Sea Reach

Sea Reach is a 400-year-old fisherman's cottage in Looe, directly facing the working harbour on East Looe's main quayside. Four bedrooms sleep six: three doubles and one twin, with two bathrooms. Two of the double rooms have sloping ceilings and limited headroom in places - worth knowing before booking. Exposed beams run throughout, and the inglenook fireplace in the main room is the focal point of the ground floor.

East Looe Beach is 100 metres from the door - a sandy town beach that runs along the eastern edge of the harbour entrance. The beach is sheltered by the headland and accessible at all tide states. Hannafore Beach is 900 metres further west, and Plaidy Beach 0.7 miles. The Looe Valley Line, one of the most scenic branch railways in Cornwall, terminates at the station above the town.

That is the trade-off for the harbour location: you step directly from the front door into the streets of a working fishing town. Crab and lobster boats unload at the quay; the daily catch is sold from the fish stalls along the quayside. Looe has a supermarket, independent shops, and several seafood restaurants.

Right for groups who want genuine harbour character and direct beach access. Not great for guests who need a garden or any outdoor space at the property.