England Coast Path – North West

What is special about the Trail?

The England Coast Path is much more than just a path. It has been created under new legislation. It allows access to the coast including the cliff tops and the beach. Everything to the seaward side of the path is designated as Coastal Margin. This gives you the right to walk off the path. You can see where this land is – it is shaded pink on the 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey maps.

Although you have the right to explore away from the path please use common sense – the England Coast Path includes land that is steep, unstable and not readily accessible. Just because the maps says you can go there doesn’t mean it is safe to do so.

But you don’t have the right to walk everywhere in the area shaded pink – the Coastal Margin includes land:

• Where access rights don’t apply, for example cropped land, buildings and their curtilage (the land immediately surrounding them), and gardens. This land is called ‘excepted land’. You don’t have the right to walk on excepted land. You can see a full list of excepted land here.
• That is subject to local restrictions including many areas of saltmarsh and mud flats that are not suitable for public access. These are not shown on the interactive map or on standard purchased maps as they can change, or may only be relevant for certain months. Please follow instructions on the signs you see, and plan ahead by using CRoW & Coastal Access maps.

The trail also has two further unique elements:

• Rollback: If a section of the path is affected by erosion or other coastal change, the path can be rolled back in consultation with landowners, meaning that such changes can be managed quickly and you should be able to walk on a continuous route – even if the map or guidebook has not quite caught up with the change. Look out for local signage and information on our interactive map.
•  Alternative routes: If a section of path is affected by tides, or there are particular periods when access is restricted, there will be a locally signed route to take you around the affected area.

How does the England Coast Path relate to other National Trails?

Long distance routes and National Trails are shown on ordnance survey maps with green diamonds (normal footpaths have a short green dashed line). In the North West the England Coast Path replaces some long distance paths, giving a route that is closer to the coast in some places. The existing route may mean you have a choice in some places.

In the north west, the England Coast Path links up with Hadrians Wall National Trail and Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail via the Wales Coast Path, which itself links to the England Coast Path near Chester as well as linking with other long distance paths.