The world’s longest coastal walking route has just opened in England – linking every cliff, cove, and coastal town in the country
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there are very few things that I enjoy more than boasting about my step count and gawping at gorgeous scenery. And so the prospect of a (nearly) 2,700-mile waterside walking route on which I can generously partake in both is pretty darn exciting to me. The walking route in question comes in the form of the King Charles III England Coast Path; a newly-opened coastal pathway that spans the entirety of England’s shoreline. Having been in the pipeline for the best part of two decades, the path has been meticulously planned and created by Natural England – and it is finally open for business.
From salt marshes and sandy beaches to cliffs, coves, and coastal towns; the horticultural highway passes some of England’s most breathtaking scenery, stretching a whopping 2689 miles around the country’s coast as it does so. The idea of the project was first initiated under Gordon Brown’s government back in 2004, meaning that it’s been 18 years (and 7 Prime Minister’s) in the making. The route even required new legislation to be passed (the Marine and Coastal Access Act which was passed in 2009). But it was worth the wait, folks.
Credit: Deezsnapz, Shutterstock
A lot of the route already existed in some capacity, with around 1700 miles of existing pathway having been upgraded and improved with signage, bridges and boardwalks for the occasion. However, approximately 1000 miles of the route was created especially for the King Charles III England Coast Path; including stretches of land, beach, and clifftop that were previously off-limits to the public.
The route was renamed in 2023 in honour of – you guessed it – King Charles III, who inaugurated the path back in March. Around 80% of the path is now open to the public, with the remaining sections set to be up and running by the end of 2026.
Credit: National Trails
When completed, the trail will be the longest managed coastal path in the whole world. It also leaves potential for a continuous route around the whole of the UK. The King Charles III England Coast Path links with the Wales Coast Path (an 870-mile route around the Welsh Coast). And whilst there is currently no official route in Scotland, much of its coast is already accessible due to the country’s ‘right to roam’ law. So, watch this space, I suppose.
You can find out more about the King Charles III England Coast Path here.
