A trip to Looe
| Wet weather rating |
*** quite a few things to do under cover, and a good centre for shopping. |
| Family Rating |
**** something for all ages |
| Travel Rating |
moderately easy - change at Liskeard for the Looe line |
| Journey Time |
50 minutes |
| Comments |
If you plan to visit Polperro a walk from the Looe line is a pleasant way to do
so, but do allow all day for the trip. |
| Sundays |
Possible on Sundays during the summer only
|
At the end of the line, Looe is well worth a visit. It is a typical coastal resort
with a pretty working harbour offering fishing trips, a pleasant beach, an
excellent fish and chip shop, and plenty of other shops and restaurants. During
the February half term of 2001 a magician was travelling on the Looe train in the
morning. This seemed to be popular, so hopefully this excellent and enjoyable
initiative will be repeated. A beautiful winter’s day is an appropriate time for
this trip as the trees are bare, thus allowing for greater appreciation of the
scenery as in summer the trees can spoil the view. However there are plenty of
splendid vistas even in summer as the railway skirts along the lovely Looe estuary,
a haven for wildlife and birds. On our trip we saw several Little Egrets and an
Oyster Catcher enjoying the mud banks created by the low tide.
Things to do in Looe
Shopping
Looe is great for touristy and quirky gifts, and there are plenty of cafes,
restaurants and pubs offering a range of food, with an emphasis on fish, the town’s
main trade. There is a good bookshop specialising in antiquarian books and several
clothes shops.
Entertainment arcades
There are two entertainment arcades in Looe, the easiest from the station is along
the main road and across the bridge. The arcade is on the right on the far side of
the bridge.
The beach
At the station turn right towards Looe centre, then follow the crowds by turning
left just before the bridge. Continue along this road as far as you can and
eventually you will reach the beach (about 10 minutes walk).
Sea fishing and boat trips
Looe’s working harbour runs parallel with the main street, to the right hand side
of the road. Here you can see the fish market, or nearer the beach end book fishing
trips on a variety of boats. Sea fishing options usually include searching for
mackerel, sharks, deep sea fishing, or just pleasure trips. There are plenty of
short trips out around the harbour or around Looe island. For fishing trips
contact Jack Bray, The Quay, East Looe; 01503 262504 or Fishing Co-operatives
(U.K.) Ltd, Looe Harbour Chandlery, The Quay, East Looe; 01503 265444
Woodland Walks
The woodland across the river from the station is open to the public and accessible
through a series of paths. For more information visit the South East Cornwall
Discovery Centre. This is sited in the Millpool car park. Turn right over the
bridge, then right beside the amusement arcade. Follow the road to the bottom of
the hill and into the car park. The Discovery centre is on the left. The contact
number for the Discovery Centre is 01503 263266.
Coastal walk to Polperro
An enjoyable walk can be made by crossing the bridge into West Looe, then turning
left and keeping the coast as close to your left as you physically can. This will
lead you onto a footpath which later rejoins the road towards Hannaford point where
there are some good rock pools. Continue to the end of the lane and then follow the
coastal footpath to Talland Bay, a pleasant bay with sand, rock pools and a
pleasant little beach café. The footpath continues to Polperro, a very pretty,
understandably touristy village with lots of smugglers’ cottages, narrow streets
and tiny doorways. It is about three miles from Looe to Talland, and a further
mile to Polperro, so with a stop at the beach and a look around Polperro this is
a day trip in its own right.
Things to do in Polperro
The Model Village - incorporating the Land of Legend and the world of model
railways. Head inland along the first road you reach - the Model Village is on
the left after a few hundred yards. This is closed during the winter. The contact
is Mr Gregory on 01503 272378.
The Polperro Harbourside Museum is on the left as you enter the village. This is
a very pleasant little museum with plenty of local history and some up to date
information on among other things smuggling, knitting, pilchard fishing and
manufacture. Entry is £1 and it is open all the year round.
Also during the summer you can take a ride in a cart pulled by a shire horse.
This is just up the road from The Model Village. Boat trips are available from
Polperro around the harbour.
__________________________________________________
The
Railholiday Home Page
The Old Luggage
Van
St Ives Bay
SK2
Prices - Current
prices and Special Offers
Availability -
Is that week available?
Booking Form -
Do it now !
Cornwall -
Things to do and holiday planning links
Share-a-Booking -
Your sort of holiday but not your partners idea of fun ?
Links - Surf the
rails
__________________________________________________
Telephone : +44 (0) 1503 230783
Email : DaveandLizzy@railholiday.co.uk
Railholiday, Haparanda Station, Nut Tree Hill, St Germans,
Cornwall, UK. PL12 5LU
__________________________________________________