Guidance

South: 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 of England, the trail goes from near Bournemouth to Shoreham-by-Sea. It also goes around the Isle of Wight and the Solent estuary.  

The trail goes past busy towns and cities with ancient natural harbours and dockyards, along sandy beaches and through nature reserves.  

The trail passes through 2 National Landscapes: the Isle of Wight and Chichester Harbour. It also goes through the New Forest National Park, close to the South Downs National Park and through UNESCO Isle of Wight Biospehere.

About the trail  

In the south of England, the King Charles III England Coast Path goes between:  

• Barton-on-Sea  
• Brighton

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. However, most of the trail is on natural surfaces. 

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

What you can experience on the trail  

 There are many things you can experience on the coast path in the South, including:  

• wildlife – such as birds, mammals, plants, butterflies and invertebrates 
• historic and heritage sites – such as Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and Portchester Castle, Osborne House, 
• nature reserves – such as Calshot Marshes, Farlington Marshes, Southmoor, Medmerry and Pagham Harbour
• natural harbours of Langstone, Chichester and Portsmouth  
• local culture, food and entertainment 

In the South, the trail goes through: 

• Brighton 
• Portsmouth 
• Gosport

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.

Barton on Sea (east of Bournemouth) to Southampton  

This section of the trail starts near Barton on Sea, on the Dorset and Hampshire border. The trail passes Millford on Sea and Lymington, and then goes inland to Beaulieu and on to Calshot and Hythe.

There’s currently no ferry service across Southampton Water from Hythe to the Town Quay. There’s a diversion which follows the road into Southampton.

Southampton to Portsmouth 

This section is mostly in urban areas, with maritime heritage and industry. Parts of the Portsmouth Harbour are industrial, with a working container port and a continental ferry terminal. 

Amongst the urban areas there are wildlife sites. There are also mudflats and saltmarsh, and islands in the large natural harbours which supports diverse birdlife.  

If the Hamble Ferry is not running, you can continue your journey to Warsash or Hamble by walking around the Hamble River. This adds approximately 6 miles (9km) to the walk.   

The section ends at Portsmouth historic dockyard.

The Isle of Wight

There are various ferry services to reach the Isle of Wight.

The Isle of Wight includes varied landscapes – chalk and sandstone cliffs, coastal grassland and sandy beaches. There are Victorian seaside towns and promenades, nature reserves and lots of cultural and maritime history.

From East Cowes Ferry, the trail is mostly on roads around Old Castle Point to Wotton Bridge then onto to Ryde. From Ryde, the trail stays close to the coast around Bembridge Harbour then along cliff tops to Culver Down.

From high on the Culver Down, the trail descends to long a promenade through Sandown. It goes past the pier, then to Shanklin, Shanklin Old Village and then rises to cliff tops again past Luccombe. The trail continues to Ventnor and then through parkland and promenades to Steephill Cove, before it reaches cliff paths and then to Binnel Bay.

At Binnel Bay, the trail rounds St Catherine’s Point above the cliffs past Blackgang Chine, and then goes the along the quiet rural cliff tops to Chilton Chine.

Between Chilton Chine and Colwell Chine, the trail includes clifftop walking with access to beaches such as Compton Bay, and heritage sites including The Needles, The New and Old Batteries and Alum Bay around the western point of the island.

The promenade walk from Totland Bay to Colwell Bay has facilities for families, swimming, water sports and coastal views.

The trail passes through Fort Victoria Country Park and Yarmouth, with an easy, accessible shoreline walk with views across the Solent. It enters Bouldnor Copse and then turns inland around the Newton River and Clamerkin Lake, and then along the cliffs and into West Cowes.

The trail then follows The Medina inland to Newport and back to East Cowes Ferry Terminal.

Portsmouth to Selsey Bill

This section begins in Old Portsmouth, where the trail follows the urban waterfront before continuing past Southsea Castle and along Southsea’s promenade and shingle beach.

From Portsea Island, after rounding Eastney Point, the trail goes into the natural landscapes of Langstone Harbour. It passes tidal mudflats, saltmarsh and nature reserves such as Farlington Marshes and Southmoor. The trail goes through Langstone then crosses Langstone Bridge to Hayling Island, which is known for wildlife, the Hayling Billy Trail and watersports.

Portsmouth to Selsey Bill

This section begins in Old Portsmouth, where the trail follows the urban waterfront before continuing past Southsea Castle and along Southsea’s promenade and shingle beach.

From Portsea Island, after rounding Eastney Point, the trail goes into the natural landscapes of Langstone Harbour. It passes tidal mudflats, saltmarsh and nature reserves such as Farlington Marshes and Southmoor. The trail goes through Langstone then crosses Langstone Bridge to Hayling Island, which is known for wildlife, the Hayling Billy Trail and watersports.

From the coast at South Hayling, the trail enters Chichester Harbour and weaves around islands and peninsulas. It goes through tidal channels, dunes and grasslands and passes back across Langstone Bridge to Emsworth.

The trail continues around the Thorney, Chidham and Bosham peninsulas before reaching the Itchenor Ferry.

When the seasonal Itchenor ferry is not running, you can take an alternative 8-mile route on foot. It goes around the Chichester Channel, past the Roman Palace at Fishbourne.

From West Itchenor, the trail continues to towards the dune system at East Head. The trail reaches the sandy beaches of West Wittering and East Wittering, before it turns inland around Broad Rife at Medmerry reserve before reaching Selsey Bill.

Selsey Bill to Shoreham-by-Sea

This section includes seaside promenades, beaches, historic towns and nature reserves known for bird and wildlife watching at Pagham Harbour.

The trail passes through popular seaside resorts where there are many options for food and drink, accommodation and leisure activities – including Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Worthing and Shoreham-By-Sea.

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.