Take
a trip
on the Looe Valley Line and explore the natural beauty of South East Cornwall.
The Looe Valley Line winds its way for just over 8 miles through unspoilt
countryside, hugging the steep sided valley of the East Looe River.
Built in the mid 19th century to transport copper ore and granite, the line has been carrying passengers since 1879 between the thriving fishing port of Looe and Moorswater. A link to the historic market town of Liskeard was added in 1901.
Whatever the
season, the Looe Valley Line has something to offer: from the magnificent
carpets of bluebells in the spring, the sights, sounds and smells of a Cornish
Summer to the majestic golds and coppers of Autumn.
Scenic Line
A
curious feature of the Looe Valley line is that on leaving Liskeard the train
has to follow a sweeping horseshoe-shaped descent, with gradients as steep
as 1:34 for 2 miles, in order to reach Coombe Junction - just half a mile
from Liskeard but 200 feet below! Here the conductor operates the points and
the train changes direction to head south down the valley to Looe.
The line was built alongside the old Liskeard to Looe canal, and remnants of old lock gates are still visible. Below sandplace the river becomes tidal, and so wide that in some places the railway is forced onto a causeway with water on both sides.
OS MAPS - For detailed map information, refer to Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50 000, sheet number 201 & Ordnance Survey Pathfinder 1:25 000, sheet numbers 1348 & 1355.
Visit Trails from the Track for information about great walks from Looe Valley Line stations
Take the Looe Valley Line Rail Ale Trail - full details here
Visit South East Cornwall's web site
Visit the South East Cornwall Tourism Association's web site
