Cottages in Looe

Where the cottages are

There are 300 cottages published on BritStays for the Looe area of Cornwall, and they spread well beyond the town itself. Looe has the most with 58, followed closely by Liskeard with 57. After that come Tavistock (33), Callington and the Tamar Valley (30), Kingsand and Cawsand (29), Downderry (23), Plymouth (23) and Polperro (20). So a search for a cottage here gives you a wide choice of bases.

Matching the area to your trip

If you want a waterside feel, some listing names hint at it, such as Harbour Studio in Polperro, Fisherman's Cottage in Plymouth and River View in Saltash. A name is only a clue, though, so check the photos and description to see what the view and setting actually are. If you'd rather be somewhere rural, Callington and the Tamar Valley is worth a look, with stays such as Beech House and Garden Cottage.

Group size narrows things down quickly:

• Couples: River View, Fisherman's Cottage and Acorns in Liskeard each sleep 2. Hillsweek in Callington and the Tamar Valley sleeps 3, which gives you a little extra room.
• Families: Summercourt Cottages - Hayloft in Looe, Iolanda in Polperro and Garden Cottage sleep 4. In Tavistock, Copper Penny Apartments - Hare Lodge, Copper Penny Apartments - Birch Lodge and Little Forda each sleep 5. Beech House sleeps 6.
• Larger groups: The Meadow Loft and High Sroot, both in Kingsand and Cawsand, sleep 8.

If you're bringing a dog, be aware that only 1 of the 300 cottages lists Pet Friendly as a facility. That probably says more about how owners fill in their listings than about the real picture. Still, don't assume either way. Ask the owner directly before you book, and get their answer in writing.

Getting around and charging up

The facility data is strongest on transport. 90 cottages have EV Charging Nearby, 48 are Near a Bus Stop and 38 are Near a Train Station. Fisherman's Cottage in Plymouth lists all three. Iolanda and Harbour Studio in Polperro are both near a bus stop and EV charging. Garden Cottage and Hillsweek list a nearby train station, which suits you if you'd rather not drive.

Only 1 cottage lists Parking and only 1 lists on-site EV Charging. Again, this is likely to be patchy data rather than a sign that nobody has a parking space. If you're arriving by car, check the parking arrangements with the owner before you pay.

What to do once you're there

There's a good mix of heritage and family days out around the region:

• Houses and castles: Cotehele House and Buckland Abbey (both National Trust), Mount Edgcumbe House, Trematon Castle, the Royal Citadel and Crownhill Fort.
• Smaller heritage stops: The Net Loft (National Trust), Church House and the Monastic Way Exhibition.
• With children: The Tamar Valley Donkey Park (listed under Looe), Screech Owl Sanctuary, Spingfields Fun Park and Pony Centre, and Adrenalin Quarry.
• For rail fans: the Plym Valley Railway.

We don't list opening times or prices for these places, so check with each attraction before you set off, especially outside the main summer weeks.

When to book

We can't give you pricing or availability patterns here, so be wary of anyone promising a guaranteed bargain. A few practical points do hold true, though:

• Bigger cottages are the scarcest. Among the examples above, only The Meadow Loft and High Sroot sleep 8. If you're a group of that size, book well ahead, particularly for school holidays.
• Cosy stays for two get snapped up too, so if a particular cottage appeals, don't wait too long.
• Before paying, confirm the details that matter most to you: dogs, parking, the exact distance to the bus or train, and where the nearest EV charger is. These are the areas where listings are most likely to be incomplete.
• Choose your base by what you'll actually do. Pick Tavistock or Callington and the Tamar Valley if you want inland days out, and Looe, Polperro, Downderry or Kingsand and Cawsand if you'd rather stay close to the coast.