Trevone and Harlyn Bay, near Padstow (Cornwall)

Padstow walk, part 2

Leaving Stepper Point behind, we walked on along the South West Coast Path, past some dramatic scenery

This is Butter Hole - very wild and deep

Although it looks rugged, the walking is very easy. We sat here for lunch. What a view!

One of the Merope Islands: huge slabs of igneous rock which have broken off from the mainland 

Traditional slate walls 

A big hole which is a collapsed cave. It's called Round Hole, appropriately. Trevone is in the background

The sandy part of Trevone Beach

The other half of Trevone beach is rocky - you can just see Round Hole above the low cliffs

Gulland Rock out to sea

There's a swimming pool cut from the rocky shoreline

The sun came out again, giving a better view out to Gulland Rock

Looking back, you can see Round Hole again, and the swimming pool

We followed the path a further mile to Harlyn Bay 

The weather was changeable: people were mostly wearing coats by now.

Harlyn Bay is very popular: the signs explain the surfing and bathing. But they don't explain how to get across the little river: these two have made themselves some stepping stones

And then, magically, the sun came out.  

The gaily decorated car park hut. It's where the bus stop is.

The walk: Padstow to Harlyn Bay by the South West Coast Path. It's 6.9 miles - or less with the short cut across the beach (shown yesterday). It's £3 back to Padstow by bus (click for timetable). Buses are hourly from March to October. (Only 4 buses per day on Sundays and Bank Holidays).  This is one of my highly recommended routes, as it is not very strenuous but the views are fantastic. 
You could park here, get the bus to Padstow, then walk back to your car. Or park at Padstow and get the bus at the end, as we did. The bus also stops at Trevone, but it's a long way from the coast to the bus stop. Better to continue to Harlyn, where the stop is right by the beach.