Bedruthan Steps
Scenic point Cornwall, England
About Bedruthan Steps
A series of large sea stacks rising from a wide sandy beach on north Cornwall's Atlantic coast, Bedruthan Steps sits between Padstow and Newquay and is managed by the National Trust. The stacks — individually named, with Queen Bess and Samaritan Island among them — are formed from sedimentary rock, their layered faces shaped by centuries of Atlantic surf. Cliffs reach around 200 feet, and the clifftop South West Coast Path gives the clearest views, particularly in late spring when wildflowers cover the slopes. The site is designated an SSSI for its Middle Devonian fossils and rare geology. Despite what the name implies, 'Bedruthan Steps' originally referred to a cliff staircase — the tale of a giant using the stacks as stepping stones appears to be a late-Victorian invention to draw visitors. That staircase has been closed since a cliff fall in November 2019, meaning the stacks are currently only viewable from the cliff edge. The café on site stands on the former Carnewas Mine, which once extracted lead and iron ore from this stretch of coast.
Location & details
- Category
- Scenic point
- Region
- Cornwall, England, United Kingdom
- Coordinates
- 50.48123, -5.03196
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Added by Alex on PinIt.