Our love affair with the coast is set to take off

As the countdown begins to the England Coast Path – due to be completed next year – Sophie Khan celebrates summer rambling, in particular coastal walking.

There’s nothing like embracing the freedom of long sunny days to head out for a walk by the sea. Whether you live by the coast or head there for holidays, we all have a stretch that’s close to our heart.

Perhaps that’s not so surprising on an island where no one is more than 70 miles from the coast.

This summer, the Ramblers is inviting everyone to celebrate the joy of walking by the coast as they look ahead to the official opening celebrations for the England Coast Path.

The walking charity is launching a Coast Path Countdown, as mile by mile, work continues to connect the remaining stretches of the trail.

They are calling on people across the UK to join them in celebrating our love of the coast and supporting their work opening the way for everyone to enjoy the simple pleasures of walking.

Ramblers member Eve Maunder said: “A coastal walk offers everything in a perfect walking package.

“A walk by the coast provides so much variety and is a feast for the senses; golden sands and pebble beaches, commanding cliff top views of land and sea, with welcome glimpses of wildlife.

“I like to hear the familiar cries of the Herring Gull and the crashing of the surf upon

the beach. Somehow, the air feels fresher on a coastal walk which makes the whole experience thoroughly invigorating. A coastal walk can never become boring as it changes frequently depending on the season.”

The Ramblers campaigned for years for the England Coast

Path. Once complete, it will be the world’s longest continuous coastal trail at over 2,700 miles long. Together with the Wales Coast Path and the fantastic access rights we enjoy in Scotland, we’ll soon have opportunities for incredible coastal walking all around Britain.

The exciting new National Trail has become a reality thanks in large part to dedicated Ramblers volunteers. They have worked tirelessly with Natural England for more than a decade to put forward the best route for walkers.

They’ve walked, surveyed

and mapped every stretch of the path.

Geoff Cook is one of those volunteers. He worked on mapping the recently opened stretch of the Coast Path in Sussex.

He said: “When I first heard about the proposed England Coast Path my first reaction was: this is terrific, I must be part of it! So, I took on the Shoreham-by-Sea to Eastbourne stretch.

“I’ve recently re-walked the route and seen all the signage installed and path improvements made since my first

explorations six years ago. It’s really satisfying to think that I’ve contributed to the creation of this Sussex stretch of a wonderful new National Trail.”

Work has now begun on all stretches of the path, but there’s still much more to do before the entire path can open.

Play your part to help this amazing national asset become a reality and support the Ramblers to continue their work opening up even more places for us to walk, by donating to their summer appeal: [ramblers.org.uk/coastpath]