Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carnewas-and-bedruthan-steps
Web: www.visitcornwall.com/things-to-do/beaches/bedruthan-steps-beach
Cornwall's classic beauty spot
Five miles north of Newquay
One of the many beauty spots which face the open Atlantic on this memorable stretch of coast. It lies just off the B3276 coast road. Its precipitous, crumbling cliffs and spectacular rock formations are covered with nesting sea birds and carpeted in summer with wild flowers. Legend has it that the offshore rocks, created by the action of the sea, were stepping stones for the giant Bedruthan. Seals can sometimes be seen on the outlying rocks. many of these have descriptive names such as Queen Bess, which bears a strong resemblance to Elizabeth I, complete with ruff. It is within the parish of St. Eval and is part-owned by the National Trust.
Each of the stacks has a name and from north to south they are Queen Bess, Samaritan Island, Redcove Island, Pendarves Island and Carnewas Island. Samaritan Island is named after the ship the 'Good Samaritan' that was wrecked upon the rock in 1846. Visitors are warned that treacherous tides make swimming dangerous.
In the past the area was mined for haermatite and it is thought that the ladders and steps to the beach were needed to reach the mine workings. The National Trust shop was originally the Count house of the Carnewas Mine, and the Cafe was the stable for the mine ponies. The National Trust took over the site in 1930.
The route down to the beach at Bedruthan Steps is not for the faint-hearted. Those able to negotiate the steep steps are rewarded at the bottom with a beautiful golden beach and amazing views as far as Trevose Head with its light house.
A rockfall occurred in February 2020 affecting the lower steps and the safety netting on surrounding rocks resulting in closure of the steps.
There is a National Trust shop and information centre, cafe and WC's in the car park on the cliff-top.
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