The 10 best dog walks near Looe

Looe - Talland Bay - Polperro  

Probably one of the most scenic dog walks in Cornwall; this 3 mile route will take appoximately 90 minutes without stopping, but we recommend making this a day trip to enable a few stops along the way.

Starting at Harbour House, turn right and walk to Hannafore where you can have a few rock pool adventures on Hannafore Beach before joining the South West Coast Path.

Walk through the first two National Trust fields, over the second stream and follow the steps up the hill. At the top of the hill make a first stop by walking down the steps to Portnadler Beach, a lovely dog friendly private bay, and the perfect place for a dip in the water when the tide is out.

Continue your walk along the coastal footpath for 60 minutes and you'll reach Talland Bay for a second stop. Here you can choose from two small beach cafe's, or take a 5 minute detour up the hill to the beautiful Talland Bay Hotel, for lunch or a refreshing drink. 

When you're ready to continue the historic fishing village of Polperro is less than 30 minutes further along the coast path. Take time to enjoy the views of the fishing port as you stroll down the hill into the village,

Polperro has half a dozen very nice pubs for a bite to eat. 

At the top of the village is a bus stop on the left, just before the car park, where you can get a bus back to Looe if you don't have the energy to walk back.

Looe - Plaidy

It's a 30 minute walk from Harbour House, across to East Looe and out the Coastal Footpath to Plaidy Beach. 

It's a relatively easy dog walk other than one steep hill in East Looe.

Pop the dogs on the lead as you exit the coastal footpath and head down the short hill to Plaidy,

Plaidy is a nice little pebble beach, with a view of Looe Island, where you can sit on a concrete sea wall and watch the dogs play, or take a dip in the sea yourself. 

You can treat yourself to a coffee in one of the many cafes in Looe on your way back and stop at QuaySide Fresh and Pengelly's fish shop to pick up some supplies.

A lovely way to start the day.

Lansallos beach

Jump in the car and head to Polperro, turn right to Pelynt, and then turn left just before the Church in Pelynt, then follow the sign posts to Lansallos when you see them on the left.

At Lansallos park in the National Trust car park (pay by phone) and walk down the hill to the Church.

Just after the Church is a small lane, bordered by a small stream, that will lead you down to the beach in 10 minutes.

At the bottom of this lane you can carry on to the left, or cross the bridge to the right (our favourite route), and then turn left down the wooden walk way, over a stile and through a beautiful field framed by the Cornish Coastline.

At the bottom of the field you can turn left to walk down the causeway, dreaming of smugglers, and onto the beach, or you can turn right, over another stile, and then take the steps down to the beach where you will find a small waterfall.

Lansallos is a lovely dog friendly pebble beach, in a horse shoe bay. it's the perfect place to take a picnic and while-a-way a few hours, with a dip in the sea.

Lantic Bay beach

Lantic Bay is stunning but is a bit of a treck and probably unsuitable for anyone not steady on their feet.

Jump in the car and head to Polperro, turn right to Pelynt, then follow the sign posts to Lantic Bay on the left.

Park in the National Trust car park, cross the road, and enter the purpose made path which will take you through open farm land before reaching the top of the path down to Lantic Bay.

Please note the fields may contain cows so keep dogs on a lead. How to walk safely near cows.

The walk down, and unfortunately back up(!), will be worth it as you may well be the only people on the large expanse beach.

Another great dog friendly beach. There are no facilites so bring your picnic and enjoy the peace and solitude. 

Lerryn

Lovely Lerryn is said to be the inspiration for Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows and Toad Hall. So jump in the car and go check out where Mr Toad, Badger, Ratty and Mole got up to their adventures.

Head to Polperro, turn right to Pelynt, through Pelynt, and follow the signs to Fowey. Ignore the first sign to Lerryn on the right and turn right at the second sign to Lerryn, as you head down into Lerryn look up to your left to see Ethy House, the inspiration for Toad Hall.

In the centre of Lerryn there is a free carpark on the banks of the river. Just by the carpark, if the tide is out, you will see the famous stepping stones to take you across the river.

If the tide is in you'll have a 5 minute detour to walk around the village and over the bridge.

Then follow the river bank walk through the woods to a small grass 'beach', an ideal place for a picnic.

Lerryn also boasts the Ship Inn, which is a very characterful Cornish Pub, and well worth a stop. The local shop also sells food, and icecream to be eaten in the riverside garden.

Respryn

Respryn is a beautiful little river walk in the valley below the National Trust Lanhydrock House near Bodmin.

Drive to Polperro, turn right to Pelynt, through Pelynt out to Taphouse. At Taphouse turn left to St Austell. As you exit West Taphouse and up the hill you'll see a righthand turn to Respryn. Follow that road through the woods, down the hill, over the 15th-century granite and stone bridge at Respryn, and turn right into the National Trust car park after the bridge.

Our favoured dog walk is to exit the car park at the side by the payment machine and follow the path, after a hundred yards at the cross roads, where the first gate is (on the left), turn right and walk down through the woods to the riverbank. It's beautiful.

An alternative route is to exit the car park and walk over the bridge and then turn right for a walk along the river.  

Bodmin Moor

It's a wild landscape and home to a famous Beast. But it's also incredibly beautiful and unseen by most tourists, so well worth a look.

There's no particular walk, just park your car and have a wander.

Head to St Neot, near Dobwalls, and out the otherside, over the cattle grid, and you'll be on the Moors.

And we can pretty much guarantee you'll run into these guys.

 

So it's pretty much Longleat but without the entry fee.

The London Inn at St Neot is a very dog friendly pub to stop for a drink/lunch.

Golitha Falls

Golitha Falls are a 30 minute drive from Harbour House, Best to sat nav but you'll be heading out to Pelynt and then turning right at Taphouse. 

There is a free carpark and a lovely walk down through the woods along the river down a series of cascading waterfalls. This walk is quite wide so lots of space for the dogs to run.

A highlight of this walk is returning to the carpark where you'll find Inkie's Smokehouse, a fantastic little barbecue restaurant in the middle of the woods.

You may even be persuaded to buy some of Inkie's homemade sauces to atke home with you.

Kilminorth Woods & The Giant's Hedge, Looe

Just a 10 minute walk from Harbour House, turn left outside the house, walk along West Looe Quay to the bridge, cross the road, go alongside the amusement arcade and down into the Mill Pool carpark. 

The woods start at the far end of the carpark. 

This is a lovely riverside dog walk with lots of bird wildlife to spot.

It's also the starting place of a little known legend of Cornwall... The Giant's Hedge. 

Cardinham Woods, Bodmin

A nice and easy, relatively flat walk, and wheelchair accessible.

Drive to Polperro, turn right to Pelynt, through Pelynt out to Taphouse. At Taphouse turn left to St Austell. As you exit West Taphouse and up the hill you'll see a righthand turn to Respryn. Follow that road through the woods, down the hill, over the 15th-century granite and stone bridge at Respryn, continue on the same road to the end. Turn right at the junction and then straight through the roundabout, then follow signs to Cardinham Woods.

Cardinham offers 4 or 5 circular routes of varying lengths. The majority go up one side of the river in the valley, and return on the other side. The end point is always at a very nice little cafe that serves lovely carrot cake and hot chocolate.

*Bonus walk*

Bodigga Cliffs, Looe

Despite having grown up in Looe we've only just discovered this great walk.

Head out of East Looe and up the hill, following the signs to the Monkey Sanctuary. Carry on down the hill past the Monkey Sanctuary and after a quarter of a mile you'll see a single gravel parking space on the left, with National Trust signs for Bodigga Cliff.

Bodigga Cliff is a cliff walk 'less walked', you may well find the path overgrown and a bit of a battle to get through, but your dogs will love it.

There are also a couple of open picnic table areas with amazing views of Hannafore and Looe island. Take a picnic, have a nice lunch and let the dogs roam. You're pretty much guaranteed to have the place to yourself. Bliss.

Just opposite the entrance to the Monkey Sanctuary you'll also find a very well stocked fruit and veg honesty box stall from a local small holding. A great place to pick up fresh local produce.