Duloe Manor

Duloe to Looe walking and hiking route

Looe is a fine little town by the sea, bustling in season, with shops, inns, restaurants and cafes in profusion, situated almost entirely in East Looe, which also has the traditional fishing port, a beach and the terminus of the railway line.

West Looe is predominantly a residential area. To walk, mostly downhill, from Duloe Manor to Looe via the West Looe Valley and Kilminorth Wood and to return by the 573 bus service makes an excellent excursion. The tracksare somewhat variable; down the side of the valley has mud and, in part, a rough surface; the riverside path is potentially muddy in places, whilst the way through Kilminorth Wood is first rate. The connecting length of minor road is virtually traffic-free. The bus service is hourly; timetable at site reception.

Walk Instructions

Start Point - HPB Duloe Manor

Leave the Manor along the access drive. Turn left by the side of the main road.

1) At the road junction in 100m. turn left; there is a 'Tredinnick Farm' sign. Pass through Tredinnick hamlet. In approximately 200m. further turn right, along the access drive to Tredinnick Farm. Pass between the farm buildings, bearing left to take a muddy lane 'unfit for motors'. The lane descends the side of the West Looe Valley, gradually at first. At an apparent fork there is a waymark on a post; keep right here. After a farm gate, the lane becomes sunken and the descent into the valley becomes steeper. Mud and projecting rocks underfoot need care in negotiating.

NB please note that if wet weather do not turn down to Redinnick Farm but stay on the road. Follow the map to Point 4 at Sowden's Bridge. At this point re-join the walk as described and follow the directions from Section 3 onwards.

2) At the foot of the descent is a gate and a ford across the river. Do not cross; turn sharp left before the gate to follow a comparatively narrow path on the near side of the river. The path, through woodland, stays fairly close to the river, a little up and down and with muddy areas, for a mile and a quarter. Ignore any paths to right or left. There are occasional waymarks to confirm the route and four stiles to be negotiated.

3) Join a minor road close to Sowden's Bridge. Turn right to cross the bridge and follow the road round to the left, keeping left at three junctions, signposted to 'Watergate'. The road stays fairly close to the river, providing pleasant traffic-free walking as far as Watergate hamlet. Pass a massive former (and unsafe) lime kiln on the way.

4) At Watergate the road bears to the right, uphill. Leave the road at a 'public footpath' signpost on the left. There is a seat and a wooden 'Kilminorth Wood' display board. Of the various trails through the wood, that staying closest to the estuarial river is recommended, a delightful easy path through mature woodland, never far from the sight and sound of the abundant bird life on the water. At very high tide, a section of the route by the side of the water may not be usable; in that case a short diversion up the bank to the right is made.

5) Reach the exit from Kilminorth Wood at a gate. Continue along the side of the West Looe River, with a huge car park on the right. At the town end of the car park rise past an amusement arcade and other buildings to join the road which leads to the west end of Looe Bridge. Turn left to cross the bridge. The stop for the bus to Duloe is just to the left, close to the Looe medical practice.

Please note if you reverse the route the road section from point 4 to 2 is not for the faint hearted.

Disclaimer: This route was correct at time of writing. However, alterations can happen if development or boundary changes occur, and there is no guarantee of permanent access. These walks have been published for use by site visitors on the understanding that neither HPB Management Limited nor any other person connected with Holiday Property Bond is responsible for the safety or wellbeing of those following the routes as described. It is walkers' own responsibility to be adequately prepared and equipped for the ‎level of walk and the weather conditions and to assess the safety and accessibility of the walk.