Liskeard to Looe
Liskeard makes a grand base from which to explore. Situated at the head of the Looe Valley it has long been an important market centre and was one of the four original Stannary towns. The mining industry played an important part in the town’s growth and in 1828 a canal link enabled ore and stone to be carried down to Looe. However this now provides a scenic ride along wooded riverbanks.
Liskeard remains a picturesque and lively market town, full of interesting buildings: a Victorian Guildhall and clock tower, the Stuart House where Charles I stayed in 1644; the second largest church in Cornwall.
To the north of Liskeard, the B3254 runs towards Launceston following the course of the River Lynher for much of the way. Approximately midway between the two towns, nestled in the lush pastures of the Lynher Valley, below the rocky outcrops of Bodmin Moor, is Sterts Theatre.
The theatre offers an opportunity to experience the wonder of live theatre, music and dance in a unique outdoor setting. Visitors can make the most of the beautiful surroundings with a family picnic before the show or enjoy a meal in the bistro and bar. The open air canopy covered amphitheatre has an exciting programme which runs from May to mid September. Everything from Shakespeare to comedies to musicals!
Cornwall was famous for tin and pilchards long before tourism was thought of. Whilst much of the county has now been given over almost entirely to the business of providing enjoyable and interesting holidays for visitors, it is pleasant to find villages such as East Looe and West Looe still with commercial fishing.
The Old Guildhall, Looe
Looe is actually two distinct villages, East Looe and West Looe, separated by the river bridge. Park your car and walk around the narrow streets and then just stroll around the harbour and watch the boats landing the catch as they have done for centuries.
If you’re travelling to Looe for the day, why not take the train and enjoy a ride on the scenic Looe Valley Line. Park & Ride tickets are available from Liskeard and you can sit back and enjoy the views as you meander down the valley of the East Looe River on an historic line which has been carrying passengers since 1879. If you are staying in Looe, there’s no easier way to enjoy a day out in Liskeard; or travel on further to Plymouth or Bodmin.
The Monkey Sanctuary, situated close to Looe, has been home to a colony of Amazonian woolly monkeys since 1964. It was established to provide a stable setting for woolly monkeys rescued from lives of isolation in zoos and as pets. Today the monkeys live in a beautiful setting on the Cornish coast, in an extensive territory formed of several grassed enclosures linked together with heated indoor rooms. The Monkey Sanctuary is also a rescue centre for Capuchin monkeys rescued from the pet trade that sadly still goes on in the UK.
Throughout the day, visitors can watch the monkeys forage, feed and play in mature trees within their new outdoor enclosure in a way rarely seen in captivity. Keepers give talks describing the monkeys’ lives and welfare. Visitors gain a unique insight into the monkeys’ social lives and get to know them as individual characters. Indoor displays explain more about the Sanctuary.
Visitors can observe the resident colony of Lesser Horseshoe bats through the CCTV linked ‘Bat Cave’. Little is known about this endangered species and the chance to watch their daily lives undetected is a truly unique opportunity.
There are beautiful conservation gardens and an activity room with fun games and educational displays for children. Additionally, there is a children’s play area, a gift shop and the Tree Top Café, serving delicious vegetarian meals and snacks.
