LOOE SEA SWIMMERS
SEA SWIMMING IN LOOE
The beach in Looe offers a tremendous opportunity to enjoy open water swimming in the sea. This webpage provides information on open water swimming in general, links to useful sources of information regarding open water swimming and gives information about swimming in the sea at Looe and in general. This includes places where you must not swim for both your own safety and the safety of others and not to contravene the bye-laws of Looe Harbour.
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SWIMMING SPECIFICALLY AT LOOE
The beach at Looe is known to be very safe. This is self-evident by the fact that there are no RNLI Lifeguards even at peak times during the summer. Whether at high or low tide, the gradient of the beach into the water permits easy entry and egress with no hazards between the pier and the rocks to the left side of main beach.
If you wish to monitor the sea conditions remotely, here is a link to 3 webcams that overlook the area - https://www.cornishcollection.co.uk/live-webcams-in-looe .
The large spherical yellow buoys spread parallel to the beach mark an area free of water craft and hence a safe swimming area, although these are not present during the winter months.
It is prohibited to swim in the main river where the harbour is, and each of the two tributary rivers – East Looe river and West Looe river due to strict Harbour bye-laws. When swimming out into the sea, swimmers should stay well clear of the harbour/river exit. It is busy with water craft, commercial fishing vessels, local sea tour businesses and the tidal current is too strong for even the best of swimmers.
While the beach is generally safe to swim, there are still a range of hazards to be aware of:
1. Rocks to the eastern end.
2. The banjo pier and East Looe river – swimming is not permitted across the river mouth, or into the river. All swimmers should remain east of the banjo pier.
3. Tides and currents – see Guy’s diagram and information below.
