The King Charles III England Coast Path was officially launched today (Thursday 19 March) by His Majesty the King at an event held at Seven Sisters in Sussex.
In total 1,000 miles of new path has been created and 1,700 miles improved around the country, allowing people to walk the beautiful headlands, cliffs, beaches, and dunes that make up the English coast. New signage and infrastructure such as bridges and boardwalks have been installed, helping to make the path accessible to all, regardless of age or mobility.
All new and existing paths are now of National Trail standard and will help to attract more income from tourism for coastal communities as people come to visit the path.
His Majesty was accompanied on the walk by the Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper and the Environment Secretary, Emma Reynolds.
Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said
“Following 16 years of hard work from the Natural England team we are delighted to reach this landmark point for the King Charles III England Coast Path. It is testament to how public enjoyment, conservation, heritage, history and community can come together, helping make life better for millions of people. It also presents a fitting tribute to His Majesty’s lifelong contribution to the natural world.
“Through this incredible national trail people from around the country and around the world will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the English Coast and the feelings of wellbeing that this brings. It will reconnect people with the outdoors, support nature recovery, provide economic benefits and create a more inclusive, sustainable future.”
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said
“We have one of the most stunning coastlines in the world and the King Charles III England Coast Path gives people a new way to explore it.
“This is the longest managed coast path in the world, creating amazing opportunities for people to visit spots of natural beauty in our coastal towns and villages.”
One of the key features of the King Charles III England Coast Path is its ability to ‘rollback’ with coastal erosion. This means that the path can be easily moved inland to adapt to the changing shape of the coast and ensure access rights remain in place for the future.
This launch is the culmination of more than 16 years of work from Natural England and over 50 coastal local authorities, landowners and others across the country, including Wildlife Trusts, the National Trust and access organisations such as the Ramblers Association, Disabled Ramblers and British Mountaineering Council.
The event kicks off a year of celebration of our coast with a range of visitor experiences being made available across the year. Named in honour of His Majesty, a lifelong champion of the natural world, both the King Charles III England Coast Path and the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves stand as enduring commitments to protecting nature and public access.
The England Coast Path became the King Charles III England Coast Path in 2023 to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.