King Charles III England Coast Path: Isle of Wight
Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing – on the Isle of Wight.
Introduction
Natural England is working to improve public access along all 91.6 miles (147.4 km) of the Isle of Wight coast.
Officers from Isle of Wight Council are providing Natural England with expert local advice during the establishment of the route.
Nine sections are being established, one (East Cowes Ferry to Wootton Bridge) is yet to be determined.
You can now comment on the proposals for improved access to the coast between East Cowes Ferry and Wootton Bridge, Isle of Wight (by midnight, Wednesday 22 October 2025)
This page has information about the stage of progress for all sections of the stretch.
Information about the route
You can view any open sections of the King Charles III England Coast Path on the National Trails website.
You can see the status of all sections of the route in the table.
| Report number and title | Stage 4 (determine) | Stage 5 (approved) | Open to the public |
|---|---|---|---|
| IOW 1: East Cowes Ferry to Wootton Bridge | 27 August 2025 | ||
| IOW 2: Wootton Bridge to Culver Down | 2 May 2025 | not yet | |
| IOW 3: Culver Down to Binnel Bay | 16 October 2024 | not yet | |
| IOW 4: Binnel Bay to Chilton Chine | 6 April 2022 | not yet | |
| IOW 5: Chilton Chine to Colwell Chine | 6 April 2022 | yes | |
| IOW 6: Colwell Chine to Hamstead Point | 7 May 2024 | not yet | |
| IOW 7: Hamstead Point to Thorness Bay | 2 May 2025 | not yet | |
| IOW 8: Thorness Bay to Gurnard Luck | 5 May 2023 | not yet | |
| IOW 9: Gurnard Luck to West Cowes Chain Ferry | 5 May 2023 | yes | |
| IOW 10: The Medina | 2 May 2025 | 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 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.
The maps in Natural England’s original proposals to the Secretary of State for Wootton Bridge to The Medina 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
Chilton Chine to Colwell Chine (IOW5)
This 12.02 mile (19.34km) stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP) is now open to the public.
Coastal access rights came into force along this section of the Isle of Wight stretch on 17 September 2025, by order of the Secretary of State.
Following the approval of this section, a variation to the route became necessary.
Change to the approved route at Headon Warren (IOW-VR1)
Following approval, confusion over the ownership of a hedge along the route meant the installation of some key infrastructure was no longer possible. A realignment of this section was necessary, and the changes are detailed in the report.
On 28 March 2024, the Secretary of State announced their decision to approve this variation report.
Gurnard Luck to West Cowes Chain Ferry (IOW9)
This 2.83 mile (4.55km) stretch of the KCIIIECP is now open to the public.
Coastal access rights came into force along this section of the stretch on 17 September 2025, by order of the Secretary of State.
Stage 5: Open (not yet available for public use - work to establish the route is being planned or currently taking place)
Wootton Bridge to Chilton Chine (IOW2 to IOW4)
Colwell Chine to Gurnard Luck (IOW6 to IOW8)
West Cowes Chain Ferry to The Medina (IOW10)
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs approved the proposals for these sections of coast path on the Isle of Wight.
Natural England will publish further details of the approved route in due course.
Modification reports
Sometimes it’s necessary to change sections of a previously proposed route, in response to objections. When necessary, the proposed changes may be published as modification reports. Anyone can comment (make a representation) on these proposals. Affected landowners and occupiers can make an objection.
Proposals to change the proposed route at Bonchurch (MR3)
On 9 July 2025, the Secretary of State announced their decision to approve the modification report MR3 that set out revised proposals for the route at Bonchurch.
This change affects a section of the proposed stretch IOW 3: Culver Down to Binnel Bay. The previously proposed route no longer exists following a massive erosion event in November 2023. The landslip area is so extensive there are no available alternative routes in the originally proposed location.
Change to the proposed route at Luccombe (MR1)
On 16 October 2024, the Secretary of State announced their decision to approve the modification report MR1 that set out revised proposals for the route at Luccombe.
This change affects a section of IOW 3: Culver Down to Binnel Bay. A part of the original route was lost due to cliff movement, so a realigning of this section landward of the original route is required.
Change to the proposed route at Shanklin Chine (MR2)
On 16 October 2024, the Secretary of State announced their decision to approve the modification report MR2 that set out revised proposals for the route at Shanklin Chine.
This change affects a section of IOW 3: Culver Down to Binnel Bay. A part of the original route was lost due to cliff movement, so a realigning of this section landward of the original route is required.
Stage 4: Determine
East Cowes to Wootton Bridge (IOW 1)
On 27 August 2025, Natural England submitted a report to the Secretary of State setting out proposals for improved access to the coast for this section of the route between East Cowes to Wootton Bridge.
You can now read the report.
Representations and objections must reach Natural England by midnight on Wednesday 22 October 2025.
Anyone can comment on the proposals (make a representation). Landowners and occupiers can make an objection.
Objections are 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
Once the Secretary of State has approved 1 or more of the reports, Natural England works with Isle of Wight Council on preparing the route 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.
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 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.
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 that follows for information about progress on improving coastal access in other parts of the South
Updates to this page
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Page updated to show that 2 sections of this stretch (IOW5 and IOW9) are now open to the public.
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Page updated with information about the publication of report IOW 1 - East Cowes Ferry to Wootton Bridge.
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Page has been updated with information about the approval of the modification report IOW-MR3 (Bonchurch).
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Page updated with information about the approval of lengths IOW2, IOW7 and IOW10.
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Page updated to show the opportunity to comment on the Bonchurch modification report (IOW-MR3) has ended.
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Page updated to show that Secretary of state has approved the reports IOW 3, MR1 and MR2.
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Page updated with information about the modification report for Bonchurch (MR3)
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Updated the table to show that the report IOW6 has been approved.
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Page updated to show the variation report VR1 has been approved.
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Page updated with information about the modification reports for Luccombe (MR1) and Shanklin Chine (MR2).
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Page updated to show the proposals for IOW8 and IOW9 have been approved.
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Details of the variation report VR1 have been added to the page.
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Added table showing the reports which make up the collection. Page updated to show that 2 of the 9 reports have received Secretary of State approval.
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Updated Covid-19 statement with new deadline for submission of comments.
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Added Covid-19 statement to page.
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Page updated to show this stretch (with the exception of the East Cowes to Wotton Bridge section) is now at stage 4.
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Removed the sentence giving a date for when access is expected to be ready. Publication of the report is expected in winter 2020.
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Dates amended: publication of report now expected in 2019. Access expected to be ready in 2020.
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Updated page to show this stretch is now at stage 2/3.
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First published.