So today we had a free day, and decided to have a day trip to Looe in Devon. To be honest, we had very little choice about what we could do today.
With the Campervan being as sick as it is (you can see what happened in this previous post) we had the chance to spend a day in Looe.
As a result, I thought I would give our 5 Tips of of what to do if you are thinking of a day trip to Looe.
1. Where to Park
The best car park for everything is down by the Quay.
However, it is not very big, and you may be lucky to park there.
If you are heading to Looe by car at a busy time of year, we went on a Sunday in August, expect it to busy.
If it is, then expect to have to park elsewhere.
There is a really big car park just across the bridge, and up the hill. The address is Millpool, West Looe, PL13 2AF.
This one is really big, and we had no problem parking there. The price was £4.60 for up to 4 hours, in August. 24 hours is £5.50. Cheekily, these prices are less than half that if you are not parking between March and October.
2. The Millpool
The benefit of parking here is, you get the chance to have a nice walk along the banks of the Millpool.
You get to enjoy views like this. Along the edge of the pool, there are likely to be clusters of parents with their kids. Dropping their baited nets into the rocks, in the hope of pulling up a crab or two. The parents seemed just as keen as the kids to see what they could catch.
As you walk from the Millpool, to the town, you get to see the boats moored, and the houses in the side of the hills, almost looking like they were stuck on with blue tac.
3. The Beach
As you follow the path round, eventually you will go over the bridge, that leads to the main side of the Quay, where you will find all the shops and cafes etc.
Just follow the path along the Quay, and eventually you will stumble across the beach. Again, expect it to be very busy if you are going in peak time. This photo was taken in August, so bear that in mind. I would imagine if you went on a Thursday in September, after the school holidays, it would be a different photo altogether.
It is easy enough to get onto the beach. If this is your main reason for your day trip to Looe in Devon, get there early, or be prepared to hunt for a spot, as mentioned, especially August or at summer weekends.
4. Fresh Fish
We visited Looe when we were Campervanning in Cornwall, and our hired van had broken down. It was while we were waiting for a replacement we decided to spend the day in Looe as we were camping nearby.
We wanted to try and find something locally produced. In fact that had been our intention every day, but the shenanigans with the cars had curtailed that somewhat.
There is a great little shop called Pengelly’s, located just near the Quay. We headed in and picked out tea for the night. Fresh salmon, caught that day!
As you would expect, there was lots of fresh fish and more on offer. The team that worked there gave us advice on cooking and we also bought a garlic butter to add some flavour.
5. Shops & Cafes
Spend a bit of time walking around the town. There are plenty of small shops and cafes for you to enjoy. From bakeries showing off their delicious cakes, to the one’s showing their equally tasty Cornish Pasties. It is no wonder you gain a few pounds while on holiday.
In addition, there are local gift shops, cafes and eateries on offer.
If you want a souvenir or a tasty meal, or even something a bit more substantial, the town certainly has all angles covered.
Day Trip to Looe in Devon
This is a pretty little village, worthy of a day of your holiday if you are Campervanning Cornwall or indeed visiting the county by other means.
The allure of the beach, the hustle of the town, and the relative calmness off the boats rocking in the harbour certainly make for your trip to this quintessential English town a worthy stopover.
A few more photos of our day trip to Looe in Devon
