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Looe is a small town and fishing port on the south Cornish coast. Looe is in fact two towns, East Looe and West Looe, connected by a bridge across the River Looe. Both towns are situated around a small harbour and along the steep-sided valley of the river which flows between East and West Looe to the sea beside a sandy beach. Off shore to the west, opposite the stonier Hannafore beach, lies the picturesque St George's Island, commonly known as Looe Island. Looe remains a fishing town, and several fish dealers operate from the docks of East Looe. With its fleet of small fishing boats returning their catches to port daily, Looe has a reputation for producing excellent fresh fish. The town is also a centre for shark fishing. Looe's main business today is, however, tourism, with much of the town given over to hotels, guest houses and holiday homes, along with a large number of pubs, restaurants, and shops selling beach equipment, ice cream and Cornish pasties. Inland from Looe lie many camping and caravan sites, as well as a Monkey Sanctuary. Other local attractions include the beaches, sailing, fishing and diving, and spectacular coastal walks, especially the one via Talland to Polperro. |
East Looe centre's on its broad sandy beach, with the distinctive Banjo Pier, a new lifeboat station and St. Mary's Church. 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. Along the estuary lies the quay, with several fish dealers. Towards the bridge lies the Victorian Guildhall, and just north of the bridge the railway station, which is the terminus of the Looe Valley branch line to Liskeard. |
West Looe spreads west from the bridge on the Polperro Road towards Sclerder, and along the river south of the bridge, with hotels, restaurants and boarding houses along the waterfront and houses climbing the perilous cliff above, towards a cluster of shops and businesses and the Church of St. Nicholas. |
Further south along the coast road is Hannafore Point, marking the edge of Looe Harbour, with to the west the wide, stony Hannafore beach, facing across a narrow channel to Looe Island (officially called St. George's Island). Slightly inland is the hamlet of Portlooe. Beyond lies a coastal path leading to the hamlets of Porthallow and Talland, and from there on to Polperro. |
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Looe Harbour
Photo © lostajy (CC) |
The Bridge linking East and West Looe
Photo © Martin Pettitt (CC) |
The River Looe which divides the town in half
Photo © lostajy (CC) |
A boat resting on the mud at low tide
Photo © Martin Pettitt (CC) |
Looe Harbour is full of boats only accessible at high tide
Photo © lostajy (CC) |
West Looe at High Tide
Photo © Martin Pettitt (CC) |
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The Quayside at Looe
Photo © Martin Pettitt (CC) |
Boats offering various trips from Looe
Photo © Martin Pettitt (CC) |
The Old Lifeboat Station in Looe
Photo © Martin Pettitt (CC) |
Part of the harbour wall resembling a Castle Turret
Photo © Martin Pettitt (CC) |
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Many houses in Looe are built into the hillside
Photo © Martin Pettitt (CC) |
Looe contains many individual bed & breakfast
Photo © Martin Pettitt (CC) |
Cottages in Looe with views over the harbour
Photo © Martin Pettitt (CC) |
A hotel in Looe clinging to the cliffside
Photo © Smoobs (CC) |
The pretty streets and shops in the centre of Looe
Photo © Martin Pettitt (CC) |
A restaurant tucked away down a narrow street in Looe
Photo © Martin Pettitt (CC) |
Alternatively a traditional Fish and Chip shop
Photo © Mr ATM (CC) |
Looe Parish Church of St Nicholas
Photo © lostajy (CC) |
Pubs, Coffee Shops and Take-Aways in Looe
Photo © Martin Pettitt (CC) |
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Local attractions include a Monkey Sanctuary
Photo © Smoobs (CC) |
A cheeky monkey at Looe Monkey Sanctuary
Photo © Smoobs (CC) |
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The small beach at the entrance to Looe Harbour
Photo © lostajy (CC) |
Banjo Pier (harbour entrance) and the beach beyond
Photo © Martin Pettitt (CC) |
The South West Coast Path at Looe
Photo © lostajy (CC) |
St George's Island, also known as Looe Island
Photo © lostajy (CC) |
The view of Looe Island from Hannafore beach
Photo © lostajy (CC) |
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