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King Charles III England Coast Path: Mersea Island

Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing – in Essex.

From:
Natural England
Published
9 October 2015
Last updated
28 January 2026 — See all updates

Stage of progress

Stage 5: Open to the public

The 13.5 mile (21.6 km) stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP) on Mersea Island is now open to the public.

Coastal access rights came into force along this stretch of coast on 28 January 2026 by order of the Secretary of State.

The route is available to view on the National Trails website.

Information about the route

If you are planning a walk on the KCIIIECP, check our 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 show the route of the KCIIIECP along this stretch of coast and the adjoining land that is coastal margin, as approved by the Secretary of State on 16 July 2024.

Use the links on this page to see details of the Secretary of State’s decision to approve Natural England’s proposals and for guidance on your rights and responsibilities if the KCIIIECP passes through your land.

Find out more about the 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.

If you need to contact the authority managing this stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path, use the contact forms on the National Trails website contact us page.

See the map that follows for information about progress on improving coastal access in other parts of Essex.

Updates to this page

Published 9 October 2015
Last updated 28 January 2026 show all updates

  1. Page updated to show this stretch is now open to the public.

  2. Page updated to show Natural England's proposals, and Modification Report 1 have been approved.

  3. Page updated with information about the modification report MR1.

  4. Removed the sentence giving a date for when access is expected to be ready.

  5. Date amended: access expected to be ready in 2020.

  6. Page updated to show this stretch is now at stage 4.

  7. Updated page to show that work on this stretch has reached stages 2 and 3.

  8. First published.

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