Bedruthan Steps, Cornwall

Bedruthan Steps

Bedruthan Steps forms part of one of the most spectacular sections of the North Cornwall coast. Coastal erosion has worn back the cliff face leaving huge outcrops of volcanic rock scattered along the length of the beach. These towering monoliths are surrounded by water at high tide, but at low tide the beach is acccessible and you can walk around and between them.

Access to the beach is via a steep staircase, recently rebuilt by the National Trust. It's not for the faint hearted or unfit - the descent (and the climb back up) is steep and the steps are often wet and slippery. The gate providing access to the steps is locked between November and February.

You're standing on the beach about 100 metres north of the cliff steps which you can see behind you (there's a red sign at the top of the lower section of the steps, which continue up the cliff face to the top, where you can see a fence).

The huge scale of these rocks gives the beach, cliffs and surrounding scenery an odd perspective and imbues this stretch of coastine with a strange, almost magical feeling that, on the day this image was made, was heightened by the threat of an approaching Atlantic Storm.