King Charles III England Coast Path

The King Charles III England Coast Path is a new walking route being developed by Natural England, in partnership with local access authorities, that will follow the entire coast of England.

The trail will take people through some of the finest landscapes in England, as well as the many coastal towns, cities and ports which have shaped this island nation. New legal rights of public access will also be secured to typical coastal land including beaches, dune and cliffs, allowing walkers to access some places they’ve never been before.

The path is being opened in sections but will, when completed, be the longest coastal path in the world at approximately 2,700 miles.

Once opened, the King Charles III England Coast Path will join the family of National Trails. For more information visit the National Trails website.

Here in West Sussex the King Charles III England Coast Path is fully open along the entire West Sussex coastline. The trail is well signposted with the distinctive National Trail acorn symbol and directional arrows, and the route can be viewed on our Public Rights of Way iMap.

On Ordnance Survey Explorer (1:25,000 scale) maps, the trail is shown as green diamonds and the coastal margin is shaded pink. Regular diversions, such as a seasonal diversion to avoid disturbance to wildlife, are shown as hollow diamonds.

You can view the route, as well as other helpful visitor information, on King Charles III England Coast Path South - National Trails.  

If you are looking for things to do along the trail, visit Experience Sussex.

For information on the overall progress of the King Charles III England Coast Path, visit GOV.UK. 

The King Charles III England Coast Path creates a new area called the coastal margin. This is usually the land between the path and the sea, where people can walk, use mobility aids, climb or picnic on foot. These access rights do not include camping, cycling or horse riding, and any existing access rights stay the same.

Some land is excluded from the coastal margin, such as private homes and gardens, or restricted to protect nature. The law now secures public access to beaches and the foreshore in many places for the first time through the creation of the coastal margin.

You can explore away from the main path, but please use common sense. The coastal margin may include steep, unstable or hard‑to‑reach land. A map may show access, but that does not always mean the area is safe.

The coastal margin will be shaded pink on ordnance survey maps. For more information on the coastal margin, see King Charles III England Coast Path: manage your land in the coastal margin (GOV.UK).

In some locations there will be localised signage which gives information on the restricted or excluded areas.

You can check for any restrictions to access at Natural England - Open Access maps. 

A key feature of the trail is that it can move when the coastline changes. This process, called roll‑back, allows the path to move inland after erosion, cliff falls or flooding so people can still use it.

Roll‑back helps keep a continuous walking route along the coast, which has been difficult to maintain in the past. It also protects the trail so future generations can enjoy it.

When roll‑back is needed, the access authority will work with landowners or occupiers to agree a new route. They will make sure the route meets coastal access rules while balancing public access and private interests. 

You are welcome to bring your dog to the King Charles III England Coast Path, but you must ensure that it is always under control. This means the dog must be on a lead or, if not on a lead, it must be kept within sight and you must be aware of its actions and confident that the dog will return reliably and promptly when called. Dogs should always be on a short lead in the vicinity of livestock.

At certain times of the year, in some locations there may be additional restrictions on where dogs can go. Always obey any signs on the ground and stay out of areas where access with dogs is not allowed or keep your dog on a lead when requested to do so. Where restrictions are in place, they have been put there to protect sensitive wildlife or reduce problems around livestock.

To prevent the spread of infections and diseases associated with dog waste, always clean up and remove your dog’s waste from the area and ensure that your dog has regular worming treatments.

When using the King Charles III England Coast Path, please follow the Countryside Code (GOV.UK).

If you have any questions about the trail, or to report an issue, email the Rights of Way Team at prow@westsussex.gov.uk.