King Charles III England Coast Path: Eastbourne to Camber
Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing – in East Sussex.
Map of the stretch
Natural England is working to improve public access along a 35 mile (56 km) stretch of the East Sussex coast between Eastbourne and Camber.
Officers from East Sussex County Council are providing Natural England with expert local advice during the establishment of the route.
Some sections are open to the public, one section is yet to be determined..
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 4 (Determine) | Stage 5 (approved) | Open to the public |
|---|---|---|---|
| EBC 1: Eastbourne Pier to Bay View Caravan Park, Pevensey Bay | 1 October 2021 | Yes | |
| EBC 2: Bay View Caravan Park, Pevensey Bay to Herbrand Walk, Cooden | 6 April 2022 | Yes | |
| EBC 3: Herbrand Walk, Cooden to West Parade, Bexhill-on-Sea | 1 October 2021 | Yes | |
| EBC 4: West Parade, Bexhill-on-Sea to Tackleway, Hastings | 1 October 2021 | Yes | |
| EBC 5: Tackleway, Hastings to Cliff End, Pett Level | 1 October 2021 | Yes | |
| EBC 6: Cliff End, Pett Level to Winchelsea Beach | 1 October 2021 | Yes | |
| EBC 7: Winchelsea Beach to Rye Harbour | 27 July 2023 | Yes | |
| EBC 8: Rye Harbour to Camber Sands | 31 July 2024 |
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 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.
On 31 July 2024, Natural England submitted a report to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs setting out the proposals for improved access to the coast between Rye Harbour and Camber Sands in East Sussex.
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 changes to the route that was originally proposed are made through modification and variation reports as listed for each section, later on this page.
Any variation needed after a stretch has opened is achieved through rollback or a variation report that you can comment on. 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
Eastbourne Pier to Rye Harbour
This 27 miles (43 km) section of the KCIIIECP is now open to the public.
Coastal access rights came into force along this section of the Eastbourne to Camber stretch on 6 December 2024, by order of the Secretary of State.
Previous changes to the approved parts of this section were made through the following variation report:
Change to the approved route at Ecclesbourne Glen, Hastings Country Park (VR17)
The change relates to the approved route between Tackleway, Hastings and Cliff End, Pett Level. The re-opening of a section of public footpath close to the coast, which had been affected by a landslip, allowed a variation to the approved route.
On 28 March 2024, the Secretary of State announced their decision to approve this variation report.
Stage 4: Determine
Rye Harbour to Camber Sands
On 31 July 2024, Natural England submitted a report to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs setting out the proposals for improved access to the coast between Rye Harbour and Camber Sands (EBC 8).
Natural England’s original proposals for this section did not include a route connecting Rye Harbour and Camber due to a road safety issue near Brede Sluice, Rye. Fresh analysis, in liaison with National Highways, concluded that with suitable design improvements, this safety issue could be overcome to provide a continuous route around the Rother Estuary. EBC 8 contains Natural England’s new proposals for this section.
The period for making representations and objections about the report closed at midnight on Wednesday 25 September 2024. The report is still available to view.
Objections are forwarded for consideration by an independent planning inspector appointed by the Secretary of State. The inspector will make recommendations to the Secretary of State in respect of each one.
Natural England may not make any further changes to the report as a result of the representations and objections, but will make comments about them for consideration by the Secretary of State and, in the case of objections, the appointed person (an inspector from the Planning Inspectorate).
The Secretary of State will consider all the representations and objections before making a decision about Natural England’s report.
The original proposals for this section were removed under the following modification report:
Proposals to change the proposed route in the vicinity of Rye and the Rother Estuary, East Sussex (EBC-MR1)
This modification report partially withdrew the original proposals in the vicinity of Rye and the Rother Estuary.
On 27 July 2023, the Secretary of State announced their decision to approve this report.
Next steps
When the Secretary of State approves a section of the report, Natural England works with East Sussex County Council on preparing the route 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.
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
Contact Natural England with any comments, suggestions or queries you have about improving coastal access.
King Charles III England Coast Path delivery team (South east)
Natural England
Floor 9, International House, Dover Place
Ashford
Kent
TN23 1HU
Email southeastcoastalaccess@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone 0300 060 3900
See the map below for information about progress on improving coastal access in other parts of East Sussex and Kent.
Updates to this page
Published 28 June 2017Last updated 6 December 2024 + show all updates
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Page updated to show that part of this stretch (Eastbourne Pier to Rye Harbour, EBC 1-7) is now open to the public.
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Page updated to show the opportunity to comment on the report Rye Harbour to Camber Sands (EBC8) has ended.
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Page updated with information about the report EBC 8 - Rye Harbour to Camber Sands which is now published. This is the final report for this stretch and replaces the partially withdrawn EBC7.
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Page updated to show the variation report VR17 has been approved.
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Page updated to show the modification report MR1 has been approved.
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Page updated with information about the Rye and the Rother Estuary modification report (EBC-MR1).
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Information about variation report VR17 added.
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Page updated to show that length EBC2 has been approved.
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Added table showing the reports which make up the collection. Page updated to show that 5 of the 7 reports have received Secretary of State approval.
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Updated Covid-19 statement with new deadline for submission of comments.
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Covid-19 statement added to page.
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Page updated to show this 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 winter 2020.
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Date amended: publication of report now expected in 2019.
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Page updated to show stretch is now at stage 2/3
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First published.