King Charles III England Coast Path: Highcliffe to Calshot
Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing – in Hampshire.
Introduction
Natural England is working to improve coastal access along a 35 mile (57 km) stretch of the Hampshire coast between Highcliffe and Calshot.
Officers from the relevant access authorities are providing Natural England with expert local advice during the establishment of the route.
This page has information about the stage of progress for each section of the stretch.
You can see the status of all parts of this report in the table.
| Report section | Stage 4 | Stage 5 (approved) | Open to the public |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highcliffe to Hurst Spit (HCS1) | yet to be determined | ||
| Hurst Spit to Lymington Bridge (east) (HCS2) | 21 January 2026 | not yet | |
| Lymington Bridge (east) to Park Lane/Thorns Beach (HCS3) | yet to be determined | ||
| Park Lane/Thorns Beach to Lower Exbury House (HCS4) | yet to be determined | ||
| Lower Exbury House to Calshot (HCS5) | 21 January 2026 | not yet |
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 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.
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 (not yet available for public use - work to establish the route is being planned or currently taking place)
Hurst Spit to Lymington Bridge (east) (HCS2)
Lower Exbury House to Calshot (HCS5)
On 21 January 2026, the Secretary of State approved these sections of the King Charles III England Coast Path in Hampshire.
Natural England will publish further details of the approved route in due course.
Stage 4: Determine
Highcliffe to Hurst Spit (HCS1)
Lymington Bridge (east side) to Lower Exbury House (HCS3 and HCS4)
On Wednesday 14 March 2018, 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 Highcliffe and Calshot.
The period for making representations and objections about the report closed at midnight on 9 May 2018. The report is still available to view.
Objections were forwarded for consideration by an independent planning inspector appointed by the Secretary of State. The inspector will make recommendations to the Secretary of State in respect of each one.
Natural England may not make any further changes to the report as a result of the representations and objections, but will make comments about them for consideration by the Secretary of State and, in the case of objections, the appointed person (an inspector from the Planning Inspectorate).
The Secretary of State will consider all the representations and objections before making a decision about Natural England’s report.
Next steps
When the Secretary of State approves a section of the report, Natural England works with Hampshire County Council and the New Forest National Park Authority on preparing the route for public use.
The first step will be 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.
Find out more about the King Charles III England Coast Path
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 coastal access team
Contact Natural England with any comments, suggestions or queries you have about improving coastal access.
Coastal access team (South)
Natural England Mail Hub
Foss House
Kings Pool
1-2 Peasholme Green
York
YO1 7PX
Email southcoastalaccess@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone 0300 060 3900
See the map below for information about progress on improving coastal access in other parts of the south of England.
Updates to this page
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Page updated to show that 2 sections of this report (HCS2 and HCS5) have been approved.
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We've removed the approval information for HCS2 and HCS5 which was published in error.
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We've added a table showing the reports which make up the collection. The page has been updated to show that 2 parts of the report have received Secretary of State approval.
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Removed the sentence giving a date for when access is expected to be ready.
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Page updated to show stretch is now at stage 4.
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Updated page to show that work on the stretch has reached stage 2 and 3.
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First published.