King Charles III England Coast Path: Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea
Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing – in Suffolk.
Inroduction
Natural England is working to improve public access along a 37 mile (60 km) stretch of the coast between Aldeburgh and Hopton-on-Sea.
Officers from Suffolk Council are providing Natural England with expert local advice during the establishment of the route.
Some sections are open to the public and some are still under development.
This page has information about the stage of progress for each section of the stretch.
Information about open sections of the route
You can view open sections of the route on the National Trails website
You can see the status of all sections of the route in the table.
| Report number and title | Stage 5 (Approved) |
Open to the public |
|---|---|---|
| AHS 1: Aldeburgh to Sizewell | 23 June 2022 | yes |
| AHS 2: Sizewell to Dunwich | 23 June 2022 | yes |
| AHS 3: Dunwich to Southwold | 23 June 2022 | yes |
| AHS 4: Southwold to Pakefield | 18 September 2025 | open in part: from Church Road, Kessingland to Pakefield |
| AHS 5: Pakefield to Lowestoft | 23 June 2022 | yes |
| AHS 6: Lowestoft to Hopton-on-Sea | 23 June 2022 | yes |
If you’re planning a walk on the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP), check our interactive access maps for details of local access restrictions and coast path diversions which may therefore apply at certain times.
Coastal access rights normally apply to all land that is coastal margin - including any land seaward of the route - unless it falls into a category of excepted land or if an access restriction applies to the land.
On 29 January 2020, Natural England submitted a report to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs setting out the proposals for improved access to the coast between Aldeburgh in Suffolk and Hopton-on-Sea in Norfolk.
The maps in Natural England’s original proposals to the Secretary of State are still available to view. They show the route of the KCIIIECP along this stretch of coast as it was proposed at that time. They also show the adjoining land that is coastal margin.
Any variation needed after a stretch has been proposed, approved or opened is achieved through rollback or a modification or variation report that you can comment on. Modification and variation reports are published on GOV.UK and details will be added to this page.
Use the link that follows for guidance on your rights and responsibilities if the KCIIIECP passes through your land.
Stage 5: Open to the public
Aldeburgh to Southwold (AHS1 to AHS3)
This 16.9 mile (27.2 km) section of the KCIIIECP is now open to the public.
Coastal access rights came into force along this section of the Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea stretch on 12 December 2024, by order of the Secretary of State.
Church Road, Kessingland to Lowestoft (AHS4 (part) and AHS5)
This 6.7 mile (10.8 km) section of the KCIIIECP is now open to the public.
Coastal access rights came into force along this section of the Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea stretch on 30 June 2026, by order of the Secretary of State.
Lowestoft to Hopton-on-Sea (AHS6)
This 3.3 mile (5.3 km) section of the KCIIIECP is now open to the public.
Coastal access rights came into force along this section of the Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea stretch on 12 December 2024, by order of the Secretary of State.
These 2 sections of the stretch are affected by a variation report.
Proposals to change the approved route at Azure Seas Holiday Village Corton and Dunwich Heath (VR21)
On 19 November 2025, the Secretary of State announced their decision to approve this variation report (VR21), which modifies the original proposals in reports AHS2 and AHS6.
The changes to the approved route at Azure Seas Holiday Village, Corton (AHS6), are necessary because new holiday lodges have been built on the approved alignment.
The changes to the approved route at Dunwich Heath (AHS2) will provide a more direct and step-free route which is now possible because of nearby route establishment work.
The period for making representations and objections about the report closed on Wednesday 18 December 2024. The report is still available to view.
Stage 5: Open (not yet available for public use - work to establish the route is being planned or currently taking place)
Southwold to Church Road, Kessingland (AHS4 (part))
On 18 September 2025, the Secretary of State approved this section of the King Charles III England Coast Path in Suffolk.
Natural England’s proposals to the Secretary of State are still available to view.
Find out more about the King Charles III England Coast Path
Next steps
Work is now underway to prepare the new stretch of coast path for public use.
The first step is to contact owners and occupiers of the affected land to discuss the design and location of any new infrastructure which is required such as signs and gates.
When preparations are complete, new access rights will be brought into force along the route and adjoining spreading room.
See information about all stretches in preparation around England’s coast.
The coastal access scheme gives details of the process being followed to improve access to the coast.
Contact the authority managing sections that are open to the public
If you need to contact the authority managing open sections of this stretch of the KCIIIECP, use the contact forms on the National Trails website contact us page.
Contact the coastal access team for sections not yet open to the public
Contact Natural England with any comments, suggestions or queries you have about improving coastal access.
King Charles III England Coast Path team (East)
Natural England
Eastbrook
Shaftesbury Road
Cambridge
CB2 8DR
Email eastcoastalaccess@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone 0300 060 3900
See the map that follows for more information about progress on improving coastal access in other parts of the east of England.