Porthcothan, Bedruthan Steps and Watergate Bay (via bus)

A (bus-assisted) one-way walk along the coast with spectacular wildflowers and one of Cornwall's most photographed views over the volcanic rock stacks of Bedruthan Steps, which Victorians liked to think of as a giant's stepping stones.

Get the app to guide you around the walk

App Store

Download iPhone/iPad app from App Store

Scan with your phone to get the Apple app

Google Play

Download Android app from Google Play

Scan with your phone to get the Android app

Download the (free) app then use it to purchase this walk.

Phone showing Google navigation to start of walk

The app will direct you to the start of the walk via satnav.

Hand holding a phone showing the iWalk Cornwall app

The app guides you around the walk using GPS, removing any worries about getting lost.

Phone showing walk directions page in the iWalk Cornwall app

The walk route is described with detailed, regularly-updated, hand-written directions.

Each time there is a new direction to follow, the app will beep to remind you, and will warn you if you go off-route.

Phone showing walk map page in the iWalk Cornwall app

A map shows the route, where you are at all times and even which way you are facing.

Phone showing facts section in iWalk Cornwall app

Each walk is packed with information about the history and nature along the route, from over a decade of research than spans more than 3,000 topics.

Person looking at phone with cliff scenery in background

Once a walk is downloaded, the app doesn't need wifi or a phone signal during the walk.

Phone showing walk stats in the iWalk Cornwall app

The app counts down distance to the next direction and estimates time remaining based on your personal walking speed.

We keep the directions continually updated for changes to the paths/landmarks - the price for a walk includes ongoing free updates.

either as a GPS-guided walk with our app (£3.29) or a PDF of directions (£2.79) Example of directions

Fullscreen map

Starting with a bus journey to Porthcothan, this walk follows the Coast Path from Porthcothan Bay past the Trescore Islands to Porth Mear. The route then climbs over Park Head to overlook the sandy beach at Pentire Steps. From here, the route passes the iconic islets at Bedruthan Steps to reach Carnewas near the National Trust tearoom. The walk then descends to Mawgan Porth with spectacular views of the beach. The final stretch overlooks Beacon Cove which is only accessible by sea.

Highlights

Spectacular coastal scenery
Easily accessible sandy beaches at Porthcothan and Mawgan Porth
Tidal sandy beaches at Pentire Steps and Bedruthan Steps
Rockpools at low tide at Porth Mear
Rich bird life including kestrels, skylarks and seabirds
Beautiful displays of thrift flowers in late spring
Option to cut down to a 4.4 mile walk by parking and catching the bus from Mawgan Porth instead of Watergate Bay

Considerations

Route includes paths close to unfenced cliff edges.

Dogs

Beaches where dogs are allowed all year: Mawgan Porth, Porth Mear, Porthcothan, Watergate Bay. There is an (unfenced) collapsed cave beside the path at the end of the headland as you leave Porthcothan so ensure dogs are under close control here. There are no stiles on this route. When the café is open at NT Carnewas there is usually water for dogs (which is roughly half-way). There is a stream at the end at Mawgan Porth.

The walk is available through the iWalk Cornwall app for Apple and Android for £3.29 which each include everything listed here.

This removes worries about getting lost by tracking you using GPS, reminding you when you need to follow the next direction and warning you if you wander off the route.

To install on your phone, search the app store for “iwalk cornwall” to download the (free) app. Then either use it to scan the code at the top-right of the page to locate this walk or search for the walk title in Walks Shop > Search All Walks.

Once you've installed the iWalk Cornwall app from the app store, click on the button below to locate this walk:

Open walk in iWalk Cornwall app

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Vital statistics

OS Explorer: 106
Distance: 6.8 miles/11.0 km
Steepness grade: Moderate
Bus: 56 from Watergate Bay to Porthcothan.
Recommended footwear: walking boots, or shoes in summer
No stiles: ✓
Pub: ✓
Café: ✓

OS maps for this walk

OS Explorer 106

Beaches

Pubs on or near the route

The Merrymoor Inn

Points of interest

Links for this walk

Tide times
Carnewas To Stepper Point AONB info
Short URL: http://iwkc.co.uk/w/116

Alternative walks

Adjoining walks

Walks nearby