Natural England, which advises the government on the country’s natural environment, has put forward new plans to widen access to the England Coastal Path. Its proposals will see two stretches of path open to the public, both on the east side of the country.
The first stretch of coastal path will start from South Bents near Sunderland, covering 42 miles to Amble in Northumberland. The path will take in rural and urban landscapes and is regarded as a welcome investment in the North East.
The second area to benefit under the new proposals will be in Lincolnshire, where 16 miles of coastal path is set to be created between the resorts of Skegness and Mablethorpe. Passing through the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park, the stretch of path connecting these two popular holiday destinations will enable walkers to view interesting wildlife habitats along the way.
These new routes are part of Natural England’s plans to create a coastal path that hugs the entire coast of England, covering approximately 2,700 miles. The ambitious scheme is set for completion by 2020.
The latest coastal path proposals for the North East and Lincolnshire are open to an eight-week consultation process, during which views will be collected from all sections of the community. If the plans get the go-ahead, walkers will be able to enjoy these new public paths as part of the Marine and Coastal Access Act.
The proposals include sections of path that can be rolled back if landslides or erosion occurs, which is becoming more of a problem around our coastal landscapes.
Safety is an important aspect for anyone participating on a coastal walk. In addition to checking the tide times for routes close to the sea, designated paths can make for safer walking experiences.
