Coastal Access in Cornwall: Marsland Mouth to Newquay
Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing – in Cornwall.
Introduction
Natural England is working to improve public access along a 75.3 mile (121.3km) stretch of the Cornish coast between Marsland Mouth and Newquay.
Officers from Cornwall Council are providing Natural England with expert local advice during the establishment of the route.
Some sections are open to the public, some are still under development.
This page has information about the stage of progress for each section of the stretch.
Information about open sections of the route
You can view open sections of the route on the National Trails website
You can see the status of all sections of the route in the table.
| Report number and title | Stage 5 (approved) | Open to the public |
|---|---|---|
| MNQ 1: Marsland Mouth to Duckpool | 9 July 2020 | |
| MNQ 2: Duckpool to Wanson Mouth | 7 July 2021 | |
| MNQ 3: Wanson Mouth to Crackington Haven | 9 July 2020 | |
| MNQ 4: Crackington Haven to Boscastle | 9 July 2020 | |
| MNQ 5: Boscastle to Trebarwith Strand | 9 July 2020 | |
| MNQ 6: Trebarwith Strand to Port Isaac | 7 July 2021 | |
| MNQ 7: Port Isaac to New Polzeath | 9 July 2020 | Open |
| MNQ 8: New Polzeath to Rock | 9 July 2020 | Open |
| MNQ 9: Padstow to Constantine Bay | 9 July 2020 | Open |
| MNQ 10: Constantine Bay to Mawgan Porth | 9 July 2020 | Open |
| MNQ 11: Mawgan Porth to Newquay | 9 July 2020 | Open |
If you’re planning a walk on the coast path, check our interactive access maps for details of local access restrictions and coast path diversions which may therefore apply at certain times.
Coastal access rights normally apply to all land that is coastal margin - including any land seaward of the route - unless it falls into a category of excepted land or if an access restriction applies to the land.
The maps in Natural England’s original proposals to the Secretary of State are still available to view. They show the route of the coast path along this stretch of coast as it was proposed at that time. They also show the adjoining land that is coastal margin.
Any variation needed after a stretch has been proposed, approved or opened is achieved through rollback or a modification or variation report that you can comment on. Modification and variation reports are published on GOV.UK and details will be added to this page.
Use the link that follows for guidance on your rights and responsibilities if the coast path passes through your land.
Stage 5: Open to the public
Port Isaac to Newquay (MNQ 7 to MNQ 11)
This 35.3 mile (56.8 km) section of the coast path is now open to the public.
Coastal access rights came into force along this section of the Marsland Mouth to Newquay stretch on 6 November 2024, by order of the Secretary of State.
Stage 5: Open (not yet available for public use - work to establish the route is being planned or currently taking place)
Marsland Mouth to Port Isaac (MNQ 1 to MNQ 6)
On 9 July 2020 and 7 July 2021, the Secretary of State approved these sections of the coast path in Cornwall.
Natural England will publish further details of the approved route in due course.
Find out more about the coast path
Next steps
Work is now underway to prepare the remaining parts of the new stretch of coast path for public use.
The first step is to contact owners and occupiers of the affected land to discuss the design and location of any new infrastructure which is required such as signs and gates.
When preparations are complete, new access rights will be brought into force along the route and adjoining spreading room.
See information about all stretches in preparation around England’s coast.
The coastal access scheme gives details of the process being followed to improve access to the coast.
Contact the authority managing sections that are open to the public
If you need to contact the authority managing open sections of this stretch of the coast path, use the contact forms on the National Trails website contact us page.
Contact the coastal access team for sections not yet open to the public
Contact Natural England with any comments, suggestions or queries you have about improving coastal access.
Coastal access (south west)
Natural England
Ground Floor, Sterling House
Dix’s Field
Exeter
EX1 1QA
Email southwestcoastalaccess@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone: 0300 060 3900
See the map below for information about progress on improving coastal access in other parts of the South West.
Updates to this page
Published 30 June 2017Last updated 6 November 2024 + show all updates
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Page updated to show that parts of this stretch are now open to the public.
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Page updated to show the final 2 sections (MNQ2 and MNQ6) have been approved.
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Added table showing the reports which make up the collection. Page updated to show that 9 of the 11 reports have received Secretary of State approval.
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Page updated to show the stretch is now at stage 4.
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Removed the sentence giving a date for when access is expected to be ready. Publication of the report is expected in autumn 2019.
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Page updated to show this stretch is now at stage 2/3.
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First published.