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England launches 2,689-mile coastal footpath
England has officially opened the King Charles III England Coast Path, a continuous walking route encircling the nation's entire shoreline. At 2,689 miles, it is now the longest managed coastal trail globally, according to Natural England, the government agency behind the project.
Path connects diverse landscapes
The trail weaves through some of England's most scenic coastal areas, including salt marshes, sandy beaches, towering cliffs, and historic towns. One standout section is the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs in East Sussex, part of a newly designated National Nature Reserve announced by Natural England.
Decades in the making
The project began under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government and has spanned 18 years, seven prime ministers, and required the 2009 Marine and Coastal Access Act. While much of the route existed previously, over 1,000 miles of new paths were created, and existing sections were upgraded with resurfaced trails, removed stiles, boardwalks, and bridges.
Neil Constable, who led the project for Natural England, called it "the best thing I'll do in my working life." He emphasized that the path's true value lies in its continuity-walkers can now follow the coast indefinitely in either direction from any starting point.
Access and adaptability
The trail opens previously restricted areas, including beaches and dunes, to the public. Accessibility improvements, such as smoother surfaces, aim to make sections usable for people with reduced mobility. However, a few gaps remain, requiring detours like a ferry across the Mersey in northwest England or a tidal wade across the River Erme in south Devon.
"It's all part of the experience," Constable said.
Designed for climate resilience
The path is the first in England with legal provisions to "roll back" inland if erosion or rising sea levels alter the coastline. This flexibility ensures the trail remains viable for future generations. Recent landslides in Dorset, which closed a section near Charmouth, demonstrated the system's effectiveness-workers rerouted the path within weeks using the rollback provision.
"Without this, it would have taken months," said Lorna Sherriff, who manages the South West Coast Path.
Broader implications for UK access
The Ramblers, a walking charity, hailed the path as "transformational," noting it creates a continuous band of access land from the trail to the high-water mark. This allows walkers to explore beaches and coastal areas freely, a first for England.
The new trail connects with Wales' 870-mile Coast Path, completed in 2012, raising the possibility of a 9,000-mile continuous walk around Britain. Scotland's coastline, accessible under its "right to roam" laws, could complete the loop, though no single official trail exists there.
How to explore the path
About 80% of the route is now open, with the remainder expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Maps and details are available on the National Trails website.
