King Charles III England Coast Path: Silecroft to Silverdale
Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing – in Cumbria.
Introduction
Natural England is working to improve coastal access along a 69 miles (112 km) stretch of the Cumbrian coast from Silecroft to Silverdale. The route will start at Silecroft Beach car park and finish just outside Silverdale at Cove Well.
Officers from Cumbria County Council are providing Natural England with expert local advice and helping to make sure there is full consultation with local interests 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 route on the National Trails website.
You can see the status of all sections of the route in the table.
| Report number and title | Stage 5 (approved) | Open to the public |
|---|---|---|
| SCS 1: Beach car park, Silecroft to Green Road railway station | 12 November 2020 | yes |
| SCS 2: Green Road railway station to Jubilee Bridge, Vickerstown | 20 October 2022 | yes |
| SCS 3: Jubilee Bridge to Newbiggin | 20 October 2022 | yes |
| SCS 4: Newbiggin to Greenodd footbridge | 20 October 2022 | yes |
| SCS 5: Greennodd footbridge to Kents Bank | 21 January 2026 | not yet |
| SCS 6: Kents Bank to Cove Well, Silverdale | 16 July 2024 | 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 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
Beach car park, Silecroft to Green Road railway station (SCS1)
This 11.5 mile (18.6km) 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 Silecroft to Silverdale stretch on Wednesday 9 February 2022, by order of the Secretary of State.
Green Road railway station to Greenodd footbridge (SCS2, SCS3 and SCS4)
This 34.9 mile (33.7km) 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 Silecroft to Silverdale stretch on Thursday 23 July 2026, by order of the Secretary of State.
Change to the approved route at Dunnerholme, Askam-in-Furness (VR18)
On 14 November 2025, the Secretary of State announced their decision to approve this variation report (VR18) which modifies the original proposals for SCS 2: Green Road railway station to Jubilee Bridge, Vickerstown, at Dunnerholme Golf Course.
It realigns the KCIIIECP with a newly created Public Rights of Way (PRoW) footpath in the area.
Stage 5: Open (not yet available for public use - work to establish the route is being planned or currently taking place)
Greennodd footbridge to Cove Well, Silverdale (SCS5 and SCS6)
These sections have been approved but are not yet available for public use. Work to establish the route is currently taking place.
Modification reports
Sometimes it’s necessary to change sections of a previously proposed route, before it has been approved by government, in response to a change in circumstances on the ground. 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 Abbot Hall, Kents Bank, Grange over Sands, Cumbria (MR1)
On 21 January 2026, the Secretary of State announced their decision to approve this modification report (MR1) to the Secretary of State setting out revised proposals for the route of the King Charles III England Coast Path in Cumbria at Abbot Hall, Kents Bank, Grange over Sands.
The change affects our original proposals in report SCS5: Greenodd footbridge to Kents Bank, and is required as a result of changes in land ownership and use.
The period for making representations and objections about the report closed at midnight, Wednesday 21 May 2025. The report is still available to view.
Next steps
When the Secretary of State approves a section of the report, Natural England works with Cumbria County Council 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 for the stretch as a whole, 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 (North west)
Natural England
Murley Moss Business Village
Oxenholme Road
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 7RL
Email northwestcoastalaccess@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone 0300 060 3900
See the map below for information about progress on improving coastal access in other parts of the north west.