The Cornish coastline of England on the King Charles III England Coast Path.gettyIn Richard III, Shakespeare called Britain “this precious stone set in the silver sea.” Britain is well known for its maritime history, and with no one living more than 80 miles from the sea, it has a rich relationship with the coastline that is more than 22,000 miles long, spanning many climates, habitats and wildlife, and taking in over 6,000 islands. In summer 2026, the world’s longest managed coastal path will open fully to the public for the first time. So why not hike the King Charles III England Coast Path, discovering the cities, small villages, and diverse landscapes of the British Isles?The world’s longest managed coastal path opens in full in summer 2026The coastal path route is split into 8 sections and mostly follows the direct coastline, occasionally veering off for safety or access reasons. North West—from the Scottish border at Gretna Green to the border with Wales near Chester. It passes the Lake District, Blackpool and Liverpool. It is some of the wildest and remotest U.K. coastline, with huge swathes of salt marsh, and it passes near the large Roman site of Senhouse.South West-Atlantic—this part runs from Aust by the Severn bridge to Penzance, crossing the historic port of Bristol, nature reserves, Sites of Specific Scientific Interest, and it shadows the West Somerset Steam Railway.South West Channel—this part takes in rocky cliffs, sandy beaches, and fishing villages and is one of the most popular. It passes by St Michael’s Mount, the most southerly peninsula in the country, called the Lizard, home to heathland and rare plants, and offering the possibility for Cornish cream teas in delightful villages en route. The path also passes through Studland Bay, a Marine Conservation Zone. South—from Southampton to Shoreham-by-Sea, taking in the Isle of Wight via lots of popular seaside resorts, like Littlehampton.South East—taking in Woolwich on the river Thames to Brighton, Roman sites and wartime remains and the quite wonderful White Cliffs of Dover.East Anglia—the sandy dunes and beaches of Norfolk, elephant fossils at West Runton, the red and white striped candy cliffs at Hunstanton and the longest pleasure pier in the world at Southend-on-Sea.Lincolnshire—known for the seaside towns of Cleethorpes, Mablethorpe and Skegness —now offers new sections open to tidal marshes and birdwatching.NorthEast and East—running from the Scottish border on the east coast, home to tiny fishing villages as well as castles, large towns like Whitby and Scarborough and historic Durham’s wildflower meadows.The England Coastal Path Offers The Best Opportunity To Take In Very Diverse Landscapes and HabitatsThe Gulf Stream brings warm water into the U.K. seas, along with choppy weather that churns the waters, allowing nutrients to cycle to the sea surface and nourishing marine wildlife. The King Charles III England Coast Path is a great opportunity to take in some very diverse landscapes that include:The English Channel, the busiest sea route in the world, with more than 50 boats passing through every day, and the Dover Strait, the busiest shipping lane.The Severn Estuary, which has the second-highest tidal range in the world, and the Norfolk coast, which is home to one of the longest chalk reefs in the world—the Cromer Shoal Chalkbed—which is 100 million years old, formed during the Ice Age and stretches 20 miles. A vast array of wildlife, including seabirds, seagrass, seals, otters, basking sharks, and bottlenose dolphins. The Jurassic Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only place in the world where you can see Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous rock spanning 185 million years of our planet’s history.The King Charles III England Coast Path opens in full in summer 2026 (although most of it is already open); more details can be found on the official site, along with an interactive map of the coastal path.MORE FROM FORBESForbesThe Best Places For Expats, As Per Three New StudiesBy Alex LedsomForbesAir Travel Disruption And Skyrocketing Prices—Should Travelers Book Now?By Alex LedsomForbesTurn Your Time Off Into An Investment That Outlasts The VacationBy Alex Ledsom