Looe is a popular harbour town in south east Cornwall. It’s split into two parts, East and West Looe, with bridges and ferries connecting them. Looe comes to life in the heat of summer, when tourists from across the UK visit with their families. It’s a lively town, with plenty of local festivals and events taking place throughout the year, including the annual raft race, which sees handmade rafts, dinghies and vessels race out to sea.
Walks and Beaches
Cornwall council has recently updated its dog ban, meaning more beaches than ever are now dog friendly throughout the year. Hannafore Beach lies just West Looe, overlooking Looe Bay. It’s dog friendly all year round and is a great place for all the family to visit. At low tide you’ll find rock pools to explore, as well as calm water, ideal for paddling.
Golitha Falls Nature Reserve is a 20 minute drive north of Looe. If you enjoy woodland walks, we highly recommend a visit. The reserve is truly enchanting, following the river deep into the woods. It’s the perfect place to cool off on hot summer days, as it’s well shaded by the trees. It can get boggy in the winter though, so remember your wellies!
Places to Eat
On the whole, eateries in Cornwall are usually dog friendly. The majority of pubs welcome dogs with open arms and plenty of treats behind the bar! The Smuggler’s Cott was built in 1420 in the heart of East Looe using timbers from the Armarda. It serves a wide range of hearty dishes, including steaks, mussells and carvery.
If you’re looking for a cup of tea after your morning walk, be sure to pop into Daisy’s. Hidden in the backstreets of East Looe, this quirky café is full of character. We highly recommend their Cornish Cream Tea, especially after a day at the beach!
Things to Do
Polperro is a quaint village just over 5 miles south west of Looe. It takes a couple of hours to walk there via the South West Coast Path. It’s a beautiful walk, with coastal views looking out to Looe and Talland Bay. Polperro is incredibly dog friendly, with a variety of cafés and tearooms to visit.
The Polperro Heritage Museum of Smuggling and Fishing is well worth a visit. It’s dog friendly throughout – just be careful that they don’t pee or chew any of the exhibits lying on the floor! You’ll find all sorts of information about Cornwall’s smuggling past, as well as media cuttings from famous RNLI rescues in the region.
Where to Stay
Pixies Holt is a cosy apartment with modern facilities in the heart of East Looe. The property is bright and full of character, featuring an open plan living and dining area as well as stunning views across the town. Pixies Holt sleeps two and welcomes one well behaved dog.
3 West View is a family friendly property that sleeps four and welcomes two well behaved dogs. The apartment overlooks West Looe and features bunkbeds in the second bedroom, as well as tasteful nautical themed interiors throughout. Just 0.2 miles from the nearest beach, this apartment is a popular choice during summer!
What are your favourite dog friendly things to do in Padstow?
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