King Charles III England Coast Path: Isle of Sheppey
Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing – in Kent.
Introduction
Natural England is working to improve public access along a 34.2 mile (55 km) stretch of the Kent coast around the Isle of Sheppey.
Officers from Kent County Council and Swale District Council are providing Natural England with expert local advice during the establishment of the route.
Some sections are under development, one is yet to be determined.
This page has information about the stage of progress for each section of the stretch.
Information about the route
You can view any open sections of the KCIIIECP 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 | Stage 5 (approved) |
|---|---|---|
| IOS 1: Kingsferry Bridge to Alsager Avenue, Rushenden | 12 November 2020 | |
| IOS 2: Alsager Avenue, Rushenden to Oak Lane, Minster | 12 November 2020 | |
| IOS 3: Oak Lane, Minster to Hens Brook, Eastchurch Gap | yet to be determined | |
| IOS 4: Hens Brook, Eastchurch Gap to Palm Trees Holiday Park | 12 November 2020 | |
| IOS 5: Palm Trees Holiday Park to Warden Road, Warden Point | 10 August 2022 | |
| IOS 6: Warden Road, Warden Point to Isle of Harty (east) | 12 November 2020 | |
| IOS 7: Isle of Harty (east) to Mocketts, Isle of Harty (west) | 12 November 2020 | |
| IOS 8: Mocketts, Isle of Harty (west) to Windmill Creek | 10 August 2022 | |
| IOS 9: Windmill Creek to Ferry Road | 12 November 2020 | |
| IOS 10: Ferry Road to Swale Station via Kingsferry Bridge | 12 November 2020 |
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.
On 22 January 2020 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 around the Isle of Sheppey.
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 (not yet available for public use - work to establish the route is being planned or currently taking place)
Kingsferry Bridge to Oak Lane, Minster
On 12 November 2020 the Secretary of State approved this section of the King Charles III England Coast Path in Kent.
Hens Brook, Eastchurch Gap to Swale Station via Kingsferry Bridge
On 12 November 2020 and 10 August 2022 the Secretary of State approved this section of the King Charles III England Coast Path in Kent.
Natural England will publish further details of these approved routes in due course.
Stage 4: Determine
Oak Lane, Minster to Hens Brook, Eastchurch Gap
This section has not yet been determined by Secretary of State.
It has now become necessary to amend the proposals.
Proposals to change the proposed route at Oak Lane, Minster to Hens Brook, Eastchurch Gap (IOS-MR1)
On 19 March 2025, Natural England submitted a modification report (IOS-MR1) to the Secretary of State setting out revised proposals for the route of the King Charles III England Coast Path on the Isle of Sheppey at Hens Brook, Eastchurch.
The change affects a section of the proposed stretch IOS 3: Oak Lane, Minster to Hen’s Brook, Eastchurch Gap which, due to erosion and change of land use, needs to be realigned.
You can now read the report.
The period for making representations and objections about the report closes at midnight on Wednesday 14 May 2025.
Next steps
Once the Secretary of State has approved 1 or more of the reports, Natural England works with Kent County Council on preparing the route for public use.
Work is now underway to prepare the approved stretches 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.
Find out more about the 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 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 the south of England.
Updates to this page
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Page updated with information about the modification report for Hens Brook, Eastchurch (IOS-MR1).
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Page updated to show lengths IOS5 and IOS8 have been approved.
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Added table showing the reports which make up the collection. Page updated to show that 7 of the 10 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 winter 2020.
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Date amended: access expected to be ready in 2020.
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Updated page to show stretch has moved to stage 2 and 3: develop and propose
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First published.