King Charles III England Coast Path: Silverdale to Cleveleys
Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing – in Lancashire.
Map of the stretch
Natural England is working to improve coastal access along a 54 miles (87.6km) stretch of the Lancashire coast from Silverdale to Cleveleys.
Officers from Lancashire County Council are providing Natural England with expert local advice during the development of the route.
Stage of progress
Stage 5: Open (not yet available for public use - work to establish the route is currently taking place)
On 13 January 2021 and 27 July 2023, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs approved sections of coast path between Silverdale and Cleveleys.
Natural England’s proposals to the Secretary of State are still available to view.
Natural England will publish further details of the approved route in due course.
Variation reports on approved sections
Sometimes it’s necessary to change sections of an approved route. The proposed changes are published as variation reports. Anyone can comment (make a representation) on these proposals. Affected landowners and occupiers can make an objection.
Proposals to change the approved route at Carnforth (VR27)
On 26 March 2025, Natural England submitted a variation report (SDC-VR27) to the Secretary of State setting out proposals to change the approved route of the King Charles III England Coast Path in Lancashire, at Carnforth.
The change affects part of the approved section SDC 1: Cove Well, Silverdale to Wild Duck Hall, Bolton-le-Sands. It’s no longer possible to establish the approved route, due to coastal change. This report seeks to add roll-back to some parts of the approved route.
You can now read the report.
Representations and objections must reach Natural England by midnight, Wednesday 21 May 2025.
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 coastal access team
Contact Natural England if you have any queries relating to the establishment of this stretch.
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 the north west.
Updates to this page
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We've updated the page with information about the variation report for Carnforth (SDC-VR27).
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Page updated to show the remaining reports (SDC1, SDC3 and SDC5) have been approved.
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Added table showing the reports which make up the collection. Page updated to show that 3 of the 6 reports have received Secretary of State approval.
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Length of the stretch amended from 82 km to 87.6 km (54 miles).
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Page updated to show the opportunity to comment on the reports has ended.
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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 first half of 2019. Access expected to be ready in 2020.
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Updated page to show that work on this stretch has reached stages 2 and 3: develop and propose.
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First published.