Challenges keeping King's path fully open in south

3 hours ago

Tristan PascoeDorset political reporter, Dorset

King Charles III officially opened the coastal path in April

Getty Images King Charles III looks in the direction of the camera as he walks. He is wearing a white coat and carrying a wooden walking stick. Behind him there is a beachy area, and beyond that a hill. — King Charles III officially opened the coastal path in April

Keeping all of the King Charles III England Coast Path open will be "challenging", according to Natural England.

Parts of the 2,689-mile route, which was inaugurated by the King in April, are currently inaccessible because of recent landslips.

In Dorset, some landowners have failed to reach agreements about the path crossing their land, and there have been public objections over its impact on wildlife.

Meanwhile, in Hampshire, walkers expressed frustration the path stops abruptly at Southampton Water, where the Hythe Ferry has been out of service for 18 months.

Neil Constable from Natural England said landowners had been largely supportive - but parts of the path do remain inaccessible

A man with short grey hair is pictured outside. He is stood on coastal cliffs, beyond which we can see the sea and the horizon. He is wearing a black coat and striped scarf and the strap of a bag is slung over his shoulder. — Neil Constable from Natural England said landowners had been largely supportive - but parts of the path do remain inaccessible

The path is a continuous trail, allowing walkers to explore the country's shoreline on foot.

Natural England, the government body which created it, said it is the longest managed coastal walking route in the world.

But land slips and erosion have led to parts of the trail being rerouted or closed for safety reasons in the south west and along Dorset's Jurassic coast.

Natural England's Neil Constable said it would be "challenging" to keep the whole route open, but that there was more flexibility to amend the route of the King's path than a standard public footpath.

"Public footpaths follow very fixed legal lines. If it falls in the sea, it's gone," he said.

"We've got to start from scratch negotiating [with landowners]. But going forward, if that path falls in the sea, the right remains, and we can, talking to the landowner, find a new route for the path that strikes a fair balance."

At 2,689 miles long, the King's path is the longest managed coastal walking route in the world, according to Natural England

A drone shot of a path snaking its way across the edge of a coastal cliff. A few walkers can be seen ascending some stairs on the route. Down at the foot of the cliff, ocean waves can be seen splashing against the rocks. — At 2,689 miles long, the King's path is the longest managed coastal walking route in the world, according to Natural England

Not all landowners have permitted the use of their land, however, meaning some sections of the trail are limited.

Constable continued: "We dealt with over 25,800 owners and occupiers around the entire coast of England and the objection rate to our proposals was just 2.5% - but there are places we can't go or we can't go all year."

He said there were seasonal restrictions on areas with birthing seals and wintering birds.

"It's opening up the coast in a way that's responsible, that's also protecting our natural environment," he said.

Jack Cornish from the Ramblers Association said there is "some frustration" that parts of the path cannot be accessed

A man with a dark beard is pictured in front of a pier and a body of water. He is wearing a green baseball cap and glasses. He is also wearing a dark blue jacked over a light blue collared shirt. — Jack Cornish from the Ramblers Association said there is "some frustration" that parts of the path cannot be accessed

Jack Cornish from the Ramblers Association described the variety of the path's route as "really fantastic", but said it was a shame parts of it cannot be accessed, including at Hythe, where it reaches Southampton Water.

The Hythe Ferry, linking Hythe and Southampton Town Quay, was suspended in August 2024 after damage was found to its pontoon and supporting structure.

In April the service went into voluntary liquidation.

"There is some frustration," said Cornish.

"We would love to see it go all the way round the water, so it is a truly continuous path.

"This is a significant piece of national infrastructure and it's going to be here for generations and generations to come, so obviously we have to get it right.

"But we're keen at the Ramblers to see that it's open and continuous as soon as possible."

Julian Gray from the South West Coast Path Association said the coastal path supports thousands of jobs across the south west

A man in a gray woolly hat is pictured looking in the direction of the camera. He is wearing a blue coat over a dark fleece. There is grass and some bushes behind him, as well as some hills in the distance. — Julian Gray from the South West Coast Path Association said the coastal path supports thousands of jobs across the south west

Tourism leaders say keeping the route open is vital to coastal economies.

Along the South West Coast Path - part of the wider trail - more than nine-million visitors a year contribute over £500m.

Julian Gray is director of the South West Coast Path Association, a charity that has been championing the path since its designation as a national trail in 1978.

"We are the green ribbon that goes around the coast of the southwest," he said.

"We're part of the green infrastructure and we're a really important tourism resource. We bring in 530 million which supports about 10,000 jobs.

"So this is really important, especially at a time when the tourism industry is having a hard time."

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