THE coast from Bedruthan Steps in North Cornwall to the huge beach at Mawgan Porth is a place of wild beauty with features such as Carnewas Island, Trerathick Point and Trenance Point.

Bedruthan Steps is located in the St Eval parish, with the St Eval hamlet being a couple of miles inland. The modern story of St Eval has largely been shaped by the creation of an RAF base in the build-up to the Second World War. In 1938, much of the small village of St Eval was compulsorily purchased so that RAF St Eval, a coastal command station, could be built.

Despite local protests, properties were demolished to make way for the base, with only the Norman church, the vicarage and a farmhouse being spared. During the war, the tower of the church was used as an observation post and a navigation mark, mariners having used the tower as a landmark for centuries before.

A finger signpost in the centre of Mawgan Porth, near Newquay. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)
A finger signpost in the centre of Mawgan Porth, near Newquay. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)

RAF St Eval closed as an active military airfield in the late-1950s and part of the site has subsequently been used for military transmitter masts.

Mawgan Porth is known as a surfing resort, the west-facing beach catching awesome Atlantic breakers. Care needs to be taken on lively days because the powerful waves really pack a punch and there can be rip currents. At low tide, the beach has rockpools and caves to explore and, of course, acres of space on the golden sand for games and other activities.

Mawgan Porth, on the north coast of Cornwall, is popular with surfers. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)
Mawgan Porth, on the north coast of Cornwall, is popular with surfers. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)

A river flows through the pleasant Vale of Mawgan or Lanherne to the sea at Mawgan Porth and a walk of around two miles can be taken inland along the valley to the picturesque village of St Mawgan. The village is close to Cornwall Airport Newquay and RAF St Mawgan.

*Andrew Townsend is a journalist and writer. He further explores the county in the travel book, Cornwall Favourites For One And All!: A Quick Guide To Good Places To Visit Across The County, which is available in print and as an ebook. More details on Andrew’s books and ebooks can be found via this link to his author page on Amazon - https://bit.ly/AndrewTownsendAuthor

Cornwall Favourites For One And All!, a lovely tour around the county, is available as an ebook on Amazon.
Cornwall Favourites For One And All!, offering a lovely tour around the county, is available as a book and an ebook on Amazon. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)