Looe Harbour Approaches Anchorage Guide
Also known as: Looe anchorage, East Looe roads, Looe Bay anchorage
Looe is a picturesque Cornish fishing town built around a tidal harbour at the confluence of the East and West Looe rivers. The harbour dries completely at low water — pleasure craft must anchor outside in the roads. Looe Island (St George's Island, now a Nature Reserve owned by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust) lies 0.5nm offshore and provides some shelter in northerlies. The anchorage is a useful daytime stop for exploring the town — accessible by dinghy on the tide — but exposed to southwest swell and not suitable for overnight in any unsettled conditions. The town itself has excellent fish shops, pubs, and the famous Looe shark-angling fleet.
Quick Reference
GPS
50°20.9'N 004°27.0'W
Depth (CD)
3–5m
Bottom
sand, gravel
Holding
FairProtected From
N, NE, E, NW
Exposed To
S, SW, W
Best Months
May, June, July, August, September
Fee
Free — outer anchorage is outside Looe harbour limits.
Permit
No
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
85m radius for the open outer anchorage with a 4.7m tidal range. Actual depths at HW reach 7.7–9.7m — minimum 7:1 scope gives 54–68m of rode at HW springs. This is an exposed daytime anchorage — the sand and gravel bottom gives only fair holding and the swell from the SW can set in quickly even in light conditions. Set the alarm conservatively at 85m and be prepared to leave at short notice if conditions deteriorate. NOT recommended for overnight stays unless weather is absolutely settled and swell is below 0.3m.
Set this in Safety Anchor Alarm — FreeThe Anchorage
Anchor in 3–5m (CD) approximately 0.4nm offshore in the lee of Looe Island (St George's Island), keeping the island to the W/NW. Sand and gravel bottom — fair holding in moderate conditions. The inner harbour dries completely at LW (it is a tidal fishing harbour) — this is the only usable anchorage outside. The position gives some shelter from N and E but is fully exposed to south-westerly Atlantic swell. Use in settled weather with no swell forecast — even moderate SW swell makes this anchorage very uncomfortable. Looe Island itself (National Trust owned) creates a slight wind shadow in northerlies. Tidal range approximately 4.7m springs.
Setting Your Anchor
Check the current tidal height using UKHO Admiralty TotalTide or EasyTide before anchoring — with 4.8m springs at Falmouth (and up to 4.9m at Newlyn), the actual depth at HW is considerably greater than Chart Datum. Add the current tidal height to the CD depth shown on your chart to find the actual depth at your chosen spot.
Bottom at Looe Harbour Approaches: primarily sand and gravel. Deploy 7:1 scope minimum (35m at 5m CD — allow for HW tidal addition). Motor astern firmly to set the anchor before relying on it.
Set your GPS anchor alarm to 85m radius before sleeping. Atlantic swell watch: even in settled conditions, check the MetOffice SW England inshore forecast and NAVTEX before turning in — fronts can arrive with 6–8 hours' notice and swell builds quickly in exposed anchorages.
Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Delta, Mantus.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Set GPS anchor alarm to 85m radius. 85m radius for the open outer anchorage with a 4.7m tidal range. Actual depths at HW reach 7.7–9.7m — minimum 7:1 scope gives 54–68m of rode at HW springs. This is an exposed daytime anchorage — the sand and gravel bottom gives only fair holding and the swell from the SW can set in quickly even in light conditions. Set the alarm conservatively at 85m and be prepared to leave at short notice if conditions deteriorate. NOT recommended for overnight stays unless weather is absolutely settled and swell is below 0.3m.
May–September in settled weather only. The anchorage is too exposed for any planned overnight stay — even in summer, SW groundswell can make it untenable at night. Treat as a lunchtime stop only. For the Eddystone lighthouse area and Plymouth Sound approaches, Plymouth is the correct harbour.
Navigation Hazards
- Fully exposed to SW and S Atlantic swell — the anchorage deteriorates rapidly in any onshore conditions; depart immediately if SW swell builds above 0.5m
- Inner harbour dries completely at LW — do not anchor in the harbour entrance or approach; use the outer anchorage only
- Looe Island rock ledges extend N and NE from the island — maintain a safe distance of at least 100m from the island shore
- Fishing vessel traffic — Looe has an active shark-angling and potting fleet that leaves and returns at unpredictable hours
- Sand and gravel holding is only fair — set anchor thoroughly and monitor continuously; this is not a sleeping-at-anchor spot
Rules & Regulations
- Permit: No special permit required
- Anchoring fee: Free — outer anchorage is outside Looe harbour limits.
- Restrictions: The inner harbour dries at LW — do not attempt entry except near HW in vessels that can dry out. Looe Island is a protected wildlife reserve — landing only from designated beach on permit or with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Keep clear of the fishing vessel approach channel.
- Tidal predictions: UKHO Admiralty TotalTide / EasyTide (ukho.gov.uk) for Chart Datum tidal heights at this port.
- Coastguard: HMCG Falmouth MRCC — VHF Ch 16 at all times; safety broadcasts every 4 hours on Ch 16.
Facilities
- Fresh water: Not available — plan ahead
- Fuel: Not available at anchorage — nearest: Looe town quay (0.5nm)
- Restaurant: Several fish restaurants and traditional pubs in Looe town — accessible by dinghy at HW. The Fresh Fish Store on the quay sells outstanding local seafood.
- Provisions: Available nearby
Skipper's Tips
- Use Looe only as a fair-weather day anchorage — Fowey (10nm west) or Plymouth (14nm east) offer infinitely better shelter for overnight stays
- Anchor in the lee of Looe Island in northerly or easterly weather for the best available shelter; in any southerly, leave for Plymouth or Fowey
- The shark-angling fleet returns in the afternoon and creates significant wash as they enter harbour — expect swell from their passage
- A dinghy trip into Looe at HW is the best way to explore the town — arrive for lunch and depart back to anchor before the ebb
- The Looe area has excellent coastal walking — the SW Coast Path passes through East Looe and gives access to remote coves inaccessible by sea
A note on this guide: Always check current weather, NAVTEX/VHF bulletins, and UKHO Admiralty charts. Depths given to Chart Datum (LAT) — add current tidal height for actual depth. Use a GPS anchor alarm — never rely solely on a guide for navigational decisions.
Sleep peacefully at Looe Harbour Approaches
Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position and alerts you the moment your boat drifts outside your set radius — essential in Cornwall & Devon where 4.8m spring tides require careful scope management and Atlantic swell can build overnight.
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