Lekerock Cove Beach in Cornwall

Lekerock Cove Beach is a small secluded cove on the South West Coast Path near Talland Bay, between Polperro and Looe in Cornwall. During my staycation in Polperro, I became fond of finding walking routes to special places. Including hikes to remote coves and bays in this part of Cornwall. Using the full zoom on Komoot seemed to be the best way for me to do this. Komoot was also useful for finding out whether it was legally walkable.

While in Polperro, I spotted Lekerock Cove on the Komoot app, but it’s not listed on Google Maps. This attracted my attention, and a decision was made.

This would be an interesting dog walk along the coast, getting out of the busy Polperro Town Centre. I left with the optimism that I would find a secluded beach with few or no people on it.

Preparation For Walk To Lekerock Cove Beach

This was a short 2-mile trip on a sunny day. The priority was to carry enough water to keep the dog cool. I got us a 2-litre bottle of cold water to share and stay hydrated. I also loaded the hip flask with Morvenna-spiced rum, distilled in Cornwall. Phones and vapes needed a charge, so we popped into the Noughts & Crosses Pub to get a Korev while I charged my essentials.

Walking This Section of the South-West Coast Path

From the Noughts & Crosses, I headed through the village and passed the museum on a road called ‘The Warren’. This was a steep climb, but it opened up superb views of Polperro and the cove the village was in. There were even benches near the top for people to sit and admire this view.

Once the road had ended, I was on the South West Coast Path, heading east. This was a well-walked route and was steady underfoot. There were shaded areas ideal for a break and for hydrating the pair of us. The route was lined with gorse, with many wildflowers and birds to see, with the occasional small group of trees.

The views of the sea, cliffs and inaccessible coves from above were breathtaking. This was a great walk. After pounding the trail for a while, we had passed a few other dog walkers, all heading to Polperro and West. The next significant point was a cross on the cliffs. This is the Polperro War Memorial, a fitting and beautiful place to reflect and remember, IMO.

From here, it was downhill towards Talland Bay until a steep side path revealed itself. This path was quite challenging and steep. The dog made a simple work of it, waiting for me on the rocks above Lekerock Cove. It required a climb down the rocks to get to the quiet, sandy beach. The full route.

Lekerock Cove & Beach in Cornwall

The beach was small, and based on observations, it would not be worthwhile to visit at high tide. The beach was pretty special and quiet; large boulders separated it into sections. At the rear, the dog and I found a cave to sit in, hydrate and cool down.

A few people were enjoying the beach with us. Most seemed to have arrived by kayak or swimming from Talland Bay. The water was calm and clear and called me in for a swim. This allowed both me and the dog to cool down.

Wishing to avoid overexertion in the early-afternoon heat, we sat for a while in the shade. This was nice, with only water and the hip flask for company. This was a special place with magnificent views and a very tranquil atmosphere. A few visitors came and went via the sea, making me wonder how many people walk this way.

After a while, it was time to walk back on the same trail. But in the opposite direction, to get food and wind down.

Hiking Routes Near The Secluded Beach

For hikers who like longer routes, this is part of the South West Coast Path. Because of this, they can visit it while walking between Looe and Polperro or Looe and Fowey. Alternatively, for those not into long walks, this would be a quick walk from Talland Bay and its amenities. There are a few Ordnance Survey routes, including some circular ones that include passing Lekerock Cove, Cornwall.