The King Charles III England Coast Path

Official facts on England’s still-unfinished coastal National Trail, the 2,700-mile aim, coastal margin access, and the ferries you may need.

The King Charles III England Coast Path is a National Trail that goes all the way around the coast of England. The official visitor page, published on 24 June 2026, calls it the longest managed coastal path in the world, and says it connects coastal landscapes, wildlife, towns, cities, industrial heritage and iconic places on the coast.

It is not yet complete. That matters more than the headline length.

How long will it be?

The official wording is careful: the coast path will be around 2,700 miles long when it’s fully open. GOV.UK also points to a separate progress page about the history of the path, including which sections are open or still in development. Before you plan a stretch, check whether that section is open.

There is also a Wales Coast Path, which is a different route.

Natural England can propose permanent changes to the route if needed. Those proposals are published on GOV.UK as a “variation report”, for both open sections and sections still under development.

Coastal margin

In most places you can explore the land between the trail and the sea. This is the coastal margin, shown in pink on Ordnance Survey maps.

In the coastal margin you will usually have new rights to enjoy areas such as beaches, dunes and foreshore. Some areas do not have those rights, because they are:

excepted land, such as parks, gardens or the land around buildings
subject to a restriction, for example for nature conservation, or because the land is not suitable for public access, such as a saltmarsh or mudflat

Other parts of the coastal margin may be steep, uneven or unstable. The official advice is that you must take care of your own safety and look out for local notices. You can search for open access land in England and find out about land that is currently closed to walkers.

This coastal access sits alongside the ordinary right to roam. On land next to the King Charles III England Coast Path, you must keep your dog under close control.

Ferries and tides

The official preparation guidance says that on some trails you will need to take a ferry as part of your route, and that these are mostly on the King Charles III England Coast Path. Check local ferry timetables. Some ferries are seasonal or only run at certain times, and they may not run in extreme weather or tides.

If your route is by the sea or near a tidal river, look up tide times before you leave, to reduce the risk of being cut off by rising tides. On the coast, be aware of storms, cliff edges, slippery or unstable rocks, mud and quicksand, and tides. Follow guidance from HM Coastguard on how to stay safe by the coast.

How this trail relates to the others

Parts of other National Trails already follow the English coast. The official Coast to Coast Path page, for example, says that trail follows the King Charles III England Coast Path for about 4 miles from St Bees until Birkhams Quarry. The South West Coast Path remains a National Trail in its own right along the southwest peninsula.

Because the England Coast Path is still being opened in sections, this guide does not invent an end-to-end walking time or a complete list of open stages. Use the official regional section pages, and the progress update, before you travel.

Sources

Checked 14 November 2026.