King Charles III England Coast Path: Portsmouth to South Hayling
Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing – in Hampshire.
Stage of progress
Stage 5: open to the public
The 22.23 miles (35.78 km) stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP) from Old Portsmouth to South Hayling is now open to the public.
Coastal access rights came into force along this stretch of coast on 12 November 2025 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 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 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 6 March 2024.
Changes to the proposed route at Eastney Peninsula and Kendalls Wharf (MR1)
On 6 March 2024 the Secretary of State announced their decision to approve the modified proposals for improved access to the coast at Eastney Peninsula and Kendalls Wharf.
These changes affect part 2 of the original report, Eastney to Langstone. The path at Eastney Peninsula was affected when a section of shingle path was washed away by a storm. At Kendall’s Wharf, coastal defences are being upgraded and this requires a modification of the proposed route.
The report is still available to view.
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 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.
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 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 this stretch is now open to the public.
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Page updated to show that Natural England's proposals have been approved and this stretch is now at Stage 5: Open (not yet available for public use - work to establish the route is currently taking place).
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Page updated with information about the modification report on proposed changes to sections at Eastney Peninsula and Kendalls Wharf .
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Removed the sentence giving a date for when access is expected to be ready.
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Date amended: access expected to be ready in 2020.
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Page updated to show that stretch is now at stage 4.
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Updated page to show that work on this stretch has reached stage 2 and 3.
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First published.