Short answer: Take the train. Looe's parking is genuinely difficult in summer and the branch line drops you in the middle of town — the journey down the valley is scenic enough to count as part of the day out.
The branch line from Liskeard to Looe is one of the better-value days out in this part of Cornwall, and it sidesteps a real problem.
Looe's parking fills fast in peak season and the town's streets are narrow. The train drops you in the middle of town with none of that.
The line follows the East Looe River down a wooded valley — genuinely scenic, and short enough that children don't lose interest.
East Looe Beach is sheltered and sandy, the harbour is a working one, and Looe Sea Safari runs RIB trips out to Looe Island with regular seal sightings. Lammana does some of the best coffee in Cornwall, right by the harbour.
The Coddy Shack for proper fish and chips, or Sails and JuJu's for something better — both small, both worth booking.
Check current timetables before you go, as branch line services can be sparse outside peak times. Worth planning the return around the last useful service rather than assuming.
Buy at Liskeard station or on the train depending on staffing. Dogs travel free on the branch line, which makes it a genuinely good option for a day out with one — and Looe is a dog-friendly town at the other end.
See the full Liskeard guide, filtered by who's with you.
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