“We Love Looe” It’s a phrase we‘ve got used to hearing people say, from young children to future kings, and in October 2013 Looe was named second best coastal resort in the British Travel Awards. This all goes to show that you don’t have to be a big destination with loads of attractions to draw in the visitors. Looe is what it is, it doesn’t change much. Some families have been holidaying here for generations, fishing for crabs on the quayside, sunbathing on the beach, walking the coast path to Polperro. Why change what isn’t broken? We hope that this little guide of ours will 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 find a list of special events taking place during 2015. These events are always popular and attract a great number of visitors, but it doesn’t matter when you visit, we will have a warm welcome for you anytime.
Looe has a lot of history, and we are very proud of it. Our museum is a treasure trove of items collected over the years telling the story of the town. There are no flashy visuals, no displays of buttons to press, just good old fashioned items that have been used by the people of Looe to make the town what it is today. Every year we get visitors to the town looking into their family history. Many come from far flung parts of the world, providing evidence that the people of Looe have always travelled to find work, be it mining, fishing or just to seek their fortune whatever way possible. The museum has a wealth of photographs, documents and census returns to help people find that elusive bit of information, so why not pop in when you visit? For those just generally interested in the town, then The Book of Looe, on sale in the Tourist Information Centre, is a great place to start. Priced at ÂŁ16.99, it is full of interesting old photographs and a great overview of the town, especially from the last 150 years.
Looking back....
Stunning holiday homes in Looe The Cornish Collection www.cornishcollection.co.uk enquiries@cornishcollection.co.uk or call 01503 262 736 today
Tide ’ s in, Sun ’ s out.... ...Time for a holiday.
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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
w w w . b e s t o f b o d m i n m o o r. c o . u k
Escape to the country
You don’t have to stay on the coast to enjoy south east Cornwall. Why not spend some time in amongst the green fields, wooded valleys and secret hideaways that are just waiting to be discovered?
For more rural accommodation go to
www.looeguide.co.uk
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
Where better to relax than the easily accessible beach at East Looe? (we even have a beach wheelchair for disabled visitors). It 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 track is popular with families. Millendreath: Sandy beach that can be walked to along the coast path from Looe. New development offers cafe and water sports facilities. Seaton: Large dog friendly sand and shingle beach five miles 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
www.looeguide.co.uk
Rambles from the Railway It has been a few years since the Looe area had a good walking guide, but that has now changed with the 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, is 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. An Off Peak day return ticket is great value and groups of 3 to 9 adults travelling together, can get a third off by asking for a GroupSave ticket. Timetables are available in the Tourist Information Centre, online at www.firstgreatwester n.co.uk or telephone National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950.
www.greatscenicrailways.com
Sitting just off the beach at Hannafore, West Looe, the island, also known as St George’s Island, is one of Looe’s biggest attractions. Owned by Cornwall Wildlife Trust, visitors can access the island by boat during the season, or take a cruise around it on one of the many boats trips that leave the harbour regularly, weather and tide permitting. The Trust runs the island as a nature reserve with many nesting birds including the largest colony of great black-back gulls in Cornwall. It is also the best place in the area to catch sight of a grey seal, with several making the waters off the seaward side their home throughout the summer months. Legend has it that Christ visited the island as a boy whilst trading for tin with Joseph of Arimathea, and the remains of a chapel built by the monks of Glastonbury can still be seen on the islands summit. Stories also claim that a tunnel links the island to the mainland, but this has never been found and apart from a couple of times a year when tides are very low and you can paddle out, the only way is by boat. So, this year, why not make an effort to visit Looe Island? You won’t be dissapointed. For more details check out the Corwall Wildlife Trust website at
ww w. cor n wal lwi l dli fe t r u st. org. u k
Things to do...
This year will see the BBC’s new adaptation of the Poldark series. The original, first broadcast in the 1970s, saw visitors flock to Cornwall to discover the rich mining heritage, which now has World Heritage status. The new version is sure to do the same with the promise of stunning backdrops filmed amongst Cornwalls rugged countryside and coastline. Fans of Downton Abbey will also find plenty to satisfy their de mand 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 the filming of Tim Burton’s 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 the novels of Rosamunde Pilcher and the historic port of Charlestown, just down the coast, has been used in any number of films and TV programs, recently including an episode of Dr Who and the Martin Sheen film ‘The Adventurer, the Curse of the Midas Box’. 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. Also out on Bodmin Moor you will find Jamaica Inn, itself the subject of a TV adaptation last year. So don’t forget to bring your camera on holiday, there’s a new location around every corner....
Captured on Film
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 2015 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.