Guidance

North West: King Charles III England Coast Path

Published 24 June 2026

Applies to England

The King Charles III England Coast Path is the longest National Trail in England. It goes all the way around the coast of England. 

In the North West, the trail goes from the Scottish border to the Welsh border.  

From the Scottish border, it goes around the western edge of the Lake District. It goes past saltmarshes, Roman forts, industrial archaeology and to the port city of Liverpool, where it includes the Mersey ferry. Then the trail goes around the Wirral to the border with Wales at Burton Marshes. 

The trail goes through 2 National Landscapes: The Solway Coast and Arnside and Silverdale. It also goes around the coastal edges of the Lake District National Park.

About the trail

In the North West, the King Charles III England Coast Path goes between: 

• the Scottish Border at Gretna 
• the Welsh border, near Burton Point (close to Neston) 

You can choose to walk the entire trail, a specific section or two, or find local circular walks that follow some of the trail. 

You can find some circular and linear walks on the National Trails website. 

When to visit  

The trail is open all year. There may be seasonal changes to the route of the trail, such as:   

• ferries that only run during part of the year, or have a seasonal timetable   
• alternative routes designed to protect wildlife, ensure your safety or allow land management activities   

Areas on the coast can be very exposed to the weather, which can be changeable. Be aware of risks such as storms and strong winds, tides and waves. Check the weather forecast and tide times before you set off.  

Signposts on the trail  

All National Trails are marked with an acorn symbol. You’ll see this and signs for the King Charles III England Coast Path along the trail, for example on gates and signposts. 

Some sections of the trail follow other National Trails or named trails. You may see signs with the names of these trails, or signs may say the trail is “part of the King Charles III England Coast Path”. Look out for where the trails join or separate.   

Explore beyond the trail 

In most places you can explore the land between the trail and the sea, known as the ‘coastal margin’. This area is shown in pink on Ordnance Survey maps.  

Follow the rules on exploring land in the coastal margin to find out which areas you can access or not. For example, some areas of saltmarsh and mudflat are not suitable for public access.

Accessibility on the trail 

The King Charles III England Coast Path is designed to be as accessible as possible, with minimal use of barriers such as stiles. 

On the coast, the trail may have steep climbs and descents, and long flights of steep steps in places. The trail goes through varied natural terrain. 

In some places, the trail goes on:  

• paved promenades, pavements and other surfaces - which are suitable for prams, wheelchairs and people with reduced mobility 
• bridleways – which are open to cyclists and horse riders 

Between Allonby and Whitehaven there are 2 stiles, which are at a railway crossing on Network Rail land.

Between Maryport and Allonby there’s around 5 miles of the trail that:  

• is mostly along flat, tarmacked path  
• has areas to stop for a rest   
• links to a nature reserve and to an ancient monument with optional wheelchair accessible diversions

You can find more information about the section between Maryport to Allonby on Phototrails or watch a video of someone following this section on YouTube. Including the optional diversions and information about toilet stops

Accessible signage 

In the North West, some of the signs along the trail have Braille stickers. Some signs have QR codes, which you can scan with your phone and use with screen-reading software.

What you can experience on the trail  

There are many things you can experience on the trail in the North West, including: 

• wildlife – such saltmarsh habitats for birds, natterjack toads on Walney Island and red squirrels in Formby  
• historic and heritage sites – such as Hadrian’s Wall and Morecambe Bay 
• nature reserves – such as Ribble Estuary, Marshside and Mersey and Dee Estuary 
• local culture, food and entertainment  
• taking the ferry across the River Mersey

In the North West, the trail goes through: 

• Carlisle 
• Morecambe 
• Blackpool 
• Liverpool

Sections of the trail

Some sections of the trail are not yet fully open. Check the map on the National Trails website to plan your route.

In the North West, there are some gaps in the trail. You can usually continue your journey and re-join the trail by using public transport or public rights of way.

Solway Coast

The trail along the Solway Coast stretches from the Scottish Border, close to Gretna, to Maryport. This is a remote part of the coastline, with large areas of saltmarsh.

The trail follows the River Eden inland to the crossing point near Carlisle, and then returns to remote coastline before reaching Abbeytown. It then passes across Calvo and Skinburness Marsh, around Grune Point and continues through the small port town of Silloth.

The trail continues by the coast to the Victorian seaside resort of Allonby with a beach, and Maryport nearby with a large Roman fort site.

West Cumbria  

From Maryport, this section of coast includes the industrial towns of Workington and Whitehaven, which has a historic harbour and busy marina.  

The trail goes south through St Bees, passing the official start of the Coast to Coast Path National Trail.  

After Seascale, the trail goes through Drigg dunes and beach, on the coastal edges of the Lake District National Park. 

At Drigg, you can take a train or use public rights of way to re-join the trail at Ravenglass, where the trail goes south through a double World Heritage site.  

There is a gap in the trail after Ravenglass. You can either take the train from Ravenglass to Bootle, or the bus from Ravenglass to Waberthwaite. Then you can use public rights of way to rejoin the trail near the the Ministry of Defence (MOD) site at Eskmeals, or at Tarn Point. 

The trail then continues towards Annaside, before going along the clifftop below Black Combe fell to Silecroft. 

The trail goes through the villages of Haverigg and Millom, on the Duddon Estuary, and alongside dunes, estuary, saltmarsh, farmland, beach and historic ironwork sites to Green Road railway station.

Morecambe Bay  

From Green Road railway station, you can take the train to Foxfield station and then rejoin the trail there. The trail then heads south to Barrow-in-Furness and onto Walney Island. 

The trail goes around the Walney Island, starting and finishing at Jubilee Bridge. Both the northern and southern tips of the island are nature reserves, with protected species such as natterjack toads. 

The trail also goes around the large area of Morcecambe Bay.  

From Barrow-in-Furness’s docks, the trail turns north up to Greenodd and then crosses the Leven Estuary by footbridge.  

The trail passes through Roudsea Woods and Moses National Nature Reserve, through Cark and around Humphrey Head to Kents Bank and Grange-over-Sands. 

From Grange-over-Sands, you can take the train to Arnside. The trail continues around the limestone cliffs of the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape, and on towards Carnforth, Morecambe and Heysham.  

The trail then passes around Sunderland Point, up the River Lune into Lancaster and then back to coast along the river bank to Glasson dock.  

The trail then follows the coast to the River Wyre at Knott End on Sea, where you can take the ferry to Fleetwood. Check ferry timetables and use other public transport if ferry is not running.

South Lancashire  

From Fleetwood, the trail goes to Blackpool, up and down the River Ribble and then through Preston. Beyond Preston the trail turns inland on the River Douglas towards Much Hoole, where the trail currently ends.  

You can use existing rights of way to get to Tarleton Lock, where you can rejoin the trail. The trail follows the river’s west bank, past Becconsall’s saltmarsh habitat, and out to the Ribble Estuary National Nature Reserve. 

The trail passes Hesketh Out Marsh and continues to Fiddler’s Ferry and Crossens.

Merseyside and Cheshire  

From Crossens, the trail follows the Sefton coast through Marshside nature reserve, and into the seaside resort of Southport. 

From Southport, the trail goes to the Birkdale, Ainsdale and Formby Hills – where dunes, grasslands and pine woodlands provide habitats for wildlife.  

The trail then passes around the Altcar Firing Range ‘Danger Area’ before going to Crosby, where Anthony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ sculptures are visible across the sands.  

The trail becomes more urban as it goes past Bootle’s docks and into Liverpool. You can use the ferry to continue across the Mersey to Seacombe, near Birkenhead. Check ferry timetables and use other sources of public transport if the ferry is not running.  

The trail then goes around the Wirral peninsula into Cheshire to reach the Welsh border, at Burton Marsh. There’s a link route that connects the trail to the Wales Coast Path.

Maps for the trail 

You can find:   

• a map on the National Trails website - you can also download GPX data  
• other maps and guidebooks online and in print 
• circular and linear walks online and from the local council 

Seasonal changes, diversions or closures on the trail  

You may find minor diversions, seasonal or tidal changes to the route. These will be clearly signposted and you should always follow the signposts on the trail.

Prepare for your visit 

 Read guidance on how to prepare for your visit for information on: 

• checking the route – including for diversions or closures 
• planning your trip 
• what to prepare before you set off
• what to do on the trail 

Contact 

Use the relevant National Trails online form to:  

• report a problem   

• ask a question about accessibility on the trail   

• find out about volunteering opportunities   

Contact the local council to report a problem on a public right of way, for example obstructions, poor maintenance or a misleading sign.