The Steps.

Giants & Sunsets

Head north out of Mawgan Porth and find one of Cornwall’s most breathtaking views. This is Bedruthan Steps, a stones throw away from the barn.

The Giant’s Stepping Stones

Ask locally and you’ll hear the story of Bedruthan, a giant who used the stacks as stepping stones to cross the bay without getting his feet wet. It’s a good story, and like many good Cornish myths, it may be older than we know. Perhaps, before years of erosion it was once The Giant’s Staircase.

How to Get There

The short one. Park at the National Trust car park at Carnewas and you’re at the clifftop viewpoint in a few minutes. Have a coffee at the café, which is housed in old mine buildings, then wander the headland. It’s perfect for a lazy afternoon or a last look before supper.

From Mawgan Porth. Walk the steep cliff out of Mawgan Porth and pick up the South West Coast Path heading north. It’s a steady climb out of the bay, then clifftop all the way to Carnewas, with the stacks coming into view as you go. Allow an hour there and back.

The long way. Carry on past Bedruthan to Park Head, a discover a wild open headland with views up and down the coast and far fewer people to share with. It’s not a short walk, so be prepared. But HoneySalt awaits for your return to Mawgan Porth, for a well-deserved sweet treat!

Stay for the sunset

A personal favourite of mine — The cliffs face due west, straight out over the Atlantic. On a clear evening the sun drops behind the sea and turns the stacks gold, then black, then silhouettes against a sky that runs through every colour. Bring a jumper and something warm to drink, and find a spot on the headland. Most visitors leave once the sun has gone. Stay for a short while after and enjoy some truly incredible stargazing.

Good to know

The cliff staircase down to the beach has been closed since a rockfall in 2019, so Bedruthan is one to enjoy from above. Keep to the path, keep dogs close, and give the cliff edges plenty of room. They are as fragile as they are beautiful.