Looe

Situated around a small harbour and along a steep-sided valley Looe is in fact two towns, East Looe and West Looe. Connected by a bridge across the tidal River Looe, the quiet rocky foreshores of West Looe differ from the busy waterfront, Banjo Pier and the sandy beach of East Looe. Pilchard copper and smuggling have all played a part in Looe’s prosperity in the past and now Looe is Cornwall’s second largest fishing port, with a sizeable fleet and busy fish market. The town is also a British Centre for shark fishing. Looe Island, where there are no roads, shops or cars, lies about one mile off the coast of Looe and is open to day visitors in the season.

Looe centres on its broad sandy beach, with the characteristic Banjo Pier, a new Lifeboat station and churches of St. Mary's and St Nicholas. Stretching back from here is a grid of narrow streets forming the main business area of the town, packed with many small shops, restaurants and pubs, and the Old Guildhall, now a museum.

East Looe has a very sandy beach which is popular for families with good facilities but does get very busy in the summer months. Dog restrictions apply all year. Along the cliffs to the east is Plaidy beach, and past there is the bay and village of Millendreath with another beach. The beach at Hannafore on West Looe is mainly rocky, although there are some pebbly and sandy patches, but ideal for exploring the rock pools. No dog restrictions.

You’ll find a huge selection of pubs to choose from with superb views and beer gardens, plus karaoke and live music on various nights and also so many restaurants you really are spoilt for choice.

Close by is the small picturesque fishing village of Polperro. A very small cove backed by tiny ancient cottages that appear to be almost tottering into the sea at high tide, and there's a smuggler's museum and a shell fronted house. Well worth a visit is the unusual attraction of Monkey Sanctuary which is just outside of the village.

You can take advantage of many boat trips along the coast of head for deeper waters for fishing or diving off Europe’s first artificial reef HMS Scylla.

Looe Festival by the sea is normally the first weekend in June and is two days of fun and frivolity incorporating loads of entertainment and events prepared by over 60 local groups and organisations all proud to show the best of Looe, including a photographic exhibition, flower festival, choirs, bands, dance shows, music and drama.