Bedruthan Steps

A circular walk with spectacular views of the rock stacks at Bedruthan Steps, about which the myth of a giant's stepping stones was concocted for the amusement of Victorian tourists flocking to Padstow and Newquay on the new railway.

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

The walk descends to the coast at Porth Mear through a corridor of blackthorn bushes which are white with blossom in spring. The route then follows the Coast Path across Park Head with views over the Trescore Islands. The walk continues above Pentire Steps beach to the iconic stacks at Bedruthan Steps - one of the most photographed stretches of the Cornish coast - to reach the café and National Trust shop. From here, there is an optional diversion to the beach at Mawgan Porth with fantastic views as the path descends to the beach. The return route is relatively quick, via the small lane through Bedruthan and footpaths passing a megalith.

Highlights

Spectacular coastal scenery
Rockpools at low tide at Porth Mear
Sandy beach at Pentire Steps
Large sandy beaches of Porthcothan and Mawgan Porth can be optionally included in the route
Wildlife including kestrels, skylarks and seabirds
Spectacular coastal wildflowers in spring and early summer

Considerations

Two rights-of-way end 150 metres apart on a B-road so a short walk along a fairly fast road is required to get between them. This is likely to be busy at peak holiday times. There is a narrow verge on the left but not even enough to walk all the way along.
Route includes paths close to unfenced cliff edges.

Dogs

Beaches where dogs are allowed all year: Porth Mear. Note the short section on the road (see Considerations for more info). Most stiles can be bypassed with gateways and most dogs will be able to squeeze around the remainder, with the following caveats. In winter, the gate leading out of the private car park/campsite is chained shut and large dogs may help here (there is a large gap under the fence to the left - brambles may need snipping back). Large dogs may also need help with the final stile onto the road. There is a stream part-way at Porthmear. When the café is open at NT Carnewas, there is usually water for dogs there too.

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: 4.5 miles/7.3 km
Steepness grade: Moderate
Recommended footwear: walking shoes, or trainers in summer
Café: ✓

OS maps for this walk

OS Explorer 106

Beaches

Porth Mear beach

Points of interest

Links for this walk

Alternative walks

Adjoining walks

Mawgan Porth to St Mawgan

Walks nearby