Loe Bar Walk
This circular walk explores the beautiful Loe Bar and Loe Pool, near Helston, in Cornwall. The pool is notable as largest natural freshwater lake in Cornwall.
The walk starts from the Fair Car Park just south of Helston, close to the Coronation Lake. From here you can pick up a trail heading south through the Loe Valley to the beautiful Loe Pool. The trails will take you through the woodland running alongside the western side of the lake before coming to the beach at Loe Bar. On this section you will pass the National Trust's Penrose Estate where there's a manor house and a walled garden to see.
At Loe Bar you pass along the beach before following another footpath along the eastern side of the lake. This will take you past Carminowe Creek, Pentire Wood and Degibna Wood and Lower Nansloe before returning to the car park.
The area is great for wildlife so keep your eyes peeled for birds including Pochard, Widgeon, Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot and Shoveler as you make your way around the site.
You could extend the walk by heading west to explore the village of Porthleven with its lovely harbour.
Postcode
TR13 8SG - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsLoe Bar Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Loe Bar Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Loe Bar OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Loe Bar Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
Near the start/end of the walk you'll find a Lakeside Cafe at the Coronation Lake. Here you can enjoy some refreshment with lovely views over the lake from the outdoor seating area. You can find them at postcode TR13 0SF for your sat navs. On the route there's also a National Trust tea room at Penrose called The Stables Cafe.
Dog Walking
The woodland and beach are ideal for dog walkers so you'll probably see other dogs on your visit. The Lakeside Cafe mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
At the beach you can pick up the South West Coast Path and follow it north to visit the pretty harbour at Porthleven. Heading south will take you to Mullion.
Head east and you could visit the picturesque little village of Gweek on the Helford River. Here you could try the nature trail at the seal sanctuary where they look after sick and injured seal pups.
Head south and you could pick up the Mullion Cove to Lizard Point Walk. The cove has a delighftul harbour and trails leading to the stunning Kynance Cove and the most southerly point in Britain at Lizard Point.
If you pick up the Porthleven to Praa Sands Coastal Walk it will take you west to the beautiful white sand beach at Praa Sands. Here you also can start the Praa Sands to Prussia Cove Walk and visit a series of delightful little coves.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Cornwall Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Looking at the seaward side of Loe Bar beach. Beyond the bar are the cliffs of the western side of the Lizard Peninsula.
Bar is a stretch of sand and shingle across the mouth of the freshwater Low Pool
Loe Pool seen from Loe Bar. Looking north-east towards Pentire Wood. Sea holly on the beach in the foreground.
Loe Pool is a freshwater lake separated from the sea by the sandbar. The pool used to be a tidal estuary until the sandspit became a sandbar and closed the mouth of the estuary in the 13th century. It is the largest freshwater lagoon in Cornwall and is an important habitat for migrant birds who spend the winter here.
H.M.S. Anson monument. This monument, erected in March 1949, is found on the low sandy cliff to the south of Loe Bar. The inscription on the seaward face reads "SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF ABOUT 100 OFFICERS AND MEN OF H.M.S. ANSON WHO WERE DROWNED WHEN THIS SHIP WAS WRECKED ON LOE BAR 29TH DEC. 1807, AND BURIED HEREABOUT. HENRY TRENGROUSE OF HELSTON WAS SO IMPRESSED BY THIS TRAGEDY, THAT HE INVENTED THE LIFE SAVING ROCKET APPARATUS WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SAVING THOUSANDS OF LIVES."
Stone sculptures. This seems to be a popular pastime on Loe Bar - there were many of these carefully piled stone constructions on the sand.
External view of the walled garden at Penrose on the western side of the lake.
Path around Loe Pool. This permissive path runs through National Trust property to make it possible to circumnavigate the Pool completely.