England Coast Path
The England Coast Path is a long distance footpath (a National Trail) around the coast of England. It was creating following the introduction of the UK Law "Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009". It provided the establishment for the England Coastal Path & the default right of access to the associated "coastal margin", which is generally the land between the path & the High Tide water mark (which beyond is owned by the crown, and is public access with a few exceptions).
Some parts of the England Coast already had a path, these usually has been absorbed into the England Coast Path, but much England didn't have this. In these cases the path was either routed via existing footpaths, or new footpaths created.
In May 2023 the path was renamed as Kind Charles III England Coast Path.
As of early 2024, around a third of the path is open, including sections which previously existed. Another third should open with two years and the last third is currently in the planning or orders stages, before their construction.
England Coast Path - Super Relation
Route | Official Distance | Description | % Complete | Route relation | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
England Coast Path | Approx.
4,300 km |
Contains open sections of the Coast path, of varying stages of completion | tbc | 3971851 3971851 |
England Coast Path - Sections
Section Name | Relation Length | Official Length | Legal status and progress | OSM mapping: % Complete | Route relation | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
North West: Gretna to Allonby [1] | 52.9 km | 100km | Open: Gretna - Kirkandrews-on-Eden
Approved awaiting establishment: Kirkandrews-on-Eden - Abbeytown Open: Abbeytown - Allonby |
53% of total section | 17052594 17052594 | 100% open route is mapped as of Nov 2024 |
North West: Allonby to Whitehaven [2] | 35.4km | 35km | Opened 11 April 2014 | 100% | 3967662 3967662 | Fully open & mapped as of Nov 2024 |
North West: Whitehaven to Silecroft [3] | 49.2km | 51.9km | Open, except gaps at River Irt & Esk where bridge works are required. | 95% | 17243288 17243288 | Mostly open, all of open sections are mapped as of Nov 2024 |
North West: Silecroft to Silverdale | 18.5km | 112km | Open: Silecroft to Green Road Station.
Approved awaiting establishment for rest of section |
17% | 17243557 17243557 | First part of this section is fully open & mapped as of Nov 2024 |
North West: Walney Island | 26.0km | 26.1km | Fully Open | 100% | 15462127 15462127 | Fully open & mapped as of Nov 2024 |
North West: Silverdale to Cleveleys | - | 87.6km | Approved awaiting establishment | - | - | - |
North West: Cleveleys to Liverpool | 58.3km | 116.5km | Open: Tarleton Lock to Liverpool
Approved awaiting establishment for rest of section |
50% | 17245344 17245344 | Partly open, all open sections are mapped as of Nov 2024 |
North West: Liverpool to Welsh Border | 23.6km | 41km | Parts Opened | 58% | 18268797 18268797 | Partly open, all open sections are mapped as of Nov 2024 |
West: Aust to Brean Down [4] | 56.9km | 80km | Most parts open, one some parts approved awaiting establishment | 71% | 17248088 17248088 | Mostly open, all open sections are mapped as of Nov 2024 |
West: Brean Down to Minehead [5] | 97.0km | 93km | Opened, some diversions in place. | 100% | 4515473 4515473 | Fully Open, however two long-term diversion are in place which are mapped instead. These being the Hickley Point Power station and north of Bridgewater |
South West: Minehead to Combe Martin | 57.3km | 56km | Approved awaiting establishment | 100% | 18269765 18269765 | Fully Oprn and mapped as of Nov 2024 |
South West: Combe Martin to Marsland Mouth | - | 129km | Approved awaiting establishment | - | - | - |
South West: Marsland Mouth to Newquay | TBC | 128km | Part opened, part awaiting establishment | - | 18269898 18269898 | Partly opened correct as of Nov 2024 |
South West: Newquay to Penzance | 33.7km | 140.5km | Part opened, part awaiting establishment | 20% | 18271937 18271937 | Partly opened correct as of Nov 2024 |
South West: Penzance to St Mawes | - | 100km | Approved awaiting establishment | - | - | - |
South West: St Mawes to Cremyll | - | 124km | Approved awaiting establishment | - | - | - |
South West: Cremyll to Kingswear | - | 107km | Approved in part, awaiting establishment | - | - | - |
South West: Kingswear to Lyme Regis | - | 109km | Approved awaiting establishment | - | - | - |
West: Lyme Regis to Rufus Castle (Portland) [6] | - | 67km | Approved awaiting establishment in other parts | - | - | - |
West: Rufus Castle (Portland) to Lulworth Cove [7] | 31.9 km | 32km | Opened 29 June 2012 | 100% | 3971779 3971779 | Fully open & mapped. Small diversions in place along cliff top as of Feb 2024 |
West: Lulworth Cove to Highcliffe | - | 77km | Proposals in development, part approved awaiting establishment | - | - | - |
South: Highcliffe to Calshot | - | 57km | Proposals Published | - | - | - |
South: Calshot to Gosport | 35.4km | 37.5km | Fully Open | 100% | 17248489 17248489 | Fully open & mapped. Ferries not added as part of relation & small diversion mapped at landslip |
South: Isle of Wight | - | 101km | Proposals in development in one section
Proposals awaiting establishment in the rest |
- | - | - |
South: Gosport to Portsmouth | 46.0km | 46km | Open | 100% | 17253877 17253877 | Fully Open & Mapped |
South: Portsmouth to South Hayling | - | 30km | Proposals Published | - | - | - |
South: South Hayling to East Head | - | 78km | Approved awaiting establishment | - | - | - |
South: East Head to Shoreham | 71.6km | 71.5km | Open | 100% | 17258178 17258178 | Fully Open & Mapped |
South East: Shoreham to Eastbourne | 53.5km | 53km | Open | 100% | 14247952 14247952 | Fully Open & Mapped |
South East: Eastbourne to Camber | - | 53km | Approved awaiting establishment in part | - | - | - |
South East: Camber to Folkestone | 46.7km | 47km | Open | 100% | 5903971 5903971 | Fully Open & Mapped |
South East: Folkestone to Ramsgate [8] | 59.0km | 59km | Open | 100% | 11738490 11738490 | Fully Open & Mapped |
South East: Ramsgate to Whitstable | 40.7km | 40.6km | Open | 100% | 17227387 17227387 | Fully Open & Mapped |
South East: Isle of Sheppey | - | 51km | Approved awaiting establishment in part | - | - | - |
South East: Whitstable to Iwade | 42.7km | 43km | Open | 100% | 17275266 17275266 | Fully Open & Mapped |
South East: Iwade to Grain | 40.3km | 58km | Partly Open, Partly approved waiting for establishment | 69% | 17284514 17284514 | Opened sections mapped. Some sections not opened. Relation uses diversion at Rochester Riverside, as it is a long-term diversion |
South East: Grain to Woolwich | 76.2km | 76km | Open | 100% | 13678910 13678910 | Fully Open & Mapped |
Essex:
Tilbury to Southend-on-Sea |
78.0km | 77.8 km | Open. | 100% | 14592754 14592754 | Fully Open & Mapped |
Essex: Southend-on-Sea to Wallasea Island | 58.9km | 59.2km | Opened. | 100% | 15969329 15969329 | Version 2 of the relation is correct as per on-the-ground signage in June 2023 from Rochford to Southend-on-Sea |
Essex: Wallasea Island to Burnham-on-Crouch | - | 58 km | Approved in part but not yet open, establishment works planned or in progress for approved lengths | - | - | - |
Essex: Burnham-on-Crouch to Maldon | 60.7km | 61 km | Open | 100% | 17312115 17312115 | Fully Open & Mapped |
Essex: Maldon to Salcott | 42.6km | 42.7 km | Open | 100% | 17312114 17312114 | Fully Open & Mapped |
Essex: Mersea Island | - | 20 km | Proposals published but not yet determined | - | - | - |
Essex: Salcott to Jaywick | - | 81 km | Approved in whole but not yet open, establishment works planned or in progress | - | - | - |
Essex: Jaywick to Harwich | - | 60 km | Approved in whole but not yet open, establishment works planned or in progress | - | - | - |
East: Harwich to Shotley Gate | - | 39 km | Approved in part but not yet open, establishment works planned or in progress for approved lengths | - | - | - |
East: Shotley Gate to Felixstowe Ferry | 0km | 44km | 1 short section open*.
Rest is spproved but not yet open, establishment works planned or in progress for approved lengths |
8% | 18297638 18297638 | Only a small section has been mapped |
East: Felixstowe Ferry to Bawdsey | - | 41km | Approved in part but not yet open, establishment works planned or in progress for approved lengths | - | - | - |
East: Bawdsey to Aldeburgh | - | 62km | Approved in part but not yet open, establishment works planned or in progress for approved lengths | - | - | - |
East: Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea | - | 60km | Approved in part but not yet open, establishment works planned or in progress for approved lengths | - | - | - |
East: Hopton-on-Sea to Sea Palling | 34.1km | 34km | Open | 100% | 5900598 5900598 | Fully Open & Mapped |
East: Sea Palling to Weybourne | 40.7km | 41km | Open | 100% | 4510992 4510992 | Fully Open & Mapped |
East: Weybourne to Hunstanton | - | 60km | Approved in part but not yet open, establishment works planned or in progress for approved lengths | - | - | - |
East: Hunstanton to Sutton Bridge | 54.1km | 53km | Open | 100% | 17320572 17320572 | Fully Open & Mapped |
East: Sutton Bridge to Skegness | 83.0km | 92km | Open | 90% | 18038767 18038767 | Open & mapped with exception of section between Friskney Eaudyke and Gibraltar Point which is not open until a new bridge across the River Steeping is constructed. |
North East: Skegness to Mablethorpe | 26.4km | 26km | Open | 100% | 12798818 12798818 | Fully Open & Mapped |
North East: Mablethorpe to Humber Bridge | - | 81km | Approved but not yet open, establishment works planned or in progress for approved lengths | - | - | - |
North East: Humber Bridge to Easington | - | 65km | Approved but not yet open, establishment works planned or in progress for approved lengths | - | - | - |
North East: Easington to Filey Brigg | - | 95km | Approved in part but not yet open, establishment works planned or in progress for approved lengths | - | - | - |
North East: Filey Brigg to Newport Bridge | - | 110km | Open | TBC | 11488440 11488440 | - |
North East: Newport Bridge to North Gare | - | 126km | Open | - | - | - |
North East: North Gare to South Bents | - | 55km | Open | TBC | 3966747 3966747 | - |
North East: South Bents to Amble | - | 71km | Open | - | - | - |
North East: Amble to Bamburgh | - | 47km | Open | - | - | - |
North East: Bamburgh to Scottish Border (including Holy Island) | - | 61km | Open | - | - | - |