You Can Now Walk 2,689 miles Around the Entire UK and It Starts Right Here in Formby

3 hours ago
2 min read

There is something quite special about standing on the Formby coastline, looking out across the sea, and realising you can now follow that shoreline not just for miles, but for the entire length of England… and beyond.

The newly opened King Charles III England Coast Path stretches an incredible 2,689 miles, making it the longest managed coastal walking route in the world. For the first time, England’s coastline has been brought together into one continuous journey, allowing anyone to reach the sea, turn left or right, and simply keep walking.

And for us here in Formby, it runs right through our own backyard.

You can step straight onto the path at Formby Beach, where it winds through the dunes and onto wide open sands. From there, you can head north towards Ainsdale and Southport, or south towards Crosby.

Quieter access points can be found at Hightown, offering peaceful stretches of coastline and open views, while in Crosby the route runs alongside the promenade at Crosby Beach, where the famous Iron Men stand looking out to sea.

Further along, Ainsdale brings a mix of beach and nature reserve, before the path reaches Southport, where the promenade provides another easy place to join, with plenty of facilities nearby.

Wherever you join, you are stepping onto something far bigger than a local walk.

This path connects England in a way that has never been possible before. It links seamlessly with the Wales Coast Path, which already circles the entire Welsh coastline.

Together, they form the backbone of something extraordinary… the possibility of walking around the whole of Britain.

While Scotland does not have one single official coastal path, its coastline is widely accessible, meaning in theory you could continue your journey there too. Altogether, a full loop around Britain would be around 9,000 miles, a journey that could take close to two years to complete.

But the beauty of it is that you do not need to walk that far to be part of it.

You can start with a simple stroll along Formby beach, continue past the dunes, follow the shoreline to Crosby, and know that every step you take is connected to a route that circles an entire nation.

The project itself has taken 18 years to complete, led by Natural England, with over 1,000 miles of new paths created and huge improvements made to access along the way. Areas of coastline that were once off limits, including dunes, beaches and coastal edges, are now open for everyone to enjoy.

Here in the North West, where tides shift and sands constantly reshape the shoreline, the path has been carefully designed to adapt, moving inland if needed to ensure it remains open for generations to come.

And that is what makes it so special.

It is not just a path. It is a connection. Between places, people and the coastline we often take for granted.

And it all begins right here in Formby.