We started at the NT car park at Carnewas (along the north Cornish coast half-way between Padstow and Newquay) where there is a lovely tea-room which is open throughout the summer months. From here you cannot see anything of the coastline. 
Well established paths lead you through the gorse on a detour to the cliffs from where you have amazing views of the cliffs in both directions, along to Trevose Head and the spectacular sea stacks at Bedruthan beach and south towards Mawgan Porth.
After admiring the views return to the main path and continue down the wide steps to the bottom where you have good views over the beach when there is a low tide, or the waves crashing over the rocks when there isn’t.
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
~ John Masefield
When the tide is out you can take the steep stone beach steps to access the beach. (These steps are closed from November and there is no swimming from this beach because of the currents).
The rest of the route includes slopes, steps and unfenced cliff top, none of which are attractive to the OH, so we returned to the café for a cool glass of ginger beer.
There is no record of the name “Bedruthan Steps” before 1847, but it is thought to have originally referred to one of the two cliff staircases to access Carnewas mine (presumably the one nearer to the village of Bedruthan). The name later also became used for the name of the beach itself.
The legend of Bedruthan Steps was invented for Victorian tourism, said to be taken from a mythological giant (Bedruthan) who used the rocks as stepping stones. These were formed after the last Ice Age, when rising sea levels eroded the surrounding soft shales to leave the harder rocks as islands. Each of the 5 rock stacks has a name (Queen Bess, Samaritan Island, Redcove Island, Pendarves Island and Carnewas Island). 
This is a very short walk, but can be extended if you continue along the south-west coastal path to Porth Mear or in the other direction to Mawgan Porth returning through the countryside.
If you enjoy a walk, short or long, then you may enjoy visiting Jo’s Monday Walk where you are in for a treat.
TRAVEL WORDS 
Great walk Jude, and beautifully illustrated by your photos. I haven’t been to Cornwall since the early 90s, but this is making me fancy that long drive from Norfolk!
Regards as always, Pete. x
There is something about the colour of the water in Cornwall which reminds me of the Cape. And I love this area – still quite untouched by tourism.
Jude the photo of Looking north to the Bedruthan Steps is jaw dropping. What a view!
It’s pretty stunning along this north coast Sue. Sadly I timed it badly for the tide as I’d have loved to have gone onto the beach and seen the sea stacks close up. This means I must go again 🙂
Love Cornwall. Hoping to be there in September. Your pictures have whetted my appetite for a lovely coastal walk. Thanks!
September should be lovely, when all the crowds have gone. Won’t you be back to work then?
Yes, but we’re going for a long weekend – I don’t work Mondays!
A good day not to work 😉
Breathtaking views. The water is so b.l.u.e. and the rock so timeless. ❤
True blue – it was a lovely day.
~(*_~)~~
What a beautiful part of the world. I love the wildness of the sea as it crashes to the shore. The different shades of blue are amazing. I imagine the water being icy cold. Is it so?
I haven’t been in the sea for a long while Colline, but this is the Atlantic so yes, icy, I imagine 🙂
I really don’t know Cornwall well, Jude. It seems such a long way away from here. The Algarve is closer 🙂 But I do have a few nice memories of a holiday down there, long ago. Many thanks for sharing so generously. 🙂 Lovely photos!
Thanks Jo. Cornwall is remote – I think that is why I like it in a way. If we ever get there you will have to come for a visit 🙂
I remember the winding roads with hedges I couldn’t see over 🙂 I might take you up on that!
Great walk – I love the Cornish coast, there’s something so wild and untamed about it.
It’s certainly charming on a sunny day with those views and that sea colour.
I could sit by those cliffs all day, what a wonderful view!
It’s my favourite coastline.
Gorgeous shots of a lovely walk. I shall be visiting the area in October – I hope the skies will be as blue!
We have been down there in October (last year) and had pretty decent weather and plenty of blue skies so fingers crossed!
The Cornish coastline is just fabulous, isn’t it?
When I look at photos of Cornwall I just HAVE to live there.
That’s my husband’s comment too. 🙂