Holiday rentals in Looe

This small coastal town in southeast Cornwall, just across the border from Devon, is a quirky sight: its houses spill charmingly down opposite banks of a river, the sides connected by a single, seven-arched bridge. There has been a fishing port here for hundreds of years, and much of the town’s life centres on its harbour. East Looe has a golden sandy beach, while Hannafore Beach on the west side of town has rock pools and views out to Looe Island, which was once a pilgrimage site inhabited by monks but is now a marine nature reserve. A museum in the historic buildings of the Old Guildhall and Gaol charts the town’s past, while the Looe Valley Line, opened in 1860, still offers one of the most scenic train journeys in Britain. Beyond the town, both the coast and the river valley make for wonderful walking, and the country parks and traditional villages of the Rame Peninsula are just a short drive away.

June through early September is when you’ll experience the best beach weather in Looe. July and August are usually busier, which is also when you’ll see sailing boats out and about. Looe’s sailing club was established in 1934 and has a busy programme of events and classes; every other year, in July, the Looe Lugger Regatta celebrates the town’s heritage with a parade of historic boats. Temperatures can be mild in spring and autumn, but September is a special month to stay in one of the area’s holiday cottages, when the entire town seems to settle in for the three-day music and arts festival, Looe Live! If you’re planning a winter visit, know that Looe has one of the most extraordinary New Year celebrations in Britain, with thousands of people descending on the town in costume.

Fore Street

Sandwiched between the quay on one side and the hill on the other, this narrow high street in East Looe can feel like a tight squeeze. The mixed jumble of buildings includes some with timber frames that date back to the Tudor era, and its shopfronts house many independent businesses.

Looe Island

Sitting about a mile from shore, Looe Island (also known as St George’s Island) is a protected nesting site for many bird species, while the waters around it are teeming with life. You can only visit the island by taking an organised boat trip, but your expert guide will be able to help you see the most of the wildlife, from seals to cormorants to butterflies.

Polperro

It’s approximately five miles to Looe’s neighbouring fishing village; you can reach it by foot along the South West Coast Path, which also takes you past the pretty beaches of Talland Bay. Time slows down here, and it’s easy to imagine the days when Polperro was a smuggler’s cove. There’s also a 13th-century church, and wonderful views from Chapel Cliff.