Introduction
The King Charles III England Coast Path is a new walking trail that will eventually stretch all the way around England’s coastline. For the first time, everyone will be allowed to walk along the whole open coast. The path is being opened in sections and once it is finished, it will be the longest coastal walking route in the world, covering 2,795 miles (4,500 kilometres).
The path in Somerset is open for 64 miles along the whole coast, from Brean Cross Sluice to Minehead. After Minehead, it follows the Southwest Coast Path to the border with Devon. You can see which other parts of the path are open by checking the GOV.UK progress map.
Starting at Brean Cross near the North Somerset border, the trail climbs Brean Down, then passes the sandy beaches of Berrow and Burnham-on-Sea. It follows the River Parrett to the old Victorian docks in Bridgwater, before heading back to the salt marshes at Steart Point and the Bridgwater Bay Nature Reserve. To find out more about walking this stretch of the trail, visit our sample itinerary on the National Trails website and download our short walking guide (PDF).
Celebrating 10 years of the Coast Path in Somerset
This year marks ten years since the King Charles III England Coast Path in Somerset opened. To celebrate, the Somerset Trail Partnership has organised different events and walks.
Closures and diversions
Minehead Golf Course
Following damage caused by storms and erosion, the King Charles III England Coast Path has been closed along the full length of Minehead Golf Course from the Club House to the River Avill at the Northwest end of Dunster Beach Chalets. An alternative route has been fully signposted on the ground with a single route between Minehead and Dunster and a choice of two routes to return to the Trail from Dunster. While this closure is in place please follow the diversion signs on the ground. Visit the National Trails Minehead Golf Course Diversion page for more information and access to an online map and .gpx file of the route.
Bridgwater River Parrett
The King Charles III England Coast Path is closed on two short sections on both the east west banks of the River Parrett in Bridgwater and at Brickyard Clyce in Pawlett. The closures are to allow for land construction works related to the creation of the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier. During the works, please follow the diversion signs on the ground. To find more information and maps of the diversions, visit these pages.
- National Trails Express Park Diversion East Bank
- National Trails Chilton Trinity Diversion West Bank
- National Trails Brickyard Clyce Diversion
Hinkley diversion
There is a long-term diversion in place on the King Charles III England Coast Path during the construction phase of Hinkley Point C. While this closure is in place please follow the diversion signs on the ground. Visit the National Trails Hinkley Point Diversion page for more information and access to an online map and .gpx file of the route.
Tidal sections
There are four sections of the King Charles III England Coast Path in Somerset where the route is on the beach and becomes impassable during high tides:
- Minehead to Blue Anchor
- Helwell Bay Watchet
- St Audries Bay
- Burnham-on-Sea to Brean
To find out more, visit the Circular and Linear Walks on the King Charles III England Coast Path in the South West on the National Trails website. This is where you will find a Tidal Alternative Routes section.
Seasonal diversions
There are two seasonal diversions on the King Charles III England Coast Path that have been created to protect sensitive wildlife in the area:
- The Brean Seasonal Riverside Walk – This is only open between 16 May and the 15 July each year as it is home to many migrant water birds in passage and overwintering. You can see the alternative route and download a .gpx file from Brean Seasonal Riverside Walk.
- The Steart Marshes Summer route – This is open between 1 April and the 30 September each year. You can see the alternative route on Winter diversion at Steart Marshes.
Access for all
In spring 2026, Somerset’s Accessible Coast will be launched. This will provide useful information to help all sorts of people plan their visit to the coast. The resources will include an online tool with Street View, showing what the paths are like, where you will find steps, narrow spots and barriers that might make it hard to get through, as well as the locations of car parks and toilets. There will also be local leaflets with maps and details about how easy the paths are, plus links to Somerset’s Accessible Coast Online. Find out more about Somerset’s Accessible Coast.
Safety and access
The area between the King Charles III England Coast Path and the sea is called the coastal margin, and it is shown in pink on Ordnance Survey maps. Sometimes, this area can stretch further inland from the path. You have a right to enjoy outdoor activities here and can leave the path to visit areas like beaches. But some activities are not allowed, such as paragliding, hang-gliding, camping, horse-riding, cycling and lighting fires, unless you have the permission of the landowner.
Be aware that many sections of our coast are steep or unstable, and the shores and estuaries can have fast incoming tides and areas of soft sand and mud. Just because the map says you can go there, does not mean it is safe to do so. Always take note of warning signs along the path.
Some parts of the coastal margin are not open to the public:
- Land that has permanent or temporary restrictions to protect sensitive wildlife
- Land that is not suitable for public access such as areas of saltmarsh and mud flats
- Areas with land management activities or where dangerous operations take place
- Land where local byelaws restrict access, for example on military land
- Excepted land – land where the right of access for open air recreation does not apply, for example crops, gardens, schools, railways. You do not have the right to walk on excepted land. You can view a list of excepted land on the GOV.UK website.
Local restrictions can be found on Natural England’s Open Access maps website. Remember, when using areas of the trail on the beach always check the tide times and at all times on the trail follow on-site signage and the guidance of the Countryside Code on the National Trails website.
Circular and short walks
There are over 30 short and circular walks that take in sections of the King Charles III England Coast Path in Somerset. You can get individual walk pocket guides from Visitor Centres in Somerset or visit the National Trails Circular and Linear Walks page for:
- links to the Storywalks online
- walk details and online maps
- downloadable pocket guides with route maps and direction
- .gpx files
The walks offer a great introduction to Somerset’s coast and exploration of the villages and towns. There are two types of walk:
- 16 circular routes – with maps and walking notes
- 19 Storywalks – great for a family day out and you can access them using a smartphone
The 16 circular walks include a range of styles. Some take you off the beaten track to discover the wilder sections of our coast and others visit towns and villages and offer the option to stop for a cream tea or pub lunch. There are also some longer walks for those wanting to make a day of it. To see the locations for the walks on a map, download our Coastal Walks in Somerset leaflet (PDF).
Storywalks
Working with local poet Chris Jelley, we have developed a series of Storywalks for families and small groups on the King Charles III England Coast Path. These walks let you explore the local areas in a fun and interactive way using your phone or the internet. To find out more, visit our King Charles III England Coast Path Storywalks page.
Coast Path Communities
If you live or own a business on or near to the King Charles III England Coast Path, we are here to support you. Over the next year, we want to work with local communities and businesses so everyone can benefit from being close to the path. We would love to hear your thoughts about events, activities you would like to take part in, or suggestions for how the trail could help your community. If you would like to get in touch, please email rightsofway@somerset.gov.uk and put “King Charles III England Coast Path” in the subject line.
Managing the Coast Path
The Somerset Trail Partnership looks after the King Charles III England Coast Path in Somerset. This group brings together important local organisations to help care for and promote the path. Their main job is to make sure the trail is well looked after, safe, easy for everyone to use, and always open. They also work to protect and improve the beautiful countryside, wildlife, and history along the route, so everyone can enjoy and access this special place.
The partners are:
- Somerset Council’s Rights of Way King Charles III England Coast Path team
- Support Services for Education at Kilve Court
- the Ramblers Association
- Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) at Steart Marshes
- the National Trust at Brean Down
- the Quantock Hills National Landscape
- Somerset Wildlife Trust
- Visit Somerset
Volunteering on the coast path
For those of you who enjoy getting out onto our coastline, you might be interested in the King Charles III England Coast Path Trail Watchers Scheme. This gives volunteers the opportunity to adopt a section of the trail and to help us look after it. To find out more about the Trail Watchers Scheme contact us at ROWvolunteers@somerset.gov.uk.
Trail Passport stamping stations
The Somerset and Exmoor Coast covers the King Charles III England Coast Path from Brean to Minehead, and the Southwest Coast Path from Minehead to County Gate near the Devon border. There is a Trail Passport to help you follow this 75-mile (120 kilometre) walk, collect stamps, and keep a record of your journey along this beautiful coastline. There are more than 35 stations along or near the trail where you can get your passport stamped. Some businesses taking part offer special deals or free gifts to people with a passport. You can get a passport from the National Trust at Brean Down, visitor centres in Burnham-on-Sea, Watchet, Dunster, Minehead and Porlock, or at the Bridgwater Town Council offices.
To find the route, see all the collection points, stamping stations and special offers, visit the Somerset and Exmoor Coast itinerary on the National Trails website.
Dogs on the Coast Path
You can bring your dog along the King Charles III England Coast Path, but you must keep it under control at all times. This means your dog should either be on a lead, or if not, you need to be able to see it, know what it is doing, and feel sure it will come back quickly when called. When walking near livestock, your dog must always be on a short lead. Sometimes, there may be extra restrictions about where dogs can go, especially during certain times of the year or in specific places. Please pay attention to signs, avoid areas where dogs are not allowed, and put your dog on a lead if asked. These rules are there to protect wildlife or stop issues with cattle.
Report a problem on the path
If you encounter problems such as broken or missing signs, blocked routes or other access issues during your walk on the King Charles III England Coast Path, you let us know by using the Explore Somerset map to report it. More information can be found on our Report a problem with a public right of way page.
Useful links
More information about the King Charles III England Coast Path, Somerset and the services on and around the trail.
Newsletter - The Coaster
Stay informed about news and updates on the King Charles III England Coast Path in Somerset by reading our newsletter, The Coaster. The Coaster shares everything happening along the trail and nearby areas.
If you would like to receive The Coaster newsletter by email, just get in touch and ask to join our mailing list. We are also happy to hear your suggestions for future editions. If you have a project, an event, or want your community or local attraction mentioned, simply email us your ideas. You can contact us at rightsofway@somerset.gov.uk. Please put ”ECP The Coaster” in the subject field.
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