04 – Carnewas to Stepper Point

04 – Carnewas to Stepper Point

The key landscape characteristics of this section of Cornwall National Landscape are the variety of coastal scenery due to the diverse geology including hard greenstones, which form the elevated headlands as seen at Trevose Head and Stepper Point. The more easily eroded slates and shales back the bays and coves between the headlands as can be seen at Harlyn Bay, Trevone, Treyarnon and Mother Ivey’s Bay. There are extensive coastal sand dunes at Constantine Bay.

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Welcome to Section 04

Section Statistics

Area (ha)
2,365
% of total AONB area
2.6%

This section of the AONB is on the north coast, running south from Stepper Point near Padstow and the mouth of the Camel Estuary to Bedruthan. It is bounded to the east by the B3276 running inland between Porthcothan and Padstow.

Download this section from the management plan

Character areas

04 Carnewas to Stepper Point

  • Character areas

    CA19: Trevose Head and Coastal Plateau
    CA34: Camel Estuary

  • Areas covering the coast

    MCA 45: Port Gaverne Bay to St Ives Bay

Special Qualities of Carnewas to Stepper Point

The Key Landscape Characteristics of this section of the AONB are the variety of coastal scenery due to the diverse geology including hard greenstones, which form the elevated headlands as seen at Trevose Head and Stepper Point.
The more easily eroded slates and shales back the bays and coves between the headlands as can be seen at Harlyn Bay, Trevone, Treyarnon and Mother Ivey’s Bay. There are extensive coastal sand dunes at Constantine Bay.

Photo credit Matt Menhenett
Photo credit Matt Menhenett

At Stepper Point, the coast curves inland towards Padstow, past the secluded Hawker’s Cove and further sand dunes at Tregirls Beach, forming the western side of the expansive mouth of the Camel Estuary.

The landscape here is softer, in sharp contrast to the imposing and iconic cliffs at Bedruthan Steps with its craggy rock stacks.
The peaceful and wild nature found in this section of the AONB, reflected in the modest character of Porthcothan and Harlyn, is interrupted sharply in places by recreational activity. The busy beaches of Harlyn, Treyarnon and Constantine Bay are very popular for surfing and other waterbased activities, whilst the sand dunes at Constantine Bay are managed for golf. Prideaux Place with its grand Elizabethan Manor House and grounds on the very edge of this section of the AONB is registered as historic parkland and provides tranquillity

in contrast to the flurry of outdoor activity towards the coast.
The slate geology of the area is reflected in the character of the housing. Many of the buildings from cottages to Victorian villas are built of slate and many of the surrounding stonewalls are predominantly slate built in the herringbone pattern of alternating diagonal courses so typical of the area. The walls that edge the lanes cut through solid bedrock, exposing the silvery slate have become colonised by ferns, wildflowers, grasses and brambles.

Land Use

The landscape pattern is comprised of mainly medium sized fields with characteristic stands of tamarisk atop Cornish hedges, following the medieval enclosure system. The fields here are a mix of arable land and pasture. Closer to the coast, the coastal heathland has been incorporated into the field system to provide

larger areas for arable farming. This in turn has produced an exaggerated openness and confined semi-natural habitats to much smaller areas along the cliffs.

Significant Landowners

The National Trust manages the west facing coastal land at Porthcothan Bay, Park Head, Trevose Head and Bedruthan Steps.

Key species of interest for this section;

  • Corn bunting
  • Skylark
  • Wheatear
  • Kittiwake
  • Thrift
  • Chough

Biodiversity & Geodiversity

At Bedruthan, a more substantial area of coastal heathland has been preserved which has enhanced the rugged qualities originally found on this stretch of the AONB coastline. The sandhills on the upper slopes of Stepper Point and behind Hawker’s Cove, Harbour Cove and St George’s Cove are covered with alkaline grassland retaining a suitable habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Culture and Heritage

There is evidence of prehistoric features in this section which add diversity and form to the landscape. These include dramatic cliff castles south of Treyarnon Bay and barrows on Catacleuse Point.

Photo credit John Johnson
Photo credit John Johnson

There are examples of Romano-British rounds (settlements) and many of the small settlements in this area have place names beginning with ‘tre’ (meaning a farmstead or settlement) indicating early medieval origin and associated with the medieval enclosure pattern as seen in the landscape of this section of the Cornwall AONB.

Cornish Hedges

In many locations the sparsely vegetated slate Cornish hedges display the characteristic ‘Jack and Jane’ herringbone pattern of alternating diagonal courses. Tamarisk, whose soft appearance belies its toughness against salt laden sea winds, tops many hedges near the coast creating shelter in an otherwise unremittingly exposed environment.

Corporate Social Responsibility Hub
Partnerships and Neighbourhood Plans
Partnerships and Neighbourhood Plans

Partnerships and Neighbourhood Plans

  • Padstow Neighbourhood Development Plan is pre-submission
  • St Merryn Neighbourhood Development Plan is being prepared

Other Designations

• The Bedruthan Steps to Park Head SSSI includes a significant part of the AONB coast.
• Carnewas was awarded ‘Dark Sky Discovery’ status in recognition of the lack of light pollution in this area.

Landscape Condition

State of the AONB Report 2021

  • Some locally characteristic and protected habitats are fragmented.
  • The sand dunes at Constantine are subject to scrub encroachment
  • Larger scale farming compacts the landscape increasing soil run off into the sea in adverse weather conditions.
  • Lack of coastal grazing (as seen at Porthcothan) is allowing scrub encroachment and loss of biodiversity.
  • Some holiday and visitor developments and infrastructure are intrusive by their location and design.
  • Large influx of summer visitors arriving by car and commercial touring vehicles resulting in congested narrow lanes and pressure on sensitive habitats.
  • This section of the AONB is one of the few where communities along this section of coast, including Porthcothan, Harlyn, Mother Ivey’s Bay and Treyarnon, have avoided significant commercial development.
  • Expansion of visitor facilities at some of the more popular coastal locations impacts upon the peace and tranquillity of the area.

In This Section

Scheduled Monuments in Section 04

The Monumental Improvement project will ensure that 38 Scheduled Monuments in the Cornwall National Landscape will be better identified, supported and enjoyed by a wide range of communities and visitors.

Project Page

Redcliff Cliff Castle

High above the crashing waves, projecting west into the Atlantic are the remains of Redcliff Cliff Castle. This Iron Age stronghold is full of mystery, history and wild beauty.

Monument Themes

Caring for our History Defence and Attack How People Lived

Monument Types

Promontory Fort/Cliff Castle

Monument Period

Iron Age
Find out more
Redcliff Cliff Castle

St Constantine’s Chapel and Well

Hidden among the dunes at Constantine Bay, the ruins of St Constantine’s Chapel and its nearby holy well tell a long-lost story of faith, community and care that stretches back hundreds of years.

Monument Themes

Caring for our History Religion Burial and Belief

Monument Types

Chapel

Monument Period

Medieval
Find out more
St Constantine’s Chapel and Well

Winecove Cliff Castle

Winecove Cliff Castle is an Iron Age monument, consisting of three dramatic promontories between Winecove Point, Pepper Cove and Warren Cove.

Monument Themes

Defence and Attack How People Lived

Monument Types

Promontory Fort/Cliff Castle

Monument Period

Iron Age
Find out more
Winecove Cliff Castle

Case Studies

Cornwall Farmland Bird Project

The Cornwall Farmland Bird Project set out to address the long-term decline of farmland birds by pairing detailed on‑farm bird surveys with practical, bespoke habitat advice. Many farmland species have…

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Policies & Objectives

The policies and objectives below are applicable to this Local Section – they should, however, be read in conjunction with the Cornwall AONB Strategy Aims, Policies and Objectives which are applicable to the whole designation.

Policies

Objectives