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King Charles III England Coast Path

Information about the King Charles III England Coast Path in Somerset

Introduction

information

Diversion information

The King Charles III England Coast Path has diversions at Chilton Trinity and Express Park in Bridgwater due to construction works for the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier. The diversion at Hinkley Point remains in place.

For more information, maps and gpx files of alternative routes see our Closures and diversions page.

The King Charles III 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. The path is being opened in sections but will, when completed, be the longest coastal path in the world at 2,795 miles or 4,500 kilometres.

Here in Somerset the path is open along our entire coast – between Brean Cross Sluice and Minehead, after which it follows the South West Coast Path to the border with Devon. To see other sections of open path you can check the GOV.UK progress map.

The Coast Path in Somerset

The 64-mile section of the King Charles III England Coast Path between Brean Cross and Minehead takes you on an amazing journey along the Somerset coast.

Beginning at Brean Cross and the border with North Somerset, it heads up onto Brean Down before it passes the sandy beaches of Berrow and Burnham-on-Sea and follows the River Parrett to the Victorian docks of Bridgwater before turning 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).

Where you can go

Between the King Charles III England Coast Path and the sea is an area known as the coastal margin – it is shaded pink on Ordnance Survey maps. In some places it may also extend inland from the trail.

You have a right to enjoy open air recreation in the coastal margin and can leave the path to enjoy 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.

Also be aware that many sections of our coast are steep and may be unstable, and that 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 doesn’t apply, for example crops, gardens, schools, railways. You don’t 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.

Closures and diversions

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. The closures are to allow for land construction works related to the creation of the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier.

For more information and maps of the diversions, visit the National Trails Express Park Diversion East Bank and National Trails Chilton Trinity Diversion West Bank pages. During the works please follow the diversion signs on the ground. 

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 where there is 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.

Dogs on the Coast Path

You are welcome to bring your dog to the King Charles III England Coast Path, but you must make sure that it is under effective control at all times. This means the dog must be on a lead or if not on a lead it must be kept within sight. You must be aware of its actions and confident that the dog will return reliably and promptly when called. Dogs must always be on a short lead around livestock.

At certain times of year in some locations, there may be additional restrictions on where dogs can go. Please obey any signs and stay out of areas where access with dogs is not allowed or keep your dog on a lead when requested to do so. Where restrictions are in place, they have been put there to protect sensitive wildlife or reduce problems around cattle.

To prevent the spread of infections and diseases associated with dog waste, always clean up and remove your dog’s waste from the area. And make sure that your dog has regular worming treatments.

For more information and guidance read our Guide for dog owners and dog walkers.

Trail Passport stamping stations

The Somerset and  Exmoor Coast includes the King Charles III England Coast Path from Brean to Minehead and the South West Coast Path from Minehead to County Gate and the border with Devon.

We have produced a Trail Passport to guide you along this 75 mile (120 kilometre) route to help you to collect stamps and record your memories as you walk this fantastic coastal trail.

There are over 35 stamping stations on or near the trail and some of the businesses involved have special offers or free gifts for passport holders.

Passports are available at the National Trust at Brean Down, the visitor centres in Burnham-on-Sea, Watchet, Dunster, Minehead and Porlock, and the Bridgwater Town Council offices.

To see the route, full details of the collection points and stamping stations and special offers along the route, visit the Somerset and Exmoor Coast itinerary on the National Trails website.

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 can use the Explore Somerset map to report it. More information can be found on our Report a problem with a public right of way page.

Please locate the issue on the map as accurately as possible as this makes it easier for the wardens and rangers to locate and investigate. Issues will be assessed and where necessary, action taken to try and resolve them. If you supply your email address, you will receive updates when the issue has been assigned and resolved or closed.

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 provide an immersive experience of the areas you are visiting using the internet.

For more information, see 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. Throughout next year we hope to be working with local communities and businesses to help them get the most out of their proximity to the path.

We welcome your feedback about events, activities you would like to see happen or ideas for how the trail can contribute to your community. To get in touch email us at rightsofway@somerset.gov.uk with “King Charles III England Coast Path” in the subject line.

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. 

Useful links

More information about the King Charles III England Coast Path, Somerset and the services on and around the trail.

Walking the Path

More about Somerset

Visitor information

Newsletter - The Coaster

Keep up-to-date with what’s happening on the King Charles III England Coast Path in Somerset through our newsletter – The Coaster. The Coaster provides a focal point for all things on and around the trail.

View online

Downloadable issues

If you would like to receive The Coaster by email, contact us and ask to be added to the mailing list. We also welcome your input for future issues. So if you have a project you would like to see included, an event for the diary or would just like to see your community or attraction get a mention, email us and let us know.

You can reach us at rightsofway@somerset.gov.uk with ”ECP The Coaster” in the subject field.

Social media

Keep up-to-date with what is happening on the King Charles III England Coast Path through our social media pages.

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Tag us in your posts from the Path using #ecpsomerset.

Last updated: July 2, 2025

Next review due: January 2, 2026

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