Attractions

This page contains links to various tourism sites in the local area and further information on local attractions to help you plan your stay with us at The Old Rectory - Lanreath by Looe.

www.activecornwall.co.uk  Holiday activities and transport covering golf, fishing, guided walks, mountain biking, adventure activities, horse riding, sailing and surfing.

www.carfreedaysout.comfor information on music trains, self guided walks and events on the scenic branch lines in Devon and Cornwall.

www.cornwalltouristboard.co.uk

www.encountercornwall.com is a local family run business providing you with an opportunity to unlock the secrets of this beautiful area by canoe, cycle or on foot.  You can explore our beautiful estuaries, secluded villages, country pubs and enjoy the freedom of the moor.  Cycle hire can be arranged delivered to you here at The Old Rectory.

www.gardensincornwall.com  an excellent site for unique garden activities.

www.secta.org.uk

www.tastesoutheastcornwall.com describes some of the fabulous opportunities for eating out in the area and sampling wonderful Cornish delicacies. 

www.treasuretrails.co.uk  These downloadable trails help you to explore a part of Cornwall in a new light.  Children love solving the clues and adults can have serious fun taking part as well.  Believe me, some of the clues take some solving!

www.visit cornwall.co.uk

The National Trust is well represented locally:

• Anthony House, a varied garden set in a Repton landscape. 

• Buckland Abbey, north of Plymouth in the Tamar valley.  13th century home of Sir Francis Drake with Great Barn and Elizabethan garden. 

• Cotehele and Cotehele Mill, a historic garden, both formal and natural, with a medieval dovecote, stewpond and ornamental tower.  Buy flour from the mill and enjoy delicious home made bread. Garden open all year.  See National trust website for full opening times.

• Lanhydrock,  for beautiful walks in 450 acres of woods and parkland.  The riverside walk at Respryn is our favourite.   Garden and park open all year.  See National Trust website for house opening times.

• Saltram House, a Georgian mansion (rather larger than this one!) with landscaped gardens and park.  Park and garden open daily all year.  See National Trust website for house opening times.

• St Michael's Mount, a maritime garden arranged in terraces above the sea.  Access is by causeway at low water or ferry. 

• Trelissick, a garden with glorious views over the Fal estuary.  Open all year.   A ferry service operates from Truro and Falmouth between April and September, to really make your day out memorable.

• Trerice, a beautiful Elizabethan Manor house, with a small garden at its best in summer. 

•  There are various additional activities available at National Trust properties.    Visit the national trust south west for more information and opening times.

Whilst The Eden Project is a 'must see', we are close to many other beautiful gardens and historic houses:  Most have a link for you to follow to check opening times.

• Caerhays Castle Gardens,  an informal woodland garden overlooking the sea.  Beautiful Asiatic magnolias and camellias - truly a spring garden, open March, April and May only. 

• Duchy of Cornwall Nursery, Lostwithiel.  A plant lovers paradise in a beautiful valley with woodland walks.

• Ken-Caro, a 4 acre connoisseur's garden with panoramic views. 

• Mount Edgcumbe House and Earls Garden, 10 acres of formal gardens overlooking Plymouth Sound.  Combine your visit with a cruise on the Tamar. 

• Pencarrow House and Gardens, Bodmin.  Historic Georgian house with 50 acres of formal and woodland garden. 

• Pine Lodge, St Austell, 30 acres of garden with a rare plant nursery. 

• Prideaux Place, Padstow, with inspiring views over the Camel Estuary and tours of the Elizabethan Mansion available. 

• The Garden House, near Plymouth.  An enchanting walled garden around the ruins of a medieval vicarage. 

• The Lost Gardens of Heligan,  30 minutes away.  Witness the celebrated restoration of this Victorian working garden, with its summerhouses, lawns, lakes, walled gardens and sub-tropical 'jungle' garden.  . Open all year round.

• Trebah, an exotic garden in a wooded ravine, descending to a beach on the Helford river.  The tree canopy has a children's play area.  Open daily.

• Trewithen, with its magnificent collection of camellias, rhododendrons, magnolias and rare trees and shrubs, seldom found elsewhere in Britain. 

• Trevarno Estate Gardens and The National Museum of Gardening.  Beautiful Victorian and Georgian gardens - a plantsman's paradise, combine with a celebration of our gardening heritage in the museum, craft workshops and a vintage toy  exhibition.  A little further to travel, but worth the journey.  Open all year round.

• Also visit the Cornwall Gardens website for further details of events at these gardens.

When you have explored the many beaches, Looe and Polperro and are looking for something different:

• Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay, see sharks and rays and stroll through a coral reef.  Open daily.

• Bodmin Jail - an eerie experience as you learn of those hanged for minor transgressions.
  
• Bodmin Shire Hall; be part of the jury in a Victorian murder trail.

  Bodmin and Wenford Railway, enjoy a steam train ride to Boscarne Junction, which provides a direct link with the popular Camel Trail.

• Colliford Lake Park, a moorland park at the heart of Bodmin Moor with spectacular views of Colliford Lake.  Indoor play area, animals and miles of woodland and wetland walks. 

• Cornish Bird of Prey Centre, at St Columb Major, with opportunities to handle the birds of prey, flying displays twice daily and an array of other animals.  Coarse fishing is also available.  Open all year.

• Crealy Adventure Park, Newquay.  6 realms providing indoor and outdoor fun and play, shire horses and animals, set in 100 acres of Cornish countryside. 

• Dairyland Farmworld  a fun day out especially for younger children

• Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station; come on holiday and 'do the dishes'!   A fascinating experience, with indoor and outdoor children's play areas.

• The Monkey Sanctuary, Learn about Woolly Monkeys and rescued Tamarinds and the pet trade in woodlands overlooking Looe Bay. 

• Morwellham, a fascinating day out in the Tamar valley.  Step back in time and discover the story of a Victorian riverside village - the greatest copper port in Queen Victoria's empire. Open all year, and part of Cornwall's World Heritage Site.

• The National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth, another opportunity to learn about the inhabitants of our oceans - our favourite. Open all year.

• Newquay Zoo, open all year.

• Plymouth; Discover Plymouth Dome and Smeaton's Tower.  Visit the museum and art gallery, Elizabethan House and The Merchant's House.  Learn about the environment at The Green House or visit England's oldest working gin distillery.

• Porfell Animal Land, meet exotic wildlife, visit the children's farm and butterfly house and only a few minutes away. 

• Shipwreck and Heritage Centre, at Charlestown, St Austell, located in a historic china clay building.  Gain insight into the history of Charlestown, see artefacts recovered by divers, climb aboard a lifeboat and steer your own remote controlled boat. 

• Tamar Donkey Sanctuary, the only donkey sanctuary in Cornwall.  Enjoy feeding the donkeys and other animals.  A donkey ride is included for the children, who can also run off steam in the indoor and outdoor play areas. 

• Tintagel Castle, open daily all year round, and about an hours drive across beautiful Bodmin Moor.

• Wheal Martin Museum of the China Clay Industry, Open all year round.  Discover the story of china clay.  Explore the historic and nature trails, whilst the children enjoy the children's adventure trail.

• Woodlands, Totnes, Devon.   An extensive theme park, worth the journey, with indoor and outdoor play zones, animals and plenty of opportunity to get wet!  The children will love it here! 

There are also areas of outstanding natural beauty to explore:

• Bodmin Moor is easily accessible.  Visit stone circles, standing stones, and the Minions Heritage Centre, with Minions area being part of Cornwall's World Heritage Site.   Truly an area of outstanding beauty and steeped in legend.  At Dozmary Pool, imagine Excalibur being received by the Lady in the lake.  Visit Golitha falls and the Tors.  Enjoy one of the many walks.

• Carnglaze Caverns, three huge underground caverns handcrafted by slate miners and set in 6 acres of wooded hillside at St Neot.  Open all year.

• The Rame Peninsula.  Kingsand on the Rame peninsula

• The South West Coast Path.   Portwrinkle

• The Tamar Valley, another beautiful area with a fascinating mining heritage, where you can canoe or sail down the river, explore cycle paths and walking routes and find even more places of interest.  A TamarSail expedition may become a unique memory as you explore the tranquillity of the Tamar valley by gaff-rigged boat.  Visit TamarSail for more details.

• White River, passing close to Eden, Heligan and Mevagissey.

• Travel the Looe Valley Line, which runs for 8 miles between Liskeard and Looe following the East Looe river valley.  Stop en-route and explore one of the ten walks accessible from station along the line.  The Looe Valley Trails from the Track pack is available on loan.

Activity Holidays:

For the energetic or adventurous, there is always an opportunity to try something new and we have been particularly impressed by the range of activities offered by:
www.activecornwall.co.uk  Holiday activities and transport covering golf, fishing, guided walks, mountain biking, adventure activities, horse riding, sailing and surfing.

www.encountercornwall.com is a local family run business providing you with an opportunity to unlock the secrets of this beautiful area by canoe, cycle or on foot.  You can explore our beautiful estuaries, secluded villages, country pubs and enjoy the freedom of the moor.  Cycle hire can be arranged delivered to you here at The Old Rectory.

Walking Holidays:

Our location is ideal for a varied walking holiday.  There are so many fabulous places to explore on foot, with the potential for a new location every day.  We do accept dogs by prior arrangement, allowing you to bring your faithful friend along to enjoy your walks with you.

You can walk parts of the beautiful South West Coast path, which you can join in under 5 miles. www.nationaltrail.co.uk/southwestcoastpath.  There is The Giant's Hedge to walk along, Deerpark Forest to explore, Kilminorth Woods in Looe, Cardinham Woods, and Bodmin Moor to name but a few of our favourites.  Lerryn is a delight, with walks through Ethy woods after crossing the river Fowey by stepping stones at low tide.  Our narrow country lanes see little traffic and to explore Cornwall by using them is a delight.  You can combine a trip on the Looe valley line with a walk from the track - we have packs available for you to borrow.

We love to join a walk guided by Mark Camp our local blue badge guide from Walkaboutwest, especially his Wind in the Willows walk at Lerryn.  My children loved it last year.   Why not book a holiday with us and join Mark on a fabulous journey of discovery?

 

Golf

There are a wealth of courses to choose from locally for a game of golf and we welcome golfers to visit.

www.lanhydrock-golf.co.uk

www.st-mellion.co.uk

www.looegolfclub.co.uk

 

---

Finally, why not round off your day with a touch of culture?. Sterts Open Air Theatre offers productions throughout the summer. In 2009 the in house productions are A Night on Broadway; Children of Eden; Cider with Rosie; and Daisy Pulls it Off. The amphitheatre is canopy covered, with picnic areas and lawns. We are happy to help by booking you tickets if wished or they are usually available on the night of a performance from the box office - seating is unreserved.

Please note that whilst every effort has been made to accurately quote opening times, we cannot accept responsibility if your chosen activity is unavailable.