King Charles III England Coast Path: Birkenhead to the Welsh border
Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing – in Wirral and Cheshire West and Chester.
Map of the stretch
Natural England is working to improve coastal access along a 23.5 miles (37.8km) stretch of the Wirral and Cheshire West and Chester coast between Birkenhead and the Welsh border.
Officers from Wirral Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council are providing Natural England with expert local advice during the establishment of the route.
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 the collection in the table.
| Report number and title | Stage 5 (approved or open) |
|---|---|
| BHW 1: Seacombe Ferry Terminal, Birkenhead to Red Rocks Slipway, Stanley Road, Hoylake | 7 July 2021 |
| BHW 2: Red Rocks Slipway, Stanley Road, Hoylake to ‘The Boat House’ Public House, Parkgate | 23 November 2023 |
| BHW 3: ‘The Boat House’ Public House, Parkgate to the Welsh border | 7 July 2021 |
If you are planning a walk on the KCIIIECP, check our interactive access maps for details of local access restrictions and coast path diversions which may 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 show the route of the KCIIIECP along this stretch of coast and the adjoining land that is coastal margin, as determined by the Secretary of State on 7 July 2021 and 23 November 2023.
Use the links that follow to see details of the Secretary of State’s decision to approve Natural England’s proposals, together with any modifications, and for guidance on your rights and responsibilities if the KCIIIECP passes through your land.
Stage 5: Open to the public
Seacombe Ferry Terminal, Birkenhead to Red Rocks Slipway, Stanley Road, Hoylake and
This 10.5 miles (16.9 km) section of the KCIIIECP is now open to the public.
Coastal access rights came into force along this section of the Birkenhead to the Welsh border stretch on 22 August 2024, by order of the Secretary of State.
‘The Boat House’ Public House, Parkgate to the Welsh border
This 4.2 miles (6.8 km) section of the KCIIIECP is now open to the public.
Coastal access rights came into force along this section of the Birkenhead to the Welsh border stretch on 22 August 2024, by order of the Secretary of State.
Stage 5: Open (not yet available for public use - work to establish the route is currently taking place)
Red Rocks Slipway, Stanley Road, Hoylake to ‘The Boat House’ Public House, Parkgate
On 23 November 2023, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs approved this section of coast path between Birkenhead and the Welsh border.
Natural England will publish further details of the approved route in due course.
Next steps
Work is now underway to prepare 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 needed, such as signs and gates.
When preparations are complete, new access rights will come into force along the route and adjoining spreading room.
For further advice and information see the links that follow:
Find out more about the King Charles III England Coast Path
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 KCIIIECP, 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 (North west)
Natural England
Murley Moss Business Village
Oxenholme Road
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 7RL
Email northwestcoastalaccess@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone 0300 060 3900
See the map below for more information about progress on improving coastal access in other parts of the north west of England.
Updates to this page
Last updated 22 August 2024 + show all updates
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We've added information about the 2 sections of this stretch that are now open to the public.
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Page updated to show that the remaining length BHW2 has been approved.
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Following an administrative error, the section BHW2 has reverted to Stage 4 - to be determined.
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Page updated to show that the remaining report - BHW2 - has been approved. This stretch is now at stage 5.
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Added table showing the reports which make up the collection. Page updated to show that 2 of the 3 reports have received Secretary of State approval.
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Page updated to show this stretch is now at stage 4.
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Changed expected date for publication of the reports to early 2020.
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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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Dates amended: publication of report now expected in spring 2019. Access expected to be ready in 2020.
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Page updated to show that work on this stretch has moved to stage 2/3.
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First published.