The world’s longest coastal trail is opening in England  

After 18 years and seven prime ministers, the 4327-kilometre King Charles III England Coast Path has been inaugurated. 

For a country known for its love of a good stroll, England is about to raise the stakes, linking its entire coastline into what will soon become the longest managed walking path in the world. 

Inaugurated by King Charles last week at the Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve, the King Charles III England Coast Path stretches around the country’s entire coastline – from the Scottish border above Berwick all the way down to Land’s End in Cornwall and up the South West Atlantic Coast. Once fully open by the end of the year, the eight-section trail will span approximately 4327 kilometres in length. 

The new coastal trail spans more than 4327 kilometres. (Credit: Unsplash/George Hiles)

The project was first set in motion during Gordon Brown’s government, with legislation passed in 2008 and work beginning in 2009. Now, around 80 per cent of the route is open to amblers, strollers and long-distance hikers alike. 

While the trail incorporates many existing coastal walks, more than 1600 kilometres have been newly created or substantially upgraded – bridges installed, paths resurfaced and access points opened up to previously hard-to-reach stretches of shore.  

Spot grey seals on the Lincolnshire Coast. (Credit: Unsplash/Matt Cowley)

The path winds along striking sandy stretches, craggy cliffs, salt marshes and historic seaside towns – where a well-earned pub pint is never far away. Highlights include the chalk cliffs of Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve, the wildlife-rich Lincolnshire Coast – where walkers may spot grey seals during pupping season – and the shifting scenery of Cornwall, famed for its button-cute cottages. 

When combined with existing routes such as the Wales Coast Path, the King Charles III England Coast Path opens up the possibility for unforgettable, island-spanning adventures around Great Britain. It reflects a growing global demand for long-distance hiking, also seen in projects such as South Korea’s new Dongseo Trail.  

The Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve is part of the King Charles III England Coast Path. (Credit: Unsplash/Marc Najera)

But for many walkers, the appeal isn’t necessarily conquering all 4327 kilometres in one go. It’s in dipping in and out: a clifftop stretch here, a hidden cove there, a weekend wandering between coastal villages. 

The English have long believed that most problems can be improved, if not solved, by a walk; the King Charles III England Coast Path suggests they are now willing to test that theory on a national scale. 

King Charles III England Coast Path passes through picturesque Cornwall. (Credit: Unsplash/jbc)

A map of the hiking path and its eight main sections can be found on the National Trail website.