The England Coast Path is a new hiking trail that will be the longest coastal path in the world. If England is on your bucket list, be sure to check it out!
AFAR ~ ” Break out the hiking boots: The England Coast Path will soon allow you to walk along the entire coast of England, including areas previously inaccessible to the public. The trail, due to be completed next year, will stretch 2,800 miles along cliffs and beaches and through seaside towns and major cities, making it the longest marked oceanside path in the world. Hikers will be able to tackle sections at a time, but those attempting to conquer the whole thing should expect to be plodding along for more than five months. Two slightly shorter routes, the iconic Pacific Crest (2,653 miles) and the Appalachian (2,200 miles) Trails, both take between five and seven months to complete.
The path has been in the making for over a decade. In 2009, the United Kingdom’s Marine and Coastal Access Act first made provisions for the long-distance route, stipulating that the public would also have access to the land between the path and the shoreline, an area now referred to as the ‘coastal margin.’ During 2013, the U.K. secretary of state approved the plans for the current route, most of which will be unpaved, except for sections that pass through villages, towns, and cities. Since then, Natural England, the governmental organization responsible for the trail, has developed the route, which is a mix of existing seaside walkways and new trails all marked with the distinctive National Trail acorn graphic. With luck, the complete path will open in 2021, which has been designated the Year of the English Coast and will be celebrated with events in oceanside communities.
Jurassic Coast | Image by David Mark from Pixabay
The National Trails website offers interactive maps with detailed information about the parts of each section that are currently accessible. Mud and Routes, a website for hiking enthusiasts in the United Kingdom, also maintains a guide to the English Coast Path that includes photos and video overviews of the open sections, downloadable maps, paper map recommendations, suggested gear lists, and path statistics, including altitude changes.” ~ AFAR
**Please note: Due to the impact of COVID-19 on travel, we encourage people to always plan trips in accordance with the guidance provided by government and health officials.
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