Looe Walking Tours offers you the opportunity to discover, or rediscover, the historical harbour town of Looe in SE Cornwall with 4 unique guided walks.
Looe & Polperro Walks
Explore the wonderful town of Looe and neighbouring Polperro with our informative and entertaining guided walks.
Guided by Mark, with over 30 years of experience in tourism and hospitality, you will learn about Looe’s fascinating & historic past, hear tales of the characters from the Town and stories of the smugglers & fishermen who called Looe their home.
There are 4 tours to choose from. Each covers approximately a 1-mile walk between West & East Looe; lasting around 90 mins (2 1/2 hours for the Culinary Tour).
Each of the walks takes place on pavements & even ground, with just one small slope along the way. Well behaved dogs are welcomed & there are plenty of spots to take a seat & rest a while!
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TOUR ONE - Tue/Fri/Sat (10.30am/3pm - 90mins)
Historical Tales - From Pennyland to the Pier
Commencing along Pennyland, near The Sardine Factory & Heritage Centre, you will meet the famous ‘Nelson’, the bronze statue of the one-eyed seal – gazing out across the river around which Looe was built.
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The tour commences on West Looe quay & an introduction to Looe’s most famous character - Nelson. You will learn about the 14th century St. Nicolas Church, & then one of Cornwall’s oldest pubs, the Jolly Sailor, before you’re taken back in time, yet further, to the foundations of the former medieval bridge that first linked East & West Looe.
Crossing to East Looe you will learn about the construction of Buller’s Quay and the railway, which ran all the way along East Looe quayside to waiting ships to load granite & minerals.
The tour continues along Fore Street and to the winding ‘back streets’ areas, stopping at the Old Guildhall, dating to 1450, before reaching the old & new Lifeboat stations, & concluding on Looe’s iconic Banjo Pier.
On your tour with Mark, you will not only learn the historical facts & see the original buildings that made up this busy port; you’ll learn tales of its residents, fishermen and workers along the way.
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Adults – £20pp
Under 16s – £14
TOUR TWO - Wednesdays (3.30pm - 2 1/2 Hours)
Taste of The Town - Culinary Tour
Mark will guide you through the Town, whilst sampling the delights modern Looe has to offer. Along the way he will share tales & interesting facts about this beautiful Cornish harbour town. This tour is for those aged 18 & older.
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From the Crows Nest of the Portbyhan Hotel, in West Looe, you will gaze out over the river whilst sipping on a glass of Prosecco & enjoying home made focaccia, oils & olives.
Crossing the bridge to East Looe to Purely Cornish, you’ll enjoy a sample of Cornish cheeses with an accompanying tipple and then a short walk across the quay to the famous Pengelly’s fishmongers, for a glass of chilled white & a scallop shell filled with prawns, salmon & other seafoods.
With a tasting of Cornish saffron at Looe Bakery & hand-made fudge at Roly’s of Looe for something sweet; the the tour concludes with a sharing platter & a cocktail of your choice.
The tour will last approximately 2 ½ hours with all samples & tasters included in the tour price.
The above is an example tour & the itinerary will change with the seasons, always including at least five venues.
Whilst non-alcoholic options will be available, the tour is strictly for those aged 18 & older.
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Over 18s only - £65pp
TOUR THREE - Tue/Fri/Sat (10.30am/3pm - 90mins)
Smugglers & Skullduggery
Tales of smugglers haunts, press gangs & skulduggery along the quaysides….as you join Mark on the tour that explores the exploits of old amongst the medieval drinking houses.
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The tour commences outside of the 15th century Old Guildhall, on Higher Market Street in East Looe.
From the seafront, you’ll learn tales of the wreckers who lured boats onto the rocks, shipwrecks around Looe’s coastlines…. to royal navy pressgangs rounding up recruits, it is the Looe you never knew!
From ghostly tales of the white hare of West Looe Hill & hauntings at the Jolly Sailor - to trapped souls in the cells of the Old Guildhall… the tour will discover tales of the Town’s darker days.
During the tour, you hear about Amran & Jochabed, who lived on Looe Island & used it as a stopping point for their contraband… as well as ‘Battling Billy’ and his kegs of illicit liquor hidden inside coffins.
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Adults – £20pp
Under 16s – £14
TOUR FOUR - Weds & Fri (6:30pm - 90mins)
Ghost Tales
As evening light starts to fade, join me for a walk with tales of ghosts & ghouls that still call Looe their home. From hauntings in pubs to spirits that roam the backstreets of East Looe. Suggested minimum age 16.
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The Looe Ghost Tour will commence outside the 15th-century Old Guildhall, where you will be introduced to three of East Looe's ghostly residents, who, 'tis said, still lurk around Higher Market Street.
We journey through the backstreets, seafront & along the quayside. Along the route, you'll hear the tragic tales that lead to the untimely demise of souls now trapped between this life and the next.
From headless horses to white rabbits & even a pub-dwelling poltergeist... you'll discover tales of over 20 ghosts & ghouls who never want to leave Looe.
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Adults (16+ only) – £20pp
Additional Information
Group Size
The tour will have a maximum of 12 people, and the tour may be reserved exclusively. Suggest a minimum age of 12.
What to Bring
Sensible footwear, suitable clothing to suit the weather, bottle of water, a camera…….a thirst for history!
Meeting Point
You will receive a confirmation email detailing the starting point of your tour, in either East or West Looe.
Parking
We recommend Millpool parking as it has plenty of space and easy to access. It’s a 8-10-minute walk from the meeting point. There is limited parking on West Looe Quay and Buller Quay in East Looe, these often fill very early in the day during the summer months.
Train & Bus
Looe is served by the Go Cornwall bus network served by the No 73/73a and the No 481 service.
Looe has a railway station (the Looe Valley Line from Liskeard). Learn more with links to the Looe Valley Line timetable and information.
