This roundtrip Looe Valley walk is one of my favourite memories of walking with May (RIP), our sorely missed black labrador. The original blog was posted in Spring 2010. Fortunately we now have a lovely golden retriever called Bella. Worth mentioning here that, although we love dogs, sorry, we do not accept pets at Polraen Country House.
You can set off on this wonderful Looe Valley circular walk from the doorstep of Polraen Country House at Sandplace, PL13 1PJ. Alternatively, you can start from Sandplace Station, the last but one stop before Looe on the Looe Valley Line.
Looe Valley Walk Video
Polraen to Sandplace Station
I set off walking this morning from Polraen Hotel, up the Looe Valley to Sandplace Station with our black labrador May. We ended up having one of those walks that makes you happy to be alive! On our way, we passed the pretty row of cottages carefully making our way along the B3254 as there is no footpath.
We passed Sandplace Station on the Looe Valley Line, decorated in heritage cream and brown. The bridge swings over the railway taking the B3254 up hill toward Duloe and left my route virtually bereft of traffic.
Sandplace to Tregarland Bridge
My route continued on the flat, quiet and undisturbed lane straight ahead past Oak Tree Cottage. It’s rare to be passed by a vehicle on this lane that leads to Tregarland Bridge, then veers off on a public footpath above the Looe Valley railway line. May was startled as we stumbled across two courting ducks.
Much of the way, the path looks down on the river and railway before it follows a tributary off to the right at Plashford. From here, the path wanders beside a babbling stream with occasional shallow waterfalls. May loved the scent of fox and deer, and cocked an ear at the sound of sheep bleating as she frolicked in the water retrieving sticks.
In recent years, the local landowner has undertaken considerable groundworks along this green lane between Tregarland Bridge to Plashford and Lower Wringworthy. On the positive side, this has provided greater access. The path is wider and can now be walked more frequently without wellies and its status as a bridlepath for horseriding has been resumed. The wild garlic brushed my ankles as I made my way at a very gentle gradient toward Lower Wringworthy.
Lower Wringworthy to Morval
After about half an hour walking along the track beside the stream, I intended to stop at Lower Wringworthy and turn back. It was a lovely morning so I continued on a circular walk. The bridle path emerged onto a road, so I followed it going right heading up the hill toward Morval. I passed Home Farm selling eggs and local produce from its small holding in the Looe Valley.
Having climbed at a gentle pace for about 15 minutes, we finally emerged on the main road at Morval. From this vantage point, you can see views of Looe and the sea in the distance. Turning right, we made short shrift of a stretch on the A387, staying on the wide grass verge before taking a right to put us back on country lanes.
Tregarland Lane
Our route took us down past Tregarland Farm back into the Looe Valley. The views down onto the valley below are stunning, looking beyond inquisitive cows to fields of sheep grazing at Morval Barton Farm. The ancient oaks, deciduous trees and rural pastures of Morval Estate create a patchwork quilt of greenery as you descend into the Looe Valley.
We continued past pretty cottages and hedgerows brimming with flowers and headed back down to the valley bottom to join the B3254 where we’d set out from. Then past Sandplace Station back to Polraen.
Looe Valley Spring Flowers
With an extended flowering season, the bluebells and garlic often vie for attention before the daffodils and primroses have past. Bluebells appear on the wooded slopes and the green and white of wild garlic borders the country lanes like a church aisle prepared for a bride. Pink and white campions and violets peep from the grassy banks and the first signs of cherry blossom are showing on the trees.
This walk lifted my spirits and made me so happy to be living in South East Cornwall. The dog thought it was a treat too! It’s not often I get the time to do what our guests can do from our doorstep at Polraen! But walking in the Looe Valley in spring is good for the soul!!
Looe Valley Line Transport
At Polraen, we like to help guests explore without the car. We lend maps and provide public transport information for the bus and Looe Valley train and love sharing our knowledge of the area. Other than the Looe Valley Line train, bus number 73 provides an hourly service running from Liskeard to Polperro. You can also access a range of walks from other stations along the railway line.
There are lots of Looe Valley Walks but this one is off the beaten track and worth the effort!! It takes about 1 to 1 and a half hours depending on walking speed but it’s still a fantastic walk, particularly in spring. You can easily reach it by taking either the bus or train out of Looe along Sandplace Road and alighting at Sandplace Station on the Looe Valley Line.
Spring short breaks in the Looe Valley
Bluebell Spring B&B Breaks
Experience this walk and the magic of the bluebells on a bed and breakfast short break staying at Polraen Country House in the Looe Valley at Sandplace.
Evening Meals in Spring
If you like the idea of returning to an evening meal, then as a hotel guest, you can pre book evening meals in Spring and Autumn. See our Special Offers and Short Breaks.
