I Hiked the Longest Coast Path in the World
This soon-to-be-completed thru-hike will be over three times longer than the longest coast path in the world
This coast path takes in some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes this country has to offer, its trail winding along rugged cliffs, vast beaches, salt marshes and fens, through bustling fishing villages and seaports steeped in a rich history of ancient kings, smugglers, pirates, local folklore and world-renowned myths.
The edge of this country is teeming with wildlife, its cliffs loud and alive with puffins, gannets and fulmars, the turquoise bays and beaches filled with curious seals and weaving dolphins. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a whale off shore.
Having walked the entirety of the King Charles III England Coast Path, I’m convinced it traces the edge of one of the most beautiful countries in the world. If you want to immerse yourself in a diverse culture that changes as much as the landscape, there is no better thru-hike.
The England Coast Path links the large gaps between some of the already existing coast trails, such as the South West Coast Path, Norfolk Coast Path, Yorkshire’s Cleveland Way and the Northumberland Coast Path. The King Charles III England Coast Path is set to be 2,795 miles long when it’s completed.
Technically, the longest coast path in the world remains the 870-mile-long Wales Coast Path, but the King Charles III England Coast Path will be over 3 times its length, at 2,795 miles. The two coast paths will eventually combine to create 3,665 miles of trail.
The Pandemic seriously delayed the England Coast Path’s completion, originally set to open in 2021, and the coronation of King Charles III has since altered its name, who recently granted access through his royal estate in Sandringham, Norfolk.
There remain several areas where sections haven’t been linked together but having done it myself, among a growing community of UK coast walkers, these sections are still very manageable and invite a lot of creativity and different route choices.
I met several people who were walking the coast in sections or in one continuous effort. I met a man who walked the England and Wales Coast Paths, linking the east and west coasts of England by traversing Hadrian’s Wall, the old Roman border between England and Scotland.
My walk took me around the entire coast of the island of Great Britain, which included the mainland of Wales (adding around 740 miles) and Scotland (another 3000+ miles!), which was just shy of 6,600 miles in total. But I’ll talk about Scotland and Wales another time.
This England Coast Path opens up unlimited possibilities for incredible journeys and I hope it will set a precedent for establishing more long-distance trails.
Follow me as I write about the coast and more Great British trails!
