Walks | The Project

This page introduces, briefly at this stage, the project conceived in late 2018 to join up the coastal paths we were walking in southern England. This was partly born out of the desire to continue walking as we approach the completion of the South West Coast Path - which is often hard work but always stunning and rewarding.

The existing south coast paths would then be connected from the west to the east by waterways inland. The default direction of the circuit is clockwise.

With CV-19 progress is more limited although ~90km was completed in 2020, some of it before the first lockdown. We are also waiting for the outcome of path decisions regarding the England Coast Path in North Somerset, Hayling Island and the south bank of the Thames estuary.

The total distance will be around 2,300 km, perhaps a little more once the ECP remaining sections are finalised.

Whenever - we are ready to go for the 2021 season!

The table below reports circuit progress on 1st Jan 2021.

With two exceptions*, the four south coast paths pre-date the new England Coast Path [ECP] - which has yet to be fully finalised and installed.

We are now dependent on the ECP the complete the two ECP sections below [Somerset and Thames Estuaty South]. In most cases the ECP appears to be following much of the four south coast paths listed below between Whitstable & Minehead and the Isle of Wight. Though there are some proposed exceptions and extensions eg New Forest and Hayling Island.

* current ECP sections: Lulworth Cove to Easton, Portland and from Minehead to Brean Down.

Notes:

1. This path is not an officially named or supported LDP.
2. Awaiting new route definition and/or ground completion
3. Making around 1040km all told c/w the (dated) official distance of 1,014 km

Note: This section will be expanded in a future release