Looe Valley Trails

Find out more about the Looe Valley Trails project and share your thoughts and ideas about the proposals

Looe Valley Trails: creating a network of multi-use trails linking Liskeard, Looe, Bodmin and the Rame Peninsula

About the project:

The Looe Valley Trails project is a scheme which will create over 50 kms of trails in South East Cornwall for residents and visitors to walk, bicycle and horse ride.

Part of the South East Cornwall regeneration programme, the project will provide a network of tracks connecting Looe, Liskeard, Bodmin and Cremyll, opening up access to some of the most beautiful and distinctive landscape in Cornwall.

Led by Cornwall Council working with town and parish councils, community groups and stakeholders, the trails will support more active lifestyles, encourage more visitors to the area and enhance and interpret the natural and historic environment.

This project has been in development for some time, with partners building on the work previously carried out by community groups and stakeholders to identify preferred routes and develop a strong business case to secure funding. This has involved identifying more off-road sections and routes with gentle gradients to be more accessible to all.

Aims of the project

Part of a wider programme to support regeneration in South East Cornwall, which also includes the development of the Looe Flood Defence and Regeneration Scheme, the Forest for Cornwall and Looe Valley Heritage Trails, the key aims of the Looe Valley Trails project are to:

• Encourage active lifestyles and improve the health and wellbeing of the local community
• Provide safe and attractive routes for walkers of all ages and abilities, wheelchair users, horse riders and cyclists, joining up Liskeard, Looe, Bodmin and the Rame Peninsula
• Encourage the development of new businesses, including cycle hire operators and cafes, to help boost the local economy, secure existing jobs and create new ones.
• Encourage more local people and tourists to visit the area all year round, increasing spending in shops and businesses
• Protect and enhance the local environment

Current proposals

The current proposals are based around three long distance routes in South East Cornwall.

These routes are:

Looe to Liskeard

• This section will be a combination of largely traffic free sections with a linking section that will be on quiet country lanes. It will include two high quality loops which provide a circular route of around 4 to 5 miles in length.
• This will be an accessible route to be used by everyone, offering opportunities for health, for engaging with the environment and enjoying what south east Cornwall has to offer. It will also be at the centre of the new cycle hubs which are being developed by others at Looe and Liskeard.

Looe to Cremyll

• This section will be a long distance on road route for more confident cyclists. It will provide an on-road waymarked route for more confident and experienced trail users, linked to the promoted National Cycle Network from Plymouth.
• At the Cremyll end of the route, there will be a 5 mile on road loop which provides an opportunity for more confident cyclists and road users. It will provide a waymarked route and complete a gap in the existing promoted cycle network, providing a safe environment for all to enjoy the area. There will be a shorter 5 mile waymarked route on-road connecting the settlements in the Rame area.

Looe to Bodmin (using existing route between Bodmin Parkway and Bodmin

• This section will be a combination of on and off road sections and will include a number of existing trails in the area. A number of viable options are available on this route and we will be consulting shortly on the preferred route.

Looe to Cremyll recommended route and enhancement opportunities

Details of the Looe to Cremyll route and potential enhancement opportunities are now available for comment.

We want to hear what people think about the proposals.

What is being proposed?

The recommended route for the multi use trail covers a distance of around 32 kms between Looe and Cremyll, covering the main population centres of Downderry, Seaton, Portwrinkle, Crafthole and Freathy along the way, .

Linked to the promoted National Cycle Network from Plymouth, the on-road waymarked route is mainly aimed at more confident and experienced trail users.

At the Cremyll end of the route, there is an 8km on road loop which provides a waymarked route connecting the settlements in the Rame area and completes a gap in the existing promoted cycle network, providing a safe environment for all to enjoy the area.

The project team are also asking for feedback on potential enhancement options to support the trail’s success.

These include new stopping places, parklets, additional signage and bike parking facilities. Other potential options include parallel zebra crossings which include pedestrian and cycle crossings.

How people can get involved

You can make comments about the proposals and ask questions via this site or by emailing lvt@cornwall.gov.uk

People who are not online will be able to pick up information about the recommended route from Looe Town Council offices at the Millpool and from other local places along the route to Cremyll.

Next steps

Work is continuing on developing the remaining two proposed routes - from Looe to Liskeard and from Looe to Bodmin.

Information on the recommended routes for all the trails is expected to be available by the Autumn. The project team will then be staging a series of public exhibitions to enable the local community to view the draft proposals and give their views.

How you can get involved:

This is an exciting project for South East Cornwall and we want to hear the views of local people and stakeholders.

The COVID-19 pandemic means that we can't meet you safely face to face at the moment.

We have developed this site to present the information and to provide opportunities for you to ask questions and help to shape the current proposals.

You can also email us direct at lvt@cornwall.gov.uk