A major project to create a national trail around the entire coast of England to be called the King Charles III England Coast Path, took a step closer with the restoration of the South West Coast Path from Kimmeridge Bay to South Haven Point at Studland in Dorset.
Work had already begun to improve the 21 miles of footpath when part of the pathway collapsed in a landslide at Hounstout near Chapman’s Pool in April 2024.
This stunning photo was a runner up in the South West Coast Path photo competition 2025, showing the extent of the landslip next to Chapman’s Pool in April 2024, which destroyed a section of the coast path
Rerouting path around Hounstout
But now Natural England – the government body responsible for the project – has announced that all the work has been completed including the rerouting of the path around the dramatic Hounstout landslip.
The footpath works were completed by Dorset Council, working closely with the landowners, and was funded by the England Coast Path Establishment Fund. The new Hounstout section is already open to walkers.
Other improvements along the whole 21 mile stretch include new updated signage, replacing old stiles, fencing and gates, improving accessibility, and the resurfacing and installing of steps and handrails at places like Emmett’s Hill near Worth Matravers.
Importantly, the work has also ensured that the legal provisions are in place so the coast path can be ‘rolled back’ in response to coastal erosion.
This means that if a similar landslip like the one at Hounstout happened again, there are already plans and permissions in place to move the footpath further inland, ensuring the long term future of a continuous route for walkers.
Map showing the rerouting of the coast path following the landslip near Chapman’s Pool
New gates and signs are part of the improvements
“Safe and scenic route”
Dorset Council’s cabinet member for place services, councillor Jon Andrews said:
“This is wonderful news for Dorset. It not only provides a safe and scenic route for people to enjoy this stunning part of the Jurassic Coast, but it also gives our residents and visitors even more opportunities to connect with nature.”
The Durlston parkrun takes place along part of the coast path
New coast path sign at Sheps Hollow in Swanage
Aim to complete project by spring 2026
Natural England says it is working at pace to ensure the completion of the King Charles III England Coast Path, and by the end of 2024 it had completed the necessary improvement work along 1,400 miles of the English coastline.
The King Charles III England Coast Path will become the world’s longest managed coastal trail and subject to resources, it is expected to be completed by spring 2026.
It will secure legal rights of public access for the first time to typical coastal land including foreshore, beaches, dunes and cliffs that lie between the trail and the sea.
Further west along the Dorset coastline, the work on the section of South West Coast Path from Rufus Castle on Portland to Lulworth Cove has also been completed and the associated access rights are now in place.
However there are complications between Lulworth Cove and Kimmeridge Bay. The land which includes the Lulworth Ranges is owned by the Ministry of Defence and is used for live firing practice.
So far, the proposals are still in development. However a solution is bound to present itself as King Charles III is Head of the Armed Forces.
Map showing progress of King Charles III coast path. The green sections are completed and work has yet to start on the orange section between Lulworth Cove and Kimmeridge Bay
The strip of land between the two stone walls has been bought by the National Trust, including the pair of mile markers
National Trust acquires part of Scott Estate land
Separately, the National Trust has announced that it has bought the stretch of coastline between Verney Farm and Belle Vue Farm in Swanage, so it now owns the land along the South West Coast Path from Weston Farm at Worth Matravers, right up to Durlston Country Park owned by Dorset Council. The land was previously owned by the Scott Estate
This means that the area of coastal grassland is now being primarily managed for nature conservation as opposed to agriculture.
The fields that are further inland will still be farmed but without chemicals and a conservation grazing regime will be introduced.
The land includes a pair of historic mile markers which allowed ships in the days before digital technology to work out their speed. By aligning these mile markers and then recording the time it took to get to another pair of mile markers, a mile down the coast, sailors could gauge the speed of their boat.
Although the footpath along the coastline already meets national trail standards, the National Trust is planning to improve the area for walkers, including widening the South West Coast Path to make it safer.
It says there is also scope to add a new permissive route from the coast path inland to the Priest’s Way, which would provide an alternative walking route.
The South West Coast Path from Durlston in the foreground to Winspitt in the distance
“Improving access is a key aim”
General manager for the National Trust in Purbeck, Tracey Churcher said:
“We manage land for nature and people, so improving access is a key aim for us. We added a similar inland route at Weston Farm in Worth Matravers which is proving to be hugely popular.
“A new inland path would also offer different views, including looking down on the iconic mile markers.”
Further information
- More about the King Charles III England Coast Path
