A Coastal Promenade - Walk from east Looe around the South coast of Cornwall

Enjoy a circular walk from East Looe around the south coast eastern section of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Peter Maxted is your guide

Distance: 10.5 km (61⁄2 miles) Time: 3 hours Exertion: Moderate

Boots on? Let’s go!

1 Begin the walk at the station in East Looe. It is much nicer to arrive by train down the valley from Liskeard, but the road (A387) is a good option if you are coming in from the east. Walk towards the town centre with the river on your right and cross the bridge. Keep going south with the river now on your left. At the church the path keeps to the riverside, away from the road. Eventually you will come to the promenade at Hannafore. From here there are spectacular views of Looe or St George’s Island, now run as a nature sanctuary by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. In the summer months there is a ferry service, weather and tides permitting, from the quay close to the Lifeboat Station in East Looe.

2 Follow the promenade to a gate and style where the coast path begins. Immediately take a detour to your right (diagonally uphill across the field). After 200 yards you will come to partly excavated Lammana chapel half hidden in the brambles and bracken.

3  Follow the field boundary downhill to the coast path and continue westwards. The path runs above Samphire Beach (we dropped down but could find no trace of the much prized wild vegetable) and on to the point at Bridge Rocks. There is a steep up-and-down section here and where you enter the AONB. Continue for about 3/4 [FRACTION] mile and you reach Talland Bay. It’s worth a detour to the beach to see the unusually coloured rocks and wave-cut platform.

4 Take the road that bends sharply right uphill to Talland church. On your right is a small gate into the bottom of the churchyard (don’t worry if you miss it, the main entrance is further up) and you climb through the ancient graves to a high point with fantastic views out over the bay. Turn back to the church porch. The original village stocks are housed here. Go through the porch (the church itself is on your left and not always open) and follow the cobbled path back to the road. Turn right and then take the footpath left just past Tollard Barton.

5 Climb straight across the field, keeping the shipping landmark on your right. The path skirts a caravan park and comes out on a minor road. Turn right and follow this until the main A387. Then take the minor road to the right and then almost immediately left. After about a mile you will find yourself in West Looe and down a steep hill full of pretty cottages. You’ll soon be back at the bridge – don’t forget to take a detour into East Looe, especially to see the higgledy-piggledy buildings of the old town.

Points of Interest...

• East and West Looe

• St George’s Island

• Lammana Chapel

• Talland Bay and church

Start: Looe station (OS grid ref SX253539)

Terrain: town pavement, road, footpath, minor roads

Maps: OS Explorer 107 or Landranger 201

Child/dog friendly: Very; look out for grazing cattle and sheep near the estate

Refreshments: Plenty of choice in Looe, seasonal café at Talland Bay

Public transport: By train, take the Looe Valley line from Liskeard; by bus, take the no 573; by road it’s 8 1/2 miles south of Liskeard. See cornwallpublictransport.info/bus_timetables.asp

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