Looe Island Holidays

Smuggler's Cottage is a self-catering cottage for up to two adults, offering a comfortable base from which to experience the peace and beauty of island life.

Boat transfers are included with your stay. Arrival and departure times are typically between mid-morning and early afternoon and will be confirmed closer to your visit. As access to Looe Island depends on weather and sea conditions, changes or cancellations at short notice are sometimes unavoidable. We recommend keeping travel plans flexible by a couple of days either side of your booking.

Once on Looe Island, guests should expect to remain on the island until their departure date, so please ensure you bring everything you need for your stay, including food, drinks, bedding and personal items.

While the island feels wonderfully secluded, you won't be entirely alone. Island Wardens Jon and Claire live and work on Looe Island year-round, and there may occasionally be Bell Tent guests staying elsewhere on the reserve. During the day, authorised public boat trips may also visit the island, although there will still be plenty of opportunities to enjoy its peace and tranquillity.

As a protected nature reserve, we ask all guests to help care for the island during their stay. Access to the sea is via the main beach only, helping us minimise disturbance to wildlife and sensitive habitats.

The island operates with limited natural resources. Water is supplied from a small spring, and electricity comes from renewable energy systems and battery storage. We kindly ask guests to use both thoughtfully during their stay.

Smuggler's Cottage is a non-smoking property.

Kitchen Facilities

The cottage's well-equipped kitchen has everything you need to prepare simple meals during your stay, including:

• Combination microwave, oven and grill
• Separate two-ring hot plate
• Toaster and kettle
• Fridge with small freezer compartment
• Saucepans, cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery
• Tea towels and washing-up equipment

Bathroom

The cottage has a private bathroom with:

• Indoor compost toilet
• Shower
• Hand basin
• Bin and bags for sanitary waste

As water comes from the island's limited spring supply, we ask guests to use water thoughtfully during their stay. We also encourage the use of eco-friendly toiletries and washing products where possible.

Please note: Towels are not provided.

Bedroom

Smuggler's Cottage is designed for two adults and includes:

• Double bed
• Pillows and duvets
• Chest of drawers
• Hanging hooks for clothing storage

Guests are asked to bring their own bedding, including sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases.

Living Space

Relax and unwind after a day exploring the island with:

• Comfortable seating area
• Wood-burning stove
• Folding dining table and chairs
• Sofa bed available if required

A starter supply of logs and kindling is provided for the stove. Additional logs may be available for a small charge.

Outdoor Space

The perfect spot for morning coffee, wildlife watching or watching the sun set across the water, enjoy your own private outdoor seating area with:

• BBQ and cooking utensils
• Bistro-style table and chairs
• Two deckchairs

Sustainable Island Living

As a remote island nature reserve, resources are carefully managed to minimise our environmental impact.

• Electricity is supplied through renewable energy and battery storage systems
• Water comes from a limited spring supply
• Guests are asked to separate waste and recycling during their stay - please bring rubbish bags and be prepared to take your waste/recycling home with you
• Compostable waste can remain on the island to support our gardens

We ask that guests leave the cottage as you would wish to find it, cleaning materials are provided. The island wardens will also ensure the cottage is clean and tidy between ‘lets’ but we do not have a formal cleaning service.

As there are no shops on Looe Island, you'll need to bring everything you need for the duration of your stay, including:

• Food and drinks for your entire stay
• Pillowcases, sheets and duvet covers for the double bed (and sofa bed if required)
• Towels
• Suitable clothing and footwear for changeable coastal weather
• Slippers or comfortable indoor footwear
• Charcoal if you plan to use the BBQ
• Any medication, toiletries and personal items you'll require during your stay
• Bags for taking home your non-compostable waste and recycling
• Binoculars, if you have them, for wildlife watching

Please note: While there are no shops on the island, if we have surplus produce available, we may occasionally be able to offer items from our stores, garden or hens.

If you are arriving by car, there is free roadside parking on the seafront at Hannafore (opposite the island on the west side of Looe).

Your boat pick up will typically be around 10:30am on your day of arrival and departure, but this will be confirmed nearer the time. 

We suggest that you unload the car at the boat departure point (near the water taxi/ferry steps in west Looe by the Tasty Corner Cafe), then one person can stay with your belongings and the other continue driving on past the church to park along Hannafore seafront.

How long you take to walk back, depends on exactly how far along the road you park, but allow at least 15 minutes to get back for the boat.

Looe Island offers a chance to disconnect from the pressures of everyday life and experience life at a slower pace.

To support conservation efforts:

• No dogs or other pets are permitted on Looe Island. As a protected nature reserve, this helps us safeguard the wildlife and sensitive habitats that make the island so special.
• Smoking is not permitted inside any accommodation.

• Guests are asked to minimise waste and take non-compostable rubbish and recycling back to the mainland.

   

• Arrival and departure times are weather and sea dependent.
• Guests should expect to remain on the island for the duration of their stay.

Many visitors find that the simplicity of island life is one of the most rewarding aspects of their stay, allowing them to fully embrace the tranquillity and natural beauty of the reserve.

Nestled within the nature reserve, our Bell Tent offers an unforgettable glamping experience in a truly unique setting. The accommodation is designed to be comfortable while supporting our commitment to conservation and sustainable island living.

Boat transfers are included. Arrival and departure times are typically between mid-morning and early afternoon, although timings are dependent on sea and weather conditions and will be confirmed closer to your stay. As access to the island is weather-dependent, we recommend keeping travel plans flexible by a couple of days either side of your booking.

All 2027 Bell Tent holidays are for two nights, with an option to extend to three nights. The tent comfortably sleeps two adults on a double mattress, with additional sofa bed available if preferred.

As part of our low-impact approach, island resources such as water and electricity are carefully managed. Drinking water is provided, and guests are encouraged to use resources thoughtfully during their stay.

Once on Looe Island, guests should expect to remain on the island until departure. Please ensure you bring everything needed for your stay, including food, drinks, bedding and personal items.

To help protect the island's wildlife and habitats, guests are asked to follow the guidance provided during their stay, including designated access points to the sea and visitor guidelines.

A Fully Furnished Bell Tent

The Bell Tent is equipped with everything needed for a comfortable island glamping experience, including:

• Double mattress on a futon-style base
• Two additional single mattresses
• Pillows and spare blankets
• Soft furnishings and cushions
• Side tables and storage solutions
• Camping chairs
• Entrance canopy/shelter
• Emergency lighting and essentials
• Binoculars and bird identification guide
• Information pack about the island, wildlife and conservation

Outdoor Living

Make the most of island life with:

• Private picnic bench
• BBQ and fire brazier
• Spectacular sea views
• Space to relax, dine outdoors and enjoy the natural surroundings

Cooking Facilities

The tent includes:

• Two-ring camping stove (gas provided)
• Pots, pans, crockery and cutlery
• Cool box and freezer blocks
• Access to a small shared fridge/freezer for food storage

Private Facilities

Guests have exclusive use of a dedicated compost toilet located nearby, complete with handwashing facilities and a basic outdoor sink.

As this is an off-grid island stay, you'll need to bring everything you'll need for the duration of your visit, including:

• Food and drinks for your stay (drinking water is provided)
• Sleeping bags, or bedding for the double mattress (duvet cover, fitted sheet and pillowcases)
• Torches or rechargeable camping lanterns
• Suitable clothing and footwear for changeable coastal weather
• Matches, lighter and firelighters for the BBQ or brazier
• Charcoal for the BBQ
• Insect repellent
• Any personal medication and toiletries you'll require during your stay
• Washing-up liquid (eco-friendly products are preferred), dish cloths and tea towels
• Alcohol hand sanitiser
• Bags or containers for taking home non-compostable waste and recycling
• Books, games or other entertainment for cosy evenings and a digital detox

Please note: There are no shops on Looe Island, so it's important to arrive with everything you need for your stay.

If you are arriving by car, there is free roadside parking on the seafront at Hannafore (opposite the island on the west side of Looe).

Your boat pick up will typically be around 10:30am on your day of arrival and departure, but this will be confirmed nearer the time. 

We suggest that you unload the car at the boat departure point (near the water taxi/ferry steps in west Looe by the Tasty Corner Cafe), then one person can stay with your belongings and the other continue driving on past the church to park along Hannafore seafront.

How long you take to walk back, depends on exactly how far along the road you park, but allow at least 15 minutes to get back for the boat.

Looe Island offers a chance to disconnect from the pressures of everyday life and experience life at a slower pace.

To support conservation efforts:

• No dogs or other pets are permitted on Looe Island. As a protected nature reserve, this helps us safeguard the wildlife and sensitive habitats that make the island so special.
• Smoking is not permitted inside any accommodation.
• There is no mains electricity in the Bell Tent.
• Showers are not available.
• Drinking water is supplied in containers.

• Guests are asked to minimise waste and take non-compostable rubbish and recycling back to the mainland.

   

• Arrival and departure times are weather and sea dependent.
• Guests should expect to remain on the island for the duration of their stay.

Many visitors find that the simplicity of island life is one of the most rewarding aspects of their stay, allowing them to fully embrace the tranquillity and natural beauty of the reserve.