When it's completed in 2026, the King Charles III England Coast Path will stretch across the entire coastline of England.
That's nearly 2,700 miles, making this the longest managed coastal hiking trail in the world. To help put the distance in perspective, the Appalachian Trail in the eastern U.S. is about 500 miles shorter.
In the works since 2009, England's truly epic coastal footpath has been opening in sections as they're completed.
With more than two-thirds of the trail open to the public as of August 2025, the whole enchilada is expected to be connected and available for ambles at some point in spring 2026. You can track the progress at the United Kingdom's government website.
A part of the U.K.'s National Trails system, the England Coast Path was renamed in 2023 after King Charles III in "recognition of his work supporting the natural world," according to the BBC.
Accessing the trail is free.
Altogether, the route covers an astonishing array of coastal areas, encompassing Roman ruins, nature reserves, beaches, busy ports, famous landmarks, and hidden coves.
In addition to installing signage with the National Trail acorn logo and otherwise working to make sure the entire way is pedestrian-friendly, Natural England—the department creating the trail in partnership with local authorities— reports that hikers will have access to some beaches and coastal margins that have never before been easily reachable.
Other sections connect shorter, previously established coastal walks in the larger network.
How to plan a hike on the King Charles III England Coast Path
If you don't have enough vacation time stashed away to tackle the trail's entire length, the path's official website breaks the route down into eight geographical sections for more manageable treks.
Click on the interactive map to chart a course to each zone's noteworthy sights, from the wilds of the Lake District in the northwest to the White Cliffs of Dover in the southeast—and all the surfing spots, iconic seaside resorts, sandy dunes, historic castles, and lively cities along the way.
Each region's section also has lists of accommodations and campsites as well as other useful information for planning a trip along the path.
According to Time Out, the remaining sections of the trail still awaiting completion include "Silverdale to Cleveleys in Lancashire, Combe Martin to Marsland Mouth in Devon, and Wooton Bridge to the Medina on the Isle of Wight."
For more information about the King Charles III England Coast Path and to explore the trail map, go to NationalTrail.co.uk.
Frommer's England and Scotland
Frommer’s books aren’t written by committee, by A.I., or by travel writers who simply pop in briefly to a destination and then consider the job done. We use seasoned, locally-based journalists like Deborah Collcutt, Katie Featherstone, Samantha Priestley, Simon Willmore, and Donald Strachan, plus pa...
Get the bookFrommer's England and Scotland
Frommer’s books aren’t written by committee, by A.I., or by travel writers who simply pop in briefly to a destination and then consider the job done. We use seasoned, locally-based journalists like Deborah Collcutt, Katie Featherstone, Samantha Priestley, Simon Willmore, and Donald Strachan, plus pa...