We recommend checking the website before visiting
European museum of the year 2022 special commendation
The box is a museum, art gallery and archive and is highly recommended
Royal William Yard blends Plymouth’s historic naval past withaward-winning design. Home to a stunning collection of Grade I listed buildings, the yard has been reanimated to offer something new to experience on every visit, making it one of the best places to eat, shop, relax and play in the heart of the South West.
It’s a much-loved, destination, with a mix of bustling restaurants, bars and shops, water sports and even a marina, sitting alongside a lively artistic community, with a packed calendar of events, and so much to see and do.
Surrounded by water, Royal William Yard offers breath-taking views over Plymouth Sound and across to Cornwall – a vibrant hub for locals and tourists alike.
Highly recommended – visit the website for up and coming events and to plan you visit.
Dog friendly
If you’re visiting the Rame Peninsula we highly recommend this lovely pub as a stop off for a drink and a snack or lunch/dinner. It has a great menu and the food is top notch
A small theatre on two levels with the benefit of a great Thai restaurant housed within so you can enjoy a sensibly priced decent Thai meal and show all in one location.
The upper and lower areas of the theatre hold a broad range of events everything from music, poetry, comedy, theatre and quiz nights. It’s a local hidden gem
A breath-taking panorama, no trip to Plymouth is complete without a visit to Plymouth Hoe! With unbeatable views across Plymouth Sound, it’s the perfect place to spend a sunny day, enjoying a picnic on the grass or taking a dip in the art deco Tinside Lido | plymouthactive.co.uk
Standing tall on the luscious green-lawned expanse of the Hoe is the iconic Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse. Gaze down at the shoreline and you’ll see the glorious Tinside Lido, open to the public for bathing during the summer months
It is here where Sir Francis Drake, intrepid explorer and local hero, is immortalised in a statue, situated just a few metres from the green where he finished his game of bowls before heading out to defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588
At the eastern end of the Hoe you’ll find The Royal Citadel, the most impressive 17th century fortress in Britain and for many years England’s most important defence against attack from the sea. The Citadel has been in constant military occupation since it was built and today it is home to some of Plymouth’s modern heroes – the troops of 29 Commando Royal Artillery
Plymouth Hoe is also host to some fantastic annual events including the Plymouth Armed Forces Day | www.plymoutharmedforcesday.co.uk held in June each year and the British Firework Championships | www.britishfireworks.co.uk held in August each year
We recommend visiting the National Trust website to plan your visit
Saltram overlooks the River Plym and is set in a rolling landscape park that provides precious green space on the outskirts of Plymouth
Strolling along the riverside or through the woodland, you can almost forget that the city lies so close by
Saltram was home to the Parker family from 1743, when an earlier mansion was remodelled to reflect the family’s increasingly prominent position. It’s magnificently decorated, with original contents including Chinese wallpapers and an exceptional collection of paintings (several by Sir Joshua Reynolds). It also has a superb country house library and Robert Adam’s Neo-classical Saloon
Learn about some of the fascinating characters and family stories, including the correspondence between Frances, the first Countess, and Jane Austen
The garden is mostly 19th century, with a working 18th-century orangery and follies, beautiful shrubberies and imposing specimen trees providing year-round interest
The House usually decorates in a theme a Christmas time and opens/closes different parts of the house to better set the themed scene
The largest section of the Cornwall AONB at nearly 200 square kilometres the moor is an expanse of grassland and heather punctuated by granite outcrops and strewn with boulders
Containing evidence of many prehistoric settlements, where marshy hollows and rivers, hidden valleys and ancient oak trees remain. Though cut almost in two by the A30, nonetheless the moor retains a surprising remoteness and sense of wildness. Natural rock formations such as The Cheesewring and man-made formations like The Hurlers stone circles add to the mystery. Most of the land lies at the comparatively low height of 200 metres, rising to 400 at Rough Tor and 420 metres at Brown Willy, which is the highest point in Cornwall. It is one of the warmest and wettest uplands in Britain though you might not think so in the snowy depths of winter. The moor is home to a plethora of plants and some rare and protected wildlife such as otters, marsh fritillary butterflies, bats and songbirds such as the stonechat and wheatear. Bodmin Moor is also the only place in the world where a rare moss, the ‘Cornish Path Moss’, grows. As well as the high granite tors, prehistoric hut circles and standing stones, there are some more modern historical areas of mining and quarrying. Small farmsteads, many medieval in origin, support livestock grazing – helping to keep the moorland and heath free from scrub and bracken
Colliford and Siblyback lakes, and Dozmary Pool with its supposed Arthurian associations (the legend has it that excalibur’s sword was thrown into this pool), are all significant bodies of water. There are also large conifer plantations at Halvana and Smallcombe Downs. Grab yourself an OS map and get out and explore, the moor is a fantastic place for walkers!
The cast and crew of the TV series Poldark found themselves on Bodmin Moor for a large part of their time in Cornwall. Scenes featuring the exterior of Ross Poldark’s cottage, Nampara, were shot here along with many capturing the cast on horseback. With a rugged character and wild streak, Bodmin Moor certainly provides the perfect backdrop to Poldark’s plot of passion and family dramatics
Fabulous seafood restaurant in Looe with an award winning chef, highly recommended
Looe is made up of East Looe and West Looe, located either side of the river. The two Looe’s are joined together by a bridge across the Looe River, and have subtly different characters
East Looe is home to the harbour and main shopping centre while West Looe is quieter but also has shops, restaurants and hotels
Looe has been a holiday resort for over 200 years. In 1879, the arrival of the railway sealed the deal: Looe was officially a holiday destination, but even before this Looe was an early adopter of wheeled bathing machines next to the Banjo Pier
On paper, Looe is similar to Fowey: a steep valley leading down to a river, along the same stretch of coast… However, that’s where the similarity ends. Fowey is all about yachts, literature and boutique hotels, while Looe is unashamedly B&Bs, buckets & spades, and fish & chips
There’s room for both, of course, and Looe still packs in plenty of seaside charm.
Looe’s old town and harbour are particularly appealing, as is the distinctive pier, which was built in the late 19th century to ease river silting. The local seafood is superb, and there are plenty of beaches in and around Looe.
A Brief History of Looe
In medieval times, East Looe and West Looe were considered separate towns
The current seven-arch bridge was built in 1853, and replaced a 15th-century structure. There are still a number of medieval buildings in Looe, including St Nicholas’ Church, which managed to survive Looe’s dramatic pirate attacks. Most of the town was razed in 1625 when a band of Barbary Pirates, who had been terrorising the coast (including kidnapping fishermen) for years, attacked the port. Looe recovered, going on to become a hub for Cornwall’s famous smugglers, a trade that carried on for much of the 18th and 19th centuries
Looe continued to grow and became a (legitimate) harbour town, fishing and processing centre, as well as a commercial port for tin, arsenic and granite exports. In the 1820s the port was linked to Liskeard by a canal with the railway coming some years later. The unusual “Banjo Pier”, with its rounded end, was built to prevent the river mouth from silting up, allowing all the traffic to sail freely in and out of the busy harbour
Today’s Looe is both a working fishing harbour and one of Cornwall’s most popular visitor destinations. It’s increasingly relied on tourism for its income since its large pilchard canning factory closed in the sixties
Looe Island
In 1965 Babs and Evelyn Atkins bought Looe Island (also known as St George’s Island), which lies about a mile off the coast near Looe. The beautiful island covers an area of 22.5 acres and is just one mile in circumference. Its highest point is 150 feet above sea level. The partly wooded island has magnificent views as far as Prawle Point in Devon to the north and the Lizard Peninsula to the south
Looe Island has such an exceptionally mild climate that daffodils bloom at Christmas, and it’s a natural sanctuary for birds. A few stones remain of a Benedictine chapel built here in 1139. The island is accessible by boat and rarely, when there is an unusually low tide, by foot across the rocky sea bed. However, it is unwise to cross this way without a local guide as the tide rushes in very quickly
Looe Island is open to pre-booked day visitors in the season. Landing fees and other income from tourism are used to conserve the island’s natural beauty and to provide facilities for visitors. To maintain its status as a wildlife sanctuary, four-pawed friends can’t come to Looe Island with you, and fishing is also forbidden
It’s a tranquil place to visit, there are no roads, no shops and no cars. Bathing is safe when the weather is good and the island has two beaches, a natural rock swimming pool, coves and caves. Look out for the resident population of grey seals, who like to lie on the rocks off the island’s shore. Inland, you can enjoy a (short) woodland walk.
Best Beaches in Looe
This stretch of coast is blessed with some of Cornwall’s best beaches, and Looe is a great place for a traditional seaside holiday. Try these fantastic beaches in and around Looe
Town Beach, East Looe
This busy family beach is right by the town, sheltered by the Banjo Pier and backing onto a walkway that runs the length of the beach. Top tip: this path takes you to second beach, which tends to be quieter. The beach is pretty safe for swimming (just stay close to the shore, and definitely at the beach side of the river mouth)
Plaidy Beach
Walk over the hill from Looe to enjoy this quiet sand and shingle beach. It’s good for swimming and snorkelling (just be aware that there’s no lifeguard cover at Plaidy), and there are rock pools at low water
Millendreath
This small sandy cove is owned by a holiday park, but is still open to the public (giving day visitors the advantage of access to toilets and a cafe). Look across to Looe Island as you enjoy a swim
Hannafore Beach
Hannafore Beach has a pleasant seafront and great views across to the island. The sand and shingle beach has some of the best rock pools around, and it’s also a good place to bring your dog
Seaton & Downderry
These shingly beaches run into each other. There’s a pub at the Downderry end (and it’s also worth remembering that there’s a naturist area to the east). Seaton Beach is popular with families, and allows dogs all year
Lantic Bay
Way off the beaten track, Lantic Bay is a beautiful National Trust-managed beach. Relax with a picnic on the shingly shore, before heading off along the coast path to enjoy the stunning views
A reservoir on Bodmin Moor covering more than 900 acres it is the largest lake in Cornwall. Leisure facilities on the site include angling and a 50-acre adventure and nature park, (Colliford Lake Park) which features trails and footpaths, play areas, wetlands, picnic areas and a cafe
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