The Bedruthan Steps, a series of sea stacks (big bits of rock) across Bedruthan Beach, are a tourist attraction in Cornwall. Probably hugely popular in the summer, but on a blustery Thursday in March, it is pretty quiet. I approached from the North, via the South West Coastal Path (SWCP), which gives a great, cliff-top, view of the stacks and beach as you approach.

The SWCP is a great run, taking you through the ups and downs of the coast, with constant views. I had a clear day, but a blustery one, and the wind coming in ahead-and-to-the-right of me made things a little tougher. It was still great.

Recent weather has seen a storm, leading to the winds we are all experiencing (but which are surely worse right by the Atlantic, aren’t they?) and plenty of rain, so some of the ground was wet underfoot. I slid occasionally, but never near the edge – even at its most exposed, there is always some space between the pedestrian and the edge. Even with my dislike of heights, I never rose above ‘mildly bothered’ (paths right by cliffs see me at ‘bothered, tending to fearful’, by way of comparison).

It looks calm and sunny in these photos. It really wasn’t. As you can see from the route, above, I ran back via the roads, to make a loop. That was great; the roads are narrow, mostly without pavement or verge, but unproblematic on a bright day, even if not all drivers returned my friendly wave. Only a very few didn’t get one, having got a little too close. I planned to run up through Penrose, but didn’t check the map there, figuring I just had to keep on going (it is more or less a straight line!). I actually needed to turn left in the village, but carried blithely on, only realising when I was in Rumford, and still 3 miles from Treyarnon, just as I’d been in Penrose.

It didn’t matter, it extended my time out in the sun, and just meant that my last few miles, which were directly West, were right into the wind. Resistance training is good for you. My resistance will now be strong.

The National Trust’s site has more info on Carnewas for visitors.