Page:The Cornwall coast.djvu/297

 CRANTOCK, NEWQUAY, MAWGAN 291 Flory Island (Flory being clearly a corruption of Phillory), sometimes known as Black Humphrey's Isle ; Black Humphrey was one of the pirate- smugglers whose tales are common around this coast. Beyond the northern end of Watergate Bay we come to Mawgan Forth, and a mile beyond this are the famous Bedruthan Steps. Both places, but especially the Steps, afford a very favourite excursion from Newquay, seven miles distant ; and whether the journey is performed on foot, or by cycle, motor-car or carriage, it is full of interest and beauty. It is best to come during the ebb of a spring tide, when the coves and caves may safely be explored ; at other times there is grave peril. The caverns at Mawgan Forth are remark- ably fine, and the grandly wild stretch of beach can hardly be spoken of with too great enthusiasm. The coast is as pitiless as it is beautiful, and many relics of wreckage are often washed ashore ; after heavy storms the crags and caves are still searched for jetsam. It may be noted that those who do not wish to examine the caves, but who desire to see massive waves breaking on a magnifi- cent coast-line, should come when the tide is nearing the full after prolonged westerly winds ; they will see something that is even grander than high-arched dusky caverns and glimmering rock- tunnels. The beach at Bedruthan has nothing specially to distinguish it from those at Newquay and Forth, with the exception of the isolated masses of rock and boulder that in some sense cause it to resemble Kynance. Several of these have been given fanciful names — such names being always dear to the average tourist ; one of these is the striking Queen Bess rock, and another is the