Last Updated: Wednesday 6th January 2021. Important: All National Trail users need to ensure they are following the latest Government rules and guidance. The relevant links are provided below.
There is guidance in England on staying safe and protecting others in green spaces.
Exercise is important for health and wellbeing, but please follow guidance to stay safe and protect others.
Read the full up-to-date rules effective in England here. Those relevant to visiting green space include you:
You should read the full advice and regulations for England here before exercising outdoors.
Relevant advice when using National Trails in England:
Remember – ‘Hands. Face. Space’
The England Coast Path in the North West stretches from the Scottish Border to the Welsh Border. Skirting the Lake District, Morecambe Bay, iconic Blackpool, the stunning sand dunes around Formby, and the famous city of Liverpool it truly is a journey of contrasts. Some sections are already open, others will open over the coming years.
Explore the coast for three days, a week or even longer. Find inspiration for your walking adventure using our suggested itineraries, or select one of our bookable itineraries which are highlighted with a star.
Find useful facts and learn more about the development of the England Coast Path in the North West below. Select the blue tabs below for more details.
The England Coast Path is a new walking route that will follow the entire coast of England. For the first time people will have the right of access around all our open coast. This includes – where appropriate – any land, other than the trail itself, which forms part of the Coastal Margin.
The England Coast will be the longest coastal walking route in the world when it is complete. At the moment you can only walk some sections of the England Coast Path National Trail. In the North West, the following sections are open to the public (as of February 2020):
There are route descriptions in the Further Information section of this website.
The open sections are shown on the interactive map. As new sections open they will be added to the website maps. You can also see open sections and find out about progress on other sections on the Natural England webpages at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-coast-path-in-the-north-west-of-england.
The England Coast Path is being created under new legislation. In parts it follows existing public rights of way, but many sections are completely new and use a new right of access. Because of this it has different rules to public rights of way. Please make sure you obey any on-site signage. Read more about this in ‘What’s special about the Trail’ below.
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:
The trail also has two further unique elements:
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.
Visit our News Page for the latest interesting and exciting news on the England Coast Path
Discover something new to explore every step of the way, from natural icons and historic attractions to coastal towns and villages…
Feeling inspired? Build a bespoke itinerary and start planning your visit to this great National Trail here.
If you have feedback or a question about the England Coast Path, please contact the team responsible.