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South East Cornwall / Coast path

Looe to Polperro Coast Path

A point-to-point from Looe's bridge through Hannafore and along the cliff path to Talland Bay and Polperro, where the houses stack over the harbour like they were shaken from a box. The middle third climbs and drops without apology.

1 hr – 1 hr 40 min

Looe, West Looe bridge end to Polperro Harbour

Desk-researched / Not yet field-checked

Distance
7.7 km
Elevation
185 m
Start
Looe, West Looe bridge end
Terrain
Coast path
Difficulty
Hard
Route type
Point to point

Practical notes

Best for

  • Linking two harbour towns the hard way
  • Step-climb strength work with sea views
  • Finishing at a bakery you have thoroughly earned

Watch for

  • Long flights of steps either side of Talland, punishing when greasy
  • Cliff-edge sections narrow where the path shares ground with fences
  • Polperro's lanes are barely shoulder-width at holiday pace

Facilities

  • Everything in Looe
  • Beach cafes at Talland Bay in season
  • Cafes, pubs and toilets in Polperro

Season

Spring and autumn give the path back to locals. After heavy rain the steps run like small streams and the handrails earn their keep.

Parking
Park in Looe (the Millpool is biggest) and run to Polperro; Polperro's car park sits well above the village and charges like it knows you have no choice.
Public transport
The bus between Polperro and Looe makes the return leg painless — roughly half-hourly in season. Check times either way.
Conditions
Seafront tarmac through Hannafore, then earth path, rock steps and field shoulders; the valleys hold their mud.
Navigation
Coast path signs throughout, with the only real junction at Talland signed for both the beach and the path onward.

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