Guidance

South East: 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 South East, the trail passes through a changing landscape full of wildlife along the coast in Sussex, Kent, Essex and to London. There are landscapes of rolling hills and chalk cliffs in this region, including the White Cliffs of Dover. The trail also goes around the Isle of Sheppey. 

Along this section of the coast there are coastal towns with sandy beaches, Roman sites, Napoleonic Martello Towers and many wartime remains.  

The trail goes through the South Down National Park, the UNESCO Brighton and Lewes Biosphere, the Dover-Folkestone and Sussex Heritage coasts, The High Weald and Kent Downs National Landscapes.

About the trail  

In the South East of England, the Kings Charles III England Coast Path goes between: 

• Brighton   
• Woolwich (foot tunnel) in London

You can choose to walk the entire trail, a specific section or two, or find local 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. However most of the trail is on natural surfaces with varied terrain. 

On the coast, the trail may have steep climbs and descents, and long flights of steep steps in places.  

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 

Kent 

In Kent, there’s around 105km of the trail that has no stiles.  

There are 3 sections of the trail between Ramsgate and Whitstable that are step free:   

• Ramsgate Harbour to Winterstoke Gardens (avoids steps at Winterstoke Undercliff) 
• Broadstairs Harbour Street to Stone Road (avoids steps at Stone Bay) 
• Bishopstone - follows Manor Road (avoids steps at Bishopstone Glen)

What you can experience on the trail  

 There are many things you can experience in the South East, including:   

• wildlife – such as bird life near the Medway Estuary and the Swale, grey seals 
• historic and heritage sites – such as Dover, Deal and Walmer and Kingsgate Castles, Drop Reboubt fort at Dover, the historic Cinque Port of Sandwich, Woolwich Arsenal, The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, Ramsgate’s wartime tunnels, and Reculver Towers and Roman Fort and Napoleonic defences   
• nature reserves – such as Seven Sisters, Dungeness, Elmey and Swale 
• going past world-famous chalk cliffs and the Thames Barrier
• local culture, food and entertainment

In the South East, the trail goes through: 

• Brighton 
• Folkestone 
• Dover 
• Margate 
• Chatham 
• Gravesend 
• central London

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.

Shoreham-by-Sea to Brighton 

The section starts on the north side of the River Adur estuary, beside the mudflats and saltmarsh.  

The trail then passes Shoreham Harbour and the old lighthouse and traditional boatyards. It continues east to join Hove Esplanade, with its historic West Pier and the Brighton i360 tower.  

The trail then follows Brighton’s seafront promenade and past its seaside landmarks. It heads along the bustling promenade on Brighton seafront up to Palace Pier then to Brighton Marina. 

Brighton to Eastbourne  

The trail on this section of the Sussex coast begins along Brighton’s busy seafront at the Marina. It then passes the chalk cliffs using the Undercliff Walk. 

Beyond Saltdean, the trail rises to the cliff tops, with views across the English Channel.  

The trail passes through Peacehaven and Newhaven and then crosses the River Cuckmere. It enters the chalk headlands of the South Downs, including the Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve and the historic Belle Tout Lighthouse above Birling Gap.  

Along this section of the trail there’s steep ascents, open downland and cliff-edge paths. Approaching Eastbourne, the trail passes Beachy Head, known for its white chalk cliffs and wartime heritage sites.  

The section ends with a gentler descent into Eastbourne’s promenade, Victorian seafront and pier. 

Eastbourne to Rye  

The section begins on Eastbourne’s promenade and continues past Sovereign Harbour. It follows shingle beaches and firm tracks through Pevensey Bay, Normans Bay and Cooden, with some areas affected by very high tides. The trail then joins Bexhill’s promenade and the coastal cycle walkway towards Hastings.  

In Hastings, fossils may be found on the beach and the trail passes Victorian and Edwardian seafronts into Hastings Old Town. It then climbs into Hastings Country Park, with steep glens in the soft sandstone cliffs.   

Beyond Fairlight, the trail follows undulating clifftops to Cliff End, where the beach has rare geological features and historic fossils. The final section crosses Pett Level’s wetlands and enters Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. This section finishes at Rye. 

Rye to Folkestone  

This section starts on the wide sandy beaches at Camber Sands, south of Rye.  

The trail continues inland of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) ranges at Lydd and goes to the area of Dungeness National Nature Reserve. The nature reserve has the largest expanse of shingle in the country with its unique flora and fauna. 

There are many historical wartime defences along this section of the coastline, include Napoleonic Martello towers, the Royal Military Canal at Hythe, the Listening Ears at Lade and a floating harbour from WW2 at Greatstone.

After turning inland around the MoD ranges at Hythe, the trail reaches Folkestone.  

Folkestone to Ramsgate   

This Heritage Coast showcases England’s White Cliffs with views across to France. The Sandwich Peninsula hosts much wildlife, particularly birds, and views across the extensive mudflats.  

There are cliff top walks and more level areas around Deal, Sandwich and the lower cliffs at Ramsgate.  

The area has history dating back to Roman landings, medieval castles at Dover, Deal and Walmer, the historic Cinque Port of Sandwich, Napoleonic defences including the Drop Reboubt fort at Dover and numerous sites from both World Wars.  

The trail passes through Sandwich and Pewell Bay National Nature Reserve, before arriving in Ramsgate.  

Ramsgate to Whitstable  

From the Royal Harbour in Ramsgate, the trail follows the seafront. It goes past the entrance to the town’s wartime tunnels, before it climbs up to the clifftop gardens and King George VI Memorial Park.  

From here, the trail continues along the chalk cliffs to Broadstairs.  

The path then follows the undercliff promenade beside Stone Bay beach and returns to the clifftops at Joss Bay. It passes Kingsgate Castle, the historic lighthouse and the chalk arch at Kingsgate Bay. Beyond the chalk stacks of Botany Bay, the trail continues into Margate.  

The trail then crosses quieter sandy beaches at Westgate and Birchington before joining the Northern Sea Wall. Around the trail are saline lagoons, grazing marsh and shingle habitat. The trail continues on to Reculver Country Park, with its early Roman site and the Reculver Towers.  

The end of this section follows clifftop grassland to Herne Bay and then the promenade. It goes past Tankerton’s beach huts into Whitstable, known for its oysters and maritime heritage. 

Whistable to Rochester – including the Isle of Sheppey  

This section begins in Whitstable, where the trail goes on shingle beaches and quiet coastal roads past Seasalter. The landscape then opens into the saltmarsh and mudflats of the Swale estuary.  

The trail continues west, towards Faversham Creek and the historic harbour. It passes boatyards, quays and long‑established boat‑building settlements.

After Oare Marshes and Conyer Creek, the trail follows the Swale estuary through areas of reedbed, mudflat and grazing marsh.  

The trail then crosses onto the Isle of Sheppey over the Kingsferry Bridge. It continues around the southern shoreline of the island, beside The Swale, and through Elmley National Nature Reserve. Beyond this the trail passes the quiet marches at the east of the island, going through the Swale National Nature Reserve.   

From here, the trail passes Minster’s seafront, the historic streets of Blue Town and the harbour at Sheerness.  

The section of the trail ends by leaving the island and following estuary landscapes and seawalls along the Medway back to Rochester. 

Rochester to Woolwich  

From Rochester, the trail follows estuary landscapes toward the Isle of Grain, with views across the Medway. There is a short section at Grain where the route is not complete, but you can use local buses to continue your journey.  

The trail continues past the Napoleonic fort at Cliffe and through long stretches of grazing marsh, before it reaches the urban areas of the Thames estuary.  

As the trail approaches Gravesend, it goes along wide promenades with views of major riverside infrastructure, including the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.  

The trail continues west, past modern residential developments, working wharves and industrial sites.  

It then enters Woolwich, passing the historic Royal Arsenal, where it connects with the Thames Path National Trail.  

From Woolwich, you may choose to walk the Thames Path either:  

• westwards through central London and onward to the river’s source in Gloucestershire 
• eastwards into Essex on the King Charles III England Coast Path 

There’s no longer a ferry at Tilbury, so you have to cross the river at Woolwich and catch the train to Tilbury to rejoin the King Charles England III Coast Path to continue around the coast.

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

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.