surrounding countryside (see Rambles book opposite). The year round service (no Sunday service between November and May) takes just under half an hour and can easily be linked to main line services, offering the chance of a great day out in Cornwall or Plymouth. A cheap day return is great value and if three or four of you are travelling ask for a group save ticket and travel for the price of two people. Timetables are available in the Tourist Information Centre, online at www.nationalrail.co.uk or telephone National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950.
www.carfreedaysout.com
Take a walk on the wildside while on holiday and see what you can find. Every rockpool is a world in itself with 1000s of creatures to discover, whilst no trip to Looe is complete without a session crabbing on the quayside. The Looe Marine Conservation Group run Rockpool Rambles throughout the year and also provide leaflets on how to identify what you might find. Ask in the Tourist Information Centre for details or go to www.looemarineconservation.org
Things to do...
Bodmin Moor
..the wild heart of Cornwall
The high moors in the centre of Cornwall are guaranteed to provide any visitor to the county with a sense of solitude and amazement. Rich in history and folklore, abounding in fantastic views and wild walks, they are easily accessed from Looe and south east Cornwall. The village of Minions, less than a half hours drive from Looe and the coast, is surrounded by a World Heritage site celebrating Cornwall’s rich mining history. Going further back in time the moors to the north of the village are rich in prehistoric remains going back 6000 years, including stone circles. Looe Tourist information Centre can help with maps and guide books and any general information you might need about the moors, alternatively go to
www.be s tofbodm inm oor.c o.uk
Fans of Downton Abbey and other period TV dramas will find plenty to satisfy thier demand for the past in South East Cornwall. At Lanhydrock (pictured below) visitors can walk through the Upstairs Downstairs world of a Victorian country house whilst another National Trust property, Anthony House near Torpoint, was used for filming the recent Tim Burton version of Alice in Wonderland. Mt Edgcumbe, hidden away on the Rame peninsular (Cornwall’s forgotten corner) has been used by German film crews for adaptations of Rosamunde Pilcher novels and the historic port of Charlestown, just down the coast, has been used in any number of films and TV programs, the most recent including an episode of Dr Who and the new Martin Sheen film ‘The Adventurer, the Curse of the Midas Box’ due to be released in 2014. With stunning landscapes and coastal vistas it is not surprising that so many film companies travel to Cornwall for their inspiration. Part of the popularity of the TV series Doc Martin is the Cornish countryside that it is set in, from the sleepy fishing village of Portwenn (Port Isaac) to the craggy hills of Bodmin Moor. Some may also remember the Poldark series set amongst Cornwalls tin mining areas, many of which can still be visited and now form part of a World Heritage site. So don’t forget to bring your camera on holiday, there’s a new location around every corner....
Useful Telephone Numbers Looe Tourist Information Centre ..................01503 262072 Looe Town Council .……………….……..01503 262255 Looe Harbour Commissioners …...…….….01503 262839 Police—Non Emergency……...................…101 Looe Health Centre / Doctors Surgery …....01503 26 6 9 6 0 Liskeard Community Hospital ……….……01579 335278 Derriford Hospital, Plymouth ……….…….0845 155 8155 Dentist Helpline …………………………..0800 371192 Local Vet ……………………...………….01503 263773 National Rail Enquiries ……………………0845 748 4950 Nearby Tourist Information Centres Liskeard TIC …………………….………..01579 349148 Fowey TIC ……………………..………....01726 833616
Produced by Looe Town Council The Guildhall, Fore St East Looe, Cornwall PL13 1AA Tel 01503 262072 looetic@btconnect.com
Printed by Deltor Communications Ltd Long Acre, Saltash Cornwall Pl12 6LZ Tel 01752 841717 enquiries@deltoruk.com
The Looe Guide 2014 is produced by Looe Town Council in order to promote the town and surrounding area as a tourist destination. We greatly acknowledge the support of all the businesses whose advertisements appear in these pages. Without their help we would not be able to publish the guide. However, Looe Town Council take no responsibility for the products or services advertised.
Why not end the year in Looe? Join in one of the biggest and best free fancy dress parties in the UK. The streets, the pubs and the restaurants are all buzzing as locals and visitors mix to see in the new year. At midnight it’s time to get down to the seafront to watch the fireworks.... ...and then on New Years Day, what better way to get over the partying than to take a stroll along the coast path and blow away the old year for ever. You’re tempted? Don’t leave it too late to book...it gets busy!