King Charles III England Coast Path: Lulworth Cove to Highcliffe
Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing – in Dorset.
Introduction
Natural England is working to improve public access along a 48 mile (77km) stretch of the Dorset coast between Lulworth Cove and Highcliffe.
Officers from Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council are providing Natural England with expert local advice during the establishment of the route.
Some sections are open to the public, 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 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.
The section from Lulworth Cove to Kimmeridge was separated from the wider proposals due to its complexity. For Kimmeridge to Highcliffe, the proposal’s published chapters referred to in the table are for the purposes of determination and approval only. The start and end points of these chapters are shown in the stretch map.
| Report | Stage 5 (approved) | Open to the public |
|---|---|---|
| Lulworth Cove to Kimmeridge Bay (LCK) | ||
| - LCK 1: Lulworth Cove to Lulworth Ranges Gates West | 2 October 2026 | Not yet |
| - LCK 3: Lulworth Ranges Gates East to Gaulter Gap, Kimmeridge Bay | 2 October 2026 | Not yet |
| Kimmeridge Bay to Highcliffe (LCH) | ||
| - LCH Chapter 1: Kimmeridge Bay to Winspit | 6 April 2022 | Yes |
| - LCH Chapter 2: Winspit to Peveril Point | 6 April 2022 | Yes |
| - LCH Chapter 3: Peveril Point to Shep’s Hollow | 6 April 2022 | Yes |
| - LCH Chapter 4: Shep’s Hollow to South Haven Point | 6 April 2022 | Yes |
| - LCH Chapter 5: Sandbanks to Southbourne | 6 April 2022 | Yes |
| - LCH Chapter 6: Southbourne to Mudeford Quay | 29 April 2026 | Not yet |
| - LCH Chapter 7: Mudeford Quay to Chewton Bunny | 6 April 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.
The maps in Natural England’s original proposals for Lulworth Cove to Kimmeridge Bay and Kimmeridge Bay to Highcliffe 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
Kimmeridge Bay to Southbourne
This 29.3 mile (47km) section 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 Kimmeridge Bay to Highcliffe stretch on 4 June 2025 and 2 October 2026, by order of the Secretary of State.
Mudeford Quay to Chewton Bunny
This 2.6 mile (4km) section of the KCIIIECP is now open to the public. Coastal access rights came into force along this section of the Kimmeridge Bay to Highcliffe stretch on 2 October 2026, 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)
Lulworth Cove to Lulworth Ranges Gates West and Lulworth Ranges Gates East to Gaulter Gap, Kimmeridge Bay
On 2 October 2026, the Secretary of State approved these sections of the Lulworth Cove to Kimmeridge Bay part of this stretch.
Southbourne to Mudeford Quay
On 29 April 2026, the Secretary of State approved this section of the Kimmeridge Bay to Highcliffe part of this stretch.
Find out more about the King Charles III England Coast Path
Next steps
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.
Coastal access delivery team (Somerset, Avon and Dorset)
Natural England
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH
Email westcoastalaccess@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone: Natural England enquiry team - 0300 060 3900
See the map below for information about progress on improving coastal access in other parts of the west of England.