The world's longest coastal path, taking trekkers across the UK has fully opened... with part of it heading through Sussex.
The King Charles III England Coast Path will provide a right of access around the entire coastline for the first time.
The project has been in the works for over a decade and is due to be completed soon.
Parts of the path all over the country are already open, with the full coastal path coming shortly, with part of it through Sussex.
What is the King Charles Coastal Path as it opens to public?
The King Charles III England Coast Path is a long-distance National Trail around the entire coastline of England.
The entire pathway will span just over 4,300km (2,689) miles, with large parts already established.
While most of the route already existed, about 1,000 miles of new path were created and many paths have been resurfaced, or had stiles removed, boardwalks built and bridges installed.
About 80% of the route is now open with the majority of the rest due to be completed by the end of 2026.
The route is divided into five separate areas, roughly based on the region, which are:
- North-East (Berwick to Skegness)
- East (Skegness to London)
- South-East (London to Southampton)
- South-West (Southampton to Aust)
- North-West (Queensferry to Gretna)
The first section, along Weymouth Bay, opened in 2012, and a stretch in Sussex opened very recently.
The Seven Sisters cliffs in East Sussex, which form part of the path, were made a national nature reserve by Natural England, which inaugurated the path this week.
King Charles visited the cliffs to officially open the new coastal path on Thursday (March 19).
King Charles' Coastal Path through Chichester Harbour opens
Much of the stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path goes through Sussex, with part of it only opening recently.
The 35-mile stretch of coastal path through Chichester Harbour from South Hayling in Hampshire to East Head in West Sussex opened last month.
The path passes through salt marshes, mudflats, and villages and brings the total length of the continuous coast path between Calshot in Hampshire and Rye Harbour in East Sussex to more than 210 miles.
A stretch of the path from Eastbourne to Rye was previously opened in December 2024.
This came after a 40-mile trek between East Head and Shoreham that opened in October 2023.
On the latest path opening, Councillor Joy Dennis, West Sussex County Council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The King Charles III England Coast Path represents a major step forward for our communities and our natural environment.
"The improved path around Chichester Harbour with better surfacing, clearer signage and new boardwalks makes the coastline even more accessible.
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"This route will boost local tourism, support wildlife, and give people the chance to explore areas previously out of reach.
"Importantly, the trail has been designed to adapt to coastal erosion, ensuring that public access is protected in the future."
Have you tried the King Charles Coastal Path in Sussex yet? Let us know in the comments.
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