Bedruthan Steps and Park Head Circular
Cornwall
Bedruthan Steps is a line of huge slate rock stacks strung along a sandy beach on the north coast between Padstow and Newquay, and the broad clifftop grass here gives a dog more room than most Cornish coast paths allow. The story that they were stepping stones for a giant called Bedruthan was concocted for Victorian tourists arriving on the new railway. This 7.3km circular walk starts at the National Trust's Carnewas car park and follows the South West Coast Path north above the stacks, past Queen Bess Rock and the Trescore Islands, to the headland at Park Head, the sandy cove at Pentire Steps and the rockpools of Porth Mear, before returning inland over fields near Tregona. The coast path is broad and grassy, with around 150 metres of climbing, but the two rights of way on the inland loop are joined by a short walk along a fairly fast B-road with only a narrow verge.
This is a dog friendly walk with open clifftop grass that gives your dog more room than many Cornish coast paths, though the edges are unfenced and sheer. Most stiles can be bypassed through gateways, but large dogs may need help at a chained winter gate and the final stile onto the road, and your dog should be on a short lead for the road section. There is a stream at Porth Mear, and Porth Mear beach allows dogs all year. When the National Trust cafe at Carnewas is open there is usually water for dogs there too.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 7.3 km (4.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 2 hr 25 min
- Walk Type
- Coastal
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- National Trust cafe and shop at Carnewas (water for dogs when open); toilets at Carnewas.
- Parking
- Carnewas car park at Bedruthan Steps, National Trust, pay and display, free for NT members.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Bedruthan Steps and Park Head Circular, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Little Crugwallins - Sunny Skies
Sleeps 4 · 1 dog · Enclosed garden
from £463 / 7 nights
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All dog friendly stays in CornwallFrequently Asked Questions
Is Bedruthan Steps and Park Head Circular dog friendly?
Yes, this is a dog-friendly walk with a rating of 7 out of 10. The clifftop grass is broad and open, giving dogs noticeably more room than many Cornish coast paths, and Porth Mear beach welcomes dogs all year round. There's also usually water available for dogs at the National Trust café at Carnewas when it's open.
Can dogs be off lead at Bedruthan Steps and Park Head Circular?
There's good open space on the clifftop sections where dogs can enjoy more freedom than on most Cornish coastal routes, but the cliff edges are unfenced and sheer, so you'll want to keep a close eye on your dog near the edge. Dogs should be kept on a short lead for the road section of the inland loop, where there's only a narrow verge alongside a fairly fast B-road.
What should I know before visiting Bedruthan Steps and Park Head Circular with my dog?
Most stiles on this 7.3km circular can be bypassed through gateways, though owners of larger dogs should be aware that a chained winter gate and the final stile onto the road may need a helping hand. There's a stream at Porth Mear if your dog needs a drink along the way, and parking is at the National Trust's Carnewas car park, which is pay and display but free for NT members.
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