LOOE AND KILMINORTH WOODS RETURN VIA TALLAND BAY AND THE COAST PATH
START POINT GRID REF: 252 536

Jack Syscamore offered a short easy circular 7 mile part inland, part coastal walk on 30th July 00. It started from the main car park in West Looe through Kilminorth Woods alongside the river and then over the hill and down to Talland Bay. The return to Looe was completed via the coastal path and the Hannafore Point area.

The walk attracted 25 ramblers on a fine day with sunny intervals,despite the earlier than normal start, we met at the car share at 9.00 AM for a 10.00 AM start at Looe.

An outline of the route taken is given below. To best appreciate the footpaths, roads and coastal path used the outline should be related to a suitable 1:25000 ordnance survey map of the area.

After a short welcome by Jack and a reminder to pay the car park charge, £2 for an all day ticket, we set off heading towards the woods bordering the west side of the West Looe river.

The woodland path followed close by the banks of river and dropped down to just above the high tide line for a section of the walk. With the tide out there were plenty of wading birds to see and amongst many seagulls we spotted herons and egrets side by side on the mud banks.

After what seemed like a very short time we emerged out of the woods in a clearing by the river bank with houses and some excellent wooden information signs indicating Kilminorth woods. The verse on the back of one of the wooden signs caught my eye.

It read:

Jack the Giant
Having nothing to do
Built a Hedge from Lerryn to Looe

Jack our leader is of powerful proportions but in no way is he a giant and one thing he never has "is nothing to do"

Quite the opposite in fact, nevertheless it did catch my eye.

The houses and the area is called Watergate and Jack had made better time than he wanted to this point. As it was rather too early for coffee he decided to get the steep hill over first. From sea level we climbed up a narrow but very steep lane for a half a mile to a local high point in the Tencreek area . Jack encouraged us to go for it up the hill so a few of us tested our legs with a quick walk up to the top. We were certainly warm after the 400 feet ascent.

We cooled down over coffee at the top and then continued along to narrow lane to cross the busy Looe to Polperro road, the A387.

We continued on through a caravan park and over a stile onto a public footpath that took us right down to Talland Church and a steep descent down another narrow lane to the beach at Talland Bay.

The church at Talland is very old and there was a sign indicating that it was once the site of a 5th century Celtic Church so there is plenty of history surrounding the location. Unfortunately Sunday service was taking place so we were unable to visit the church to see what artifacts were there.

We descended the steep hill and found ourselves by the beaches at Talland, we had arrived by 11.45 AM, rather early for lunch, but lunch it was and Jack indicated an hours stop at this point.

There were plenty of cars parked along the narrow lane and the car park was full, the holiday season was indeed in full swing. It was low tide and there were lots of people on the beaches, not that many in the water though.

We found a grassy spot overlooking the beach and enjoyed the hours rest.

At 12.45 PM we were off for the final leg of 2 miles back to Looe on the coast path.

The immediate section up from the beach was steepish but after that the path was relatively gentle compared with many other sections of the south west coast path.

Soon enough we were rounding a headland and the vista of Whitsand Bay caught the eye. In the distance we could see the edge of West Looe and ahead of us Looe Island.

There were a few stiles to slow down progress and it took us about an hour to reach the outskirts of West Looe at a very leisurely pace.

As we reached the western outskirts Looe, we left the coastal path for the wider roads and pavements of the Hannafore Point area. Jack gathered us together for a few words before suggesting we 'do our own thing' in Looe, for Jack that of course meant a cream tea, all good for the diet!!

Not unexpectedly in the height of the peak season, Looe was quite busy. Although not a hot sunny day, the main beach at East Looe looked nicely full and the town had plenty of visitors wandering around amusing themselves.

In small groups we made our way back to the car park, some directly, others taking a small ferry across the water to East Looe and the tea I mentioned.

30 minutes later and we were well on our way back to Plymouth about 20 miles away over the Tamar Bridge.

Jack as usual had been lucky with the weather and it had turned out fine again, not a hot sunny day but nevertheless plenty of sun between the clouds and a pleasant breeze to cool us from time to time.