A practical guide to walking Somerset's section of the King Charles III England Coast Path with route details, safety notes, diversions and local services
The King Charles III England Coast Path is a national long-distance walking route that will eventually encircle the whole country, becoming the world’s longest coastal trail at 2,795 miles (4,500 kilometres). In Somerset a continuous stretch of 64 miles is already open, running from Brean Cross Sluice to Minehead.
This guide explains what to expect on that Somerset section, how to plan around closures and tides, and where to find maps, downloads and local services to support your walk.
The trail through Somerset links to the Southwest Coast Path at Minehead, continuing toward the Devon border.
To check progress elsewhere on the national route, consult the GOV.UK progress map and the National Trails pages. For detailed walking notes, see the sample itinerary and the short walking guide (PDF) available from the National Trails website.
Route highlights and practical stops
Leaving the Brean Cross area, walkers climb Brean Down before descending toward the sandy shorelines at Berrow and Burnham-on-Sea. The path then follows the River Parrett to the historic Victorian docks at Bridgwater, continues past the salt marshes at Steart Point and through the Bridgwater Bay Nature Reserve on its way to Minehead. For trip planning there are downloadable pocket guides, online maps and .gpx files available through the National Trails pages that cover this route in practical detail.
Closures, diversions and tidal information
Certain stretches in Somerset are subject to temporary or long-term restrictions. A full closure runs along Minehead Golf Course from the clubhouse to the River Avill; a clearly signed alternative route is provided between Minehead and Dunster, with options returning to the main trail. Construction linked to the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier has produced short closures on both banks of the River Parrett at Tuckett’s Clyce (near Combwich) and Brickyard Clyce (Pawlett). There is also a long-term diversion created during the construction of Hinkley Point C. Wherever closures apply, walkers should follow on-site signs and consult the dedicated National Trails diversion pages for maps and downloadable .gpx tracks.
Tidal stretches and seasonal protections
Parts of the Somerset route are beach-based and can be impassable at high tide. Key tidal sections include Minehead to Blue Anchor, Helwell Bay (Watchet), St Audries Bay and Burnham-on-Sea to Brean. The National Trails website lists tidal alternative routes and advises checking tide times before setting out. Seasonal diversions protect birdlife and sensitive habitats: the Brean Seasonal Riverside Walk is open from 16 May to 15 July annually, and the Steart Marshes summer route is available from 1 April to 30 September. These dates and alternatives are shown on the relevant walk pages with downloadable route files.
Access rights, safety and permitted activities
The strip of land between the path and the sea is known as the coastal margin and can extend inland beyond the mapped trail; it is shown in pink on Ordnance Survey maps. You have the right to use this area for many outdoor activities, but some actions require landowner permission. Activities such as paragliding, hang-gliding, camping, horse riding, cycling and lighting fires are generally restricted unless expressly permitted. Some areas are not open to the public because they protect wildlife, contain hazardous operations, are covered by local byelaws (for example military land), or are listed as excepted land such as crops, gardens, schools and railways. Always heed warning signs, consult the Countryside Code and check Natural England’s Open Access maps before leaving the official route.
Reporting issues and staying informed
If you find missing signs, blocked gates or other problems on the path, report them via the Explore Somerset map or the county’s public right of way reporting page. For programme news and seasonal updates subscribe to the newsletter The Coaster or follow @ecpsomerset on Facebook and Instagram; tag trail photos with #ecpsomerset. The page also lists contacts for community queries: email [email protected] with “King Charles III England Coast Path” in the subject line for partnership or event ideas.
Local services, communities and volunteering
Somerset supports walkers with more than 30 short and circular options along the coast: 16 mapped circular routes and 19 interactive Storywalks designed for families, developed in collaboration with poet Chris Jelley. There is also a 75-mile (120 kilometre) Trail Passport covering the Somerset and Exmoor Coast with over 35 stamping stations—pick up your passport from the National Trust at Brean Down, visitor centres in Burnham-on-Sea, Watchet, Dunster, Minehead and Porlock, or from Bridgwater Town Council. If you want to help care for the trail, join the Trail Watchers scheme by contacting [email protected]. The path is managed by the Somerset Trail Partnership, a group of local organisations working to keep the route safe, accessible and attractive for everyone.
Somerset’s Accessible Coast will be launched in spring 2026, offering Street View-style tools, leaflets and accessibility information that show steps, narrow passages, car parks and toilets to help plan visits. For the official review and updates note the page was last updated on April 20, 2026 with the next review due on October 20, 2026.
