Bedruthan Steps

Carnewas and Bedruthan Steps lie on Cornwall’s north coast between Padstow and Newquay, a wild stretch of coastline owned partly by the National Trust. The name comes from two Cornish words meaning ‘rock-pile of summer dwelling’ and ‘Red-one’s dwelling’. Bronze Age barrows dot the cliffs nearby, and Redcliff Castle, an Iron Age promontory fort, overlooks the beach from above. A menhir discovered in 2009 lies beside the coast path, measuring nearly three metres long. The cliffs still show traces of old lead, copper and iron mines worked in the 19th century. The site draws visitors for its towering rock stacks and sweeping coastal views that have inspired artists for generations. Five stacks bear names such as Queen Bess, Samaritan Island and Pendarves Island, each linked to local legends or shipwrecks. In 1846 the Good Samaritan was wrecked here with the loss of nine lives, remembered in a rhyme of the time. The cliffs are also famous for fossils of Devonian fish and corals found in the slates. In 1951 the area became a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its geology and rare mosses and beetles. A National Trust shop and café sit on the cliff top, offering shelter and refreshment before the steep steps down to the beach. The South West Coast Path runs along the edge, leading walkers past thrift and sea campion in summer. At night the place is recognised as a Dark Sky discovery site, one of the best spots in Cornwall to see stars. Below, the sea has carved caves and arches into the softer rocks, leaving the harder stacks standing tall. Visitors find a landscape shaped by ancient forts, Victorian industry and the endless work of wind and tide.