West Looe Live Cam

History

West Looe’s origins trace back to the early medieval period when the natural harbor formed by the estuary of the River Looe provided a sheltered anchorage for fishing vessels and small trading ships. Evidence of Bronze Age and Iron Age settlement has been uncovered on the surrounding hillsides, including burial mounds and tool fragments, indicating that this stretch of the Cornish coast has long drawn people for its rich marine resources. By the 11th century, West Looe had emerged as a fishing village under the suzerainty of the powerful Duchy of Cornwall, and its higgledy‑piggledy cluster of granite cottages and narrow alleys began to take shape around the quay.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, West Looe’s fortunes rose and fell with the fortunes of Cornwall’s tin industry. Though overshadowed by its twin town, East Looe, which obtained a market charter in 1321, West Looe played a subsidiary role as a safe haven for exporting tin and pilchards. Merchants loaded casks of salted pilchards—renowned for their firm texture and bright red flesh—onto open-decked barks bound for Mediterranean markets. The coastal path between Looe and the nearby port of Polperro evolved as a vital overland link for smugglers navigating the treacherous coves and inlets.

By the early Tudor era, West Looe had diversified into shipbuilding, constructing slender wooden vessels known as “smacks” designed for inshore fishing. These smacks, powered by square sails and oars, plied the English Channel in pursuit of mackerel and herring shoals. The town’s church, St. Nicholas, with its 15th‑century tower, provided navigational reference for sailors returning home through morning fog. In 1549, West Looe was granted borough status, with representation in Parliament—though corruption and electoral irregularities later saw the seat abolished under the Reform Act of 1832.

The 19th century ushered in a new chapter as West Looe embraced tourism and the healing benefits of sea air. In 1860, the Looe to Liskeard railway branch line opened, accelerating visitor numbers from Plymouth and the South West Railway network. Victorian holidaymakers flocked to the town’s newly built promenade and bathing facilities, while boarding houses sprang up in former fishermen’s cottages, offering sea views across Looe Bay. The interwoven piers and slipways facilitated the launch of steam‑driven pleasure boats, taking picnickers to the secluded beaches of Lantic Bay and the historic Rame Peninsula.

Throughout both World Wars, West Looe’s strategic harbor served the Royal Navy as a minor escort base, with anti-submarine nets strung across the estuary mouth. Many local families remember the air‑raid shelters carved into the cliffs and the sound of coastal batteries on nearby Rame Head. Post-war reconstruction saw the restoration of the quay and the modernization of the fish market, ensuring that West Looe’s fishing heritage endures alongside its tourism economy.

Climate

West Looe enjoys a temperate maritime climate, heavily influenced by the Gulf Stream and prevailing south‑westerly winds off the Atlantic Ocean. Average annual temperatures hover around 11 °C, with mild winters rarely dipping below 4 °C and cool summers averaging 17 °C to 19 °C. This moderation extends the tourist season well beyond the traditional summer months; walkers and birdwatchers find the coastal path pleasantly mild even in October and April. The region receives approximately 1,200 millimeters of rainfall annually, distributed fairly evenly, though the wettest months tend to be November and December when Atlantic storms sweep across the county.

Fog and sea mist are common in spring and early summer, as the warmer land draws in moist ocean air. These ‘haar’ conditions can linger in the estuary, providing dramatic backdrops for photographers capturing the sunlit fishing boats at dawn. Autumn brings crisp, clear days perfect for exploring the South West Coast Path, while winter gales occasionally batter the granite cliffs, reminding visitors of the Cornish coast’s raw power. Local meteorologists record an average of 1,750 sunshine hours per year, one of the highest in England, making West Looe a sought‑after destination for those chasing gentle warmth and sea views.

The microclimate within Looe Bay fosters unique horticultural opportunities. Gardeners along the estuary cultivate tender plants such as camellias, echiums, and tree ferns in sheltered courtyards, visible in private gardens and public spaces like Hannafore Point. These subtropical exotics thrive in the milder winters and benefit from the thermal inertia of nearby seawater, which prevents frost even on clear nights. Annual climate statistics also drive local fishing patterns: calmer summer seas facilitate inshore potting for crabs and lobsters, while autumn storms stir up nutrients, inviting shoals of pollack and bass towards the shore.

Geography

West Looe occupies the western bank of the tidal Looe River, just where the estuary widens to meet the English Channel. The town is cradled within a natural amphitheater of Devonian slate and granite hills, sculpted by glacial meltwaters into steep valleys and rounded tors. To the west, Hannafore Point juts into the bay, its rocky headland offering panoramic views back towards the twin town of East Looe. The beach at Plaidy and nearby Whitsand Bay feature expanses of golden sand at low tide, while offshore reefs harbor kelp forests and rich marine life, drawing snorkelers and scuba divers to sites such as the SS Scylla wreck.

Inland, the terrain rises swiftly to summit Watch Hill (around 140 meters above sea level) and Banjo Pier, where stone‑cut benches invite contemplation of the meandering river channel. The South West Coast Path follows the cliff tops, passing old signal stations and World War II lookouts, before descending through wooded combes to secluded coves like Millendreath and Tregantle. The underlying geology—alternating slate, shale, and granite—creates differential erosion, resulting in a patchwork of coves and headlands that challenge geomorphologists and delight coastal hikers.

The surrounding agricultural landscape consists of small pasture fields and orchard terraces, separated by Cornish hedges of earth and stone. These ancient field boundaries, some dating back to the Bronze Age, support biodiversity corridors for small mammals, farmland birds, and wildflowers such as Cornish eyebright and the native bee orchid. The transition zone between saltmarsh at low tide and scrubland above the high‑water mark hosts salt-tolerant plants like sea thrift, sea campion, and samphire, which local foragers harvest responsibly under seasonal guidelines.

The hydrology of the Looe River estuary is marked by a semi-diurnal tidal range of approximately 4.5 meters. As the tide ebbs, the river channel narrows to a shallow stream coursing between exposed mudflats and glistening tidal pools. This exposed foreshore reveals the estuarine benthic community, including lugworms, razor clams, and juvenile flounder—critical feeding grounds for overwintering wading birds such as oystercatchers and redshanks. Birdwatchers often station themselves at fish quay vantage points or venture to the saltmarsh hides at nearby Looe Island, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) renowned for its seabird colony.

Human geography in West Looe reflects a blend of heritage and modernity. The fishing fleet lines the quay, alongside pleasure craft, day-launch charters, and the occasional heritage sail training ship. Narrow streets like Barbican Road showcase a concentration of independent galleries, potteries, and craft shops, participating in the Cornwall arts economy. Residential zones extend up the valley slopes, offering terraced houses with southerly aspects and heat gains from solar exposure. Public transport links include a ferry to East Looe and bus routes connecting to Liskeard and Plymouth, ensuring that West Looe remains both accessible and delightfully remote.

New Tip: Take the early-morning flood tide paddle from West Looe quay upriver towards Mount’s Bay—this tranquil excursion reveals the estuary’s hidden side channels, saltmarsh birds at dawn, and the reflection of granite cliffs in glassy waters before the wind picks up.

Interesting Fact: West Looe’s unique twin‑town heritage is celebrated annually on St. Nicholas’s Day (December 6), when a medieval ‘Seafarers’ Mass’ is held in St. Nicholas Church, followed by a torchlit procession across the river—reviving a tradition believed to bring good fortune to the fishing fleet for the coming year.

The best location in Looe

Looe seems to be built on water. Its tidal harbour separates quiet West Looe (where the The Portbyhan Hotel is located), from the bustling waterfront, pier and sandy beach of East Looe.

A seven arched bridge joins the twin communities which have shared the fishing, trading and seafaring life for centuries. When you come to Looe, the first thing you must do is slow down! The pace of life is much quieter down here.

If you want a quiet break, to relax and to recharge those batteries, then Looe is for you. Explore the cobbled streets of old village around the harbour. Watch the fishing boats bringing in their catches, and offloading on the quayside.

Laze on the safe bathing beach which the Panorama overlooks, or wander along the coastal path (which passes our front door) and enjoy the magnificent views.

Hire your own motor boat and explore the harbour and bay, or take a trip on one of the many boats, either just sightseeing, or to try your hand at a spot of fishing.

If you want to explore more, then there is a lot the area has to offer, and Looe is an ideal touring base for the whole of Cornwall. Here is just a sample of the many attractions of the area that are all within easy reach.

National Trust: Houses and gardens well worth a visit include Antony House, Cotehele, Lanhydrock and Buckland Abbey.

Wildlife Parks: Porfell Animal Land Wildlife Park. The Monkey Sanctuary overlooking Looe Bay.

Museums: Lanreath Folk & Farm Museum. The Old Guildhall Museum, Looe.

Gardens: The Lost Gardens of Heligan (as featured on TV Series).

The Past: Morwellham Key - a restored picture postcard village. Charlestown - an unspoilt 18th Century working port. Poldark Mine and Heritage Complex. Jamaica Inn - setting for Daphne du Maurier's novel.

Music: Paul Corin's Magnificent Music Machines.

Railways: The Scenic Looe/Liskeard Line. The Steam Lines at Launceston & Bodmin.

Take the A38 from Plymouth. This crosses the Tamar Bridge into Cornwall. Continue for about 8 miles until you see the A387 signposting Looe.

You will arrive in Looe on the East side of the River. The road then crosses to the West side via an old stone bridge. Once across the Bridge take the first turning left. The road runs alongside the river, out towards the sea.

Once you come adjacent to the old Banjo Pier, and Beach, look to your right, and there you will see the Panorama, overlooking the Pier and Beach.

We have our own Car Park at the rear of the Hotel. This is reached by taking the first turning right past the Hotel, then turn right again.

If this is full, there is alternative parking in the quiet approach road to the Car Park.

The main London-Paddington to Penzance line passes through Liskeard.

Change trains here onto the branch line than runs down the valley to Looe.

Taxis are available at Looe Station. It is a two minute drive to the Hotel.