King Charles III England Coast Path: Cleveleys to Pier Head, Liverpool
Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing - in Lancashire and Merseyside.
Introduction
Natural England is working to improve coastal access along a 72 mile (116.5 km) stretch of the Lancashire and Merseyside coast between Cleveleys and Pier Head, Liverpool.
Officers from Lancashire County Council and Merseyside councils 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CPH 1: South Promenade (Kingsway), Cleveleys to Brades Lane, Freckleton | 6 April 2022 | not yet |
| CPH 2: Brades Lane, Freckleton to Penwortham New Bridge, Preston | 6 April 2022 | not yet |
| CPH 3: Penwortham New Bridge, Preston to Tarleton Lock | 6 April 2022 | not yet |
| CPH 4: Tarleton Lock to Southport beach car park | 31 August 2021 | open |
| CPH 5: Southport beach car park to Cabin Hill National Nature Reserve | 23 April 2021 | open |
| CPH 6: Cabin Hill National Nature Reserve to Pier Head, Liverpool | 31 August 2021 | open |
If you’re planning a walk on the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP), 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 KCIIIECP 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 KCIIIECP passes through your land.
Stage 5: Open to the public
Tarleton Lock to Pier Head, Liverpool
This 36.4 mile (58.6km) stretch of the KCIIIECP is now open to the public.
Coastal access rights came into force along this section of the Cleveleys to Pier Head stretch on Wednesday 10 May 2023, 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)
South Promenade (Kingsway), Cleveleys to Tarleton Lock
On 6 April 2022, the Secretary of State approved this section of the King Charles III England Coast Path between Cleveleys and Pier Head, Liverpool in Lancashire and Merseyside.
Natural England will publish further details of the approved route in due course.
The reports are still available to view.
Find out more about the England Coast Path
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 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 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 information about progress on improving coastal access in other parts of north west.
Updates to this page
Published 27 March 2017Last updated 10 May 2023 + show all updates
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Page updated to show the Tarleton Lock to Pier Head, Liverpool section of this stretch is now open to the public.
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Page updated to show the remaining lengths in this stretch (CPH1, CPH2,and CPH3) have been approved.
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Page updated to show that lengths CPH4 and CPH6 have been approved.
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Added table showing the reports which make up the collection. Page updated to show that 1 of the 6 reports has received Secretary of State approval.
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Page updated to show this stretch is now at stage 4. Length of the stretch amended from 124 km to 116.5 km (72 miles).
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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 stretch is now at stage 2/3.
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First published.