King Charles III was the guest of honour at the inauguration of the UK's newest and longest coastal path in Seaford at the end of last week. He surprised passing hikers and runners who had also gathered to enjoy the rare burst of sunny weather at Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve.
The 'new' National Trail is the work of a lifetime for some, with work on it first starting 18 years ago. The majority of the route is fully walkable, including many famous sections like the South West Coast Path and the Northumberland coast. In areas where the path already existed as part of other routes, the path has been renovated and upgraded.
During his visit, the King also opened the Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve, which is the 13th reserve to be declared as part of the King's Series of National Nature Reserves in celebration of His Majesty's Coronation. The royal patronage should ensure the conservation and preservation of some of the UK's most beautiful and ecologically diverse sites.
How long is the King Charles III England Coast Path?
The new coastal path stretches 2,689 miles (4,327km) around England's entire coastline, making it the world's longest managed coastal walking trail. That's 4,327,000 meters of paths, trails, boardwalks, and bridleways that would take the average man 5.6 million steps and the average woman 6.2 million steps to complete.
To put it into perspective, there are few other long-distance trails of a similar magnitude. One of the most famous is the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), which connects Mexico and Canada and traverses the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range. On a European scale, the same distance on established walking routes, notably E-paths, would take you from Southern Norway all the way to Northern Spain.
How long does it take to walk the entire King Charles III England Coast Path?
Watch out for the eager FKT (fastest known time) athletes, who've been waiting in the wings for years and are surely chomping at the bit to set the first record time on the England Coast Path. A walker travelling at a respectable 3mph however, could expect to complete the route after 900 hours (37.5 days) of continual walking. In real terms, this translates to a schedule of 6h/day taking 225 days, 8h/day taking 113 days, and 10h/day taking 90 days. Though any ambitious walkers eyeing up the feat will also need to take into account elevation, technical terrain, weather and accumulation of fatigue.
What is the total elevation of the King Charles III England Coast Path?
There isn’t yet an official published total elevation gain figure for the entire King Charles III England Coast Path, and Natural England hasn’t released a comprehensive sum of all climbs along the full route. However, what we do know is that the route follows all of England’s coastline from the Scottish border down to Cornwall and around to the south‑east, incorporating cliffs, dunes, estuaries, beaches and marshland.
Some parts include rugged and hilly areas, notably the aforementioned South West Coast Path, which is one of the steepest and most undulating long‑distance trails in England. Total recorded ascent over its 630 miles is about 114,931 ft (35,000 m), which is roughly the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest four times. It's safe to assume that the overall meters elevation for the entire England Coast Path will be in the hundred-thousands.
How many calories would you burn walking the entire path?
Walking the entire stretch of the path could result in a burn of 252,000 calories for men and 198,000 for women. Per 8h day, this would be up to approximately 2,240 kcal for men and 1,760 kcal for women. Terrain, elevation, and speed all play a part in the number of calories burned.
How long has it taken to build the King Charles III England Coast Path?
Thus far, the path has taken around 18 years to build. Permits required to create a continual coastal path were passed as the Marine and Coastal Access Act in 2009, and construction began the following year. The first section to open was along Weymouth Bay in 2012 and since then, the path has been built in sections around England's coastline.
As of March 2026, the route as a whole is now officially open; however, it technically still remains unfinished, with around 20% restricted due to issues with permits, coastal erosion, and access. Some of the coast is not walkable in a simple line, while areas like Norfolk's salt marshes, tidal flats in Morecambe Bay and estuaries require additional construction with raised boardwalks and bridges, adding time to the project. While work is ongoing to close the remaining gaps, full completion is not estimated until 2027.
Top image: Britain's King Charles III and South Downs National Park Authority walks the King Charles III England Coast Path as he inaugurates the path at Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve, in Seaford. (Credit: Chris Jackson / Getty Images)
