hero media

The world’s longest coastal trail is opening in England  

Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
After 18 years and seven prime ministers, the 4327-kilometre King Charles III England Coast Path has been inaugurated. 

For a country known for its love of a good stroll, England is about to raise the stakes, linking its entire coastline into what will soon become the longest managed walking path in the world. 

Inaugurated by King Charles last week at the Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve, the King Charles III England Coast Path stretches around the country’s entire coastline – from the Scottish border above Berwick all the way down to Land’s End in Cornwall and up the South West Atlantic Coast. Once fully open by the end of the year, the eight-section trail will span approximately 4327 kilometres in length. 

King Charles III England Coast Path
The new coastal trail spans more than 4327 kilometres. (Credit: Unsplash/George Hiles)

The project was first set in motion during Gordon Brown’s government, with legislation passed in 2008 and work beginning in 2009. Now, around 80 per cent of the route is open to amblers, strollers and long-distance hikers alike. 

While the trail incorporates many existing coastal walks, more than 1600 kilometres have been newly created or substantially upgraded – bridges installed, paths resurfaced and access points opened up to previously hard-to-reach stretches of shore.  

grey seals on the Lincolnshire Coast
Spot grey seals on the Lincolnshire Coast. (Credit: Unsplash/Matt Cowley)

The path winds along striking sandy stretches, craggy cliffs, salt marshes and historic seaside towns – where a well-earned pub pint is never far away. Highlights include the chalk cliffs of Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve, the wildlife-rich Lincolnshire Coast – where walkers may spot grey seals during pupping season – and the shifting scenery of Cornwall, famed for its button-cute cottages. 

When combined with existing routes such as the Wales Coast Path, the King Charles III England Coast Path opens up the possibility for unforgettable, island-spanning adventures around Great Britain. It reflects a growing global demand for long-distance hiking, also seen in projects such as South Korea’s new Dongseo Trail.  

Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve
The Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve is part of the King Charles III England Coast Path. (Credit: Unsplash/Marc Najera)

But for many walkers, the appeal isn’t necessarily conquering all 4327 kilometres in one go. It’s in dipping in and out: a clifftop stretch here, a hidden cove there, a weekend wandering between coastal villages. 

The English have long believed that most problems can be improved, if not solved, by a walk; the King Charles III England Coast Path suggests they are now willing to test that theory on a national scale. 

cornwall house and boats
King Charles III England Coast Path passes through picturesque Cornwall. (Credit: Unsplash/jbc)

A map of the hiking path and its eight main sections can be found on the National Trail website.

Want to see more stories from International Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set International Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "International Traveller". That's it.
Eleanor Edström
Eleanor Edström is International Traveller’s Associate Editor. El began her career writing for national magazines including Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel, and has since developed a soft spot for wild landscapes, thoughtful design and the human stories that bring them to life. She holds an honours degree in English and philosophy from the University of Sydney, and has lived abroad in both Switzerland and France – ostensibly to sharpen her French, though the pastries made a strong supporting case. One day, she hopes to swim with humpback whales off the coast of Mo'orea.
View profile and articles
Celia Carriage on The British Pullman, A Belmond Train
England

This iconic UK train just got a Baz Luhrmann makeover

The British Pullman, A Belmond Train, has revelaed a cinematic new dining carriage designed by beloved filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and Oscar-winning costume and production designer Catherine Martin.

Read more
hertfordshire bluebells
England

Visiting London? These gorgeous bluebell woods are blooming just one hour away

Don't miss this fairyland day trip from London before it's too late.

Read more
Swimming pool at six senses london
London

Six Senses London opens within a former Art Deco department store

The luxury hotel brand has officially made its UK debut.

Read more
Virgin Hotels Shoreditch
London

This playful London hotel puts you in the heart of Shoreditch 

Big rooms, buzzy bars and a rooftop scene that captures Shoreditch at its most fun. 

Read more
hero media

What the European heatwave means for your summer travel plans

    Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
    Continue
    Temperatures are soaring this summer, breaking records across Europe and the UK. 

    Euro summer is a feeling like no other. But when a heatwave hits? The dream trip quickly turns into a sweaty mess. Extreme heat is sweeping Europe and the UK this week, with record-high temperatures impacting travel plans across the continent.

    And while Australian summers are typically hotter in absolute temperature, many European cities aren’t equipped for high temperatures, resulting in unbearable weather.

    Why is it so hot in Europe?

    Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.

    France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.

    In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.

    The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.

    Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.

    How travel is impacted

    A pharmacy sign displaying 40 degrees Celcius
    A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)

    During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.

    If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.

    Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?

    people swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris
    People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)

    With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.

    Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.

    How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave

    Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.

    Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.

    Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.