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Stepper Point Padstow Circular Walk

6.21 miles (10 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This circular walk on the Cornish coast visits Stepper Point near Padstow. It's a lovely section of the South West Coast Path passing around the headland with great sea views, attractive countryside with lots of flora and fauna, interesting rock formations and nice sandy beaches.
This walk starts at the car park at Trevone Bay but you can just as easily start from Padstow. Trevone Bay has a popular beach, a good cafe and car park so is a nice place to start your hike to Stepper Point. You can pick up the coastal path north, running past Gunver Head and Longcarrow Cove to Stepper Point. Here you will pass the Daymark Tower which dates from the 19th century. It was used as a navigational aid, designed to guide sailors into the River Camel.
The route then turns south towards Padstow with great views over the Doom Bar at the mouth of the Camel Estuary. You continue along the estuary to St Saviour's Point before coming to Padstow where you can enjoy a stroll through the town and stop for refreshments. You could also visit Prideaux Place where you can enjoy a walk through the attractive grounds and deer park surrounding the 16th century house.
The final section of the walk takes you through the countryside around Trethilick before returning to Trevone Bay.
To extend your walking in the area you can pick up the Camel Trail or Saints Way which both pass Padstow. Continuing west along the South West Coast Path will take you towards Harlyn, Mother Ivy's Bay and Trevose Head.

Postcode

PL28 8RA - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Stepper Point OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Stepper Point Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

One nice idea is to catch the ferry over the river to Rock on the other side of the estuary from Padstow. Here you can pick up the Rock to Polzeath Walk which heads north along Daymer Bay to the lovely beach at Polzeath. Here you can pick up the Polzeath to Port Isaac Walk and visit the noteworthy village of Port Isaac. The picturesque settlement has been made famous by ITV's 'Doc Martin', featuring Martin Clunes.
The popular Camel Trail starts/finishes in Padstow. You could pick up the trail and follow it south to the attractive market town of Wadebridge.
The Saints Way starts in the town. This long distance trail takes you across the county from Padstow in the north to Fowey on the south coast. It follows the probable route of early Christian travellers making their way from Ireland to the Continent.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Cornwall Walks page.

Photos

Old quarry at Stepper Point (1) - geograph.org.uk - 1466344

Old quarry at Stepper Point. Looking north across the site of the abandoned quarry immediately above the Point. The white structure is a navigation light, the boat is the tourist vessel 'Jubilee Queen' and the headland in the distance is Pentire Point.

Kissing gate on coastpath near Stepper Point - geograph.org.uk - 1466373

Kissing gate on coastpath near Stepper Point. Looking south along the coastpath east of Stepper Point with Tregirls beach and Gun Point in the distance.

Old quarry at Stepper Point (2) - geograph.org.uk - 1466348

Old quarry 2. Looking north across the site of the abandoned quarry immediately above Stepper Point. The white structure (centre right of photo) is a navigation light, the island (left of photo) is Newlands and the headland (right of photo) is Pentire Point.

Track to Stepper Point lookout - geograph.org.uk - 1300725

Looking west along the well-maintained farm track that leads from Lellizick to the coastguard lookout station on the Point. Also shows colourful yellow gorse.

NCI lookout station on Stepper Point - geograph.org.uk - 1466238

NCI lookout station on the Point. The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) lookout station is staffed during daylight hours and was opened on 22 September 2002. It overlooks the mouth of the Camel Estuary and its dangerous sandbanks.

Coastpath west of Stepper Point - geograph.org.uk - 1466267

This section of the coastpath is on the headland west of the Point looking west towards the stonebuilt daymark tower, erected as an aid to navigation.

Eroded shed at Stepper Point - geograph.org.uk - 1466342

Eroded shed. This small shed stands immediately above the Point on the site of a long-abandoned quarry. It is built of breeze blocks which have eroded.

Cottages at Hawkers Cove (1) - geograph.org.uk - 1466453

Cottages at Hawkers Cove

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Stepper Point.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Stepper Point.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)