The United Kingdom has over 19,000 kilometres of coastline. Much of it is accessible on foot. Some of it — the dramatic sections that made it onto the list below — is among the finest coastal walking in Europe. What follows is not a definitive ranking but an honest selection: routes that offer a genuine combination of scenery, accessibility, interest and reward.
1. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Wales (186 miles)
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is, by most measures, the finest coastal walk in Britain. It runs along the entire coastline of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, from Amroth in the south to St Dogmaels in the north, taking in sea stacks, blowhole beaches, Iron Age promontory forts, medieval churches and the only coastal national park in Wales. The central section between St Davids and Fishguard is the most dramatic, with the Strumble Head lighthouse and the sea-cliffs above Pwll Deri among the highlights. The path can be walked in sections over a long weekend or end-to-end over two weeks. Spring is the best time — the clifftops are covered in sea campion, thrift and bluebells from April onwards, and the Atlantic grey seal colonies at Skomer Island are accessible from April to October.
Base yourself at: St Davids, Pembrokeshire | Best section for a day walk: St Davids Head to Whitesands Bay (7 miles)
2. The Jurassic Coast, Dorset and Devon (95 miles)
The Jurassic Coast is England’s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site — a 185 million-year slice of Earth’s geological history exposed in the cliffs between Exmouth in Devon and Studland in Dorset. Walking the South West Coast Path along this section takes you past the natural arch at Durdle Door, the extraordinary shingle bank of Chesil Beach, the fossil cliffs at Charmouth (where you can pick up ammonites on the beach after storms) and the village of Abbotsbury with its ancient swannery. The eastern end around Lulworth Cove and Kimmeridge Bay is the most rewarding for geology enthusiasts. The walking is hilly in places but never technical — sturdy shoes rather than boots are sufficient for most sections in dry weather.
3. The South West Coast Path — Cornwall (300 miles of the Cornish section)
Cornwall’s stretch of the South West Coast Path runs from Marsland Mouth on the north Devon border all the way around Land’s End and up the south coast to the Tamar. The north Cornish coast, from Bude to St Ives, is the wilder and more dramatic section — clifftops that drop sheer into the Atlantic, exposed headlands, surf beaches at Bude, Crackington Haven, Boscastle and Bedruthan Steps. The south coast from Falmouth to Plymouth is more sheltered, with wooded creeks and estuary crossings adding variety. The Lizard Peninsula, the most southerly point of mainland Britain, is a detour worth making for its unique serpentine geology, seal colonies and the extraordinary Kynance Cove.
Don’t miss: Kynance Cove, Boscastle, the headland above Bedruthan Steps at dawn
4. The North Yorkshire Coast Path (around 50 miles, Saltburn to Filey)
The North Yorkshire coast is one of England’s most underrated stretches of walking. The Cleveland Way follows the coastline between Saltburn-by-the-Sea and Filey, taking in the cliff-top paths above Runswick Bay, the dramatic ruin of Whitby Abbey on its headland, Robin Hood’s Bay (one of the most photographed villages in England), and the chalk cliffs of Bempton, where gannets, puffins and kittiwakes nest in vast colonies from April to August. Whitby itself deserves at least a night — the town is architecturally extraordinary and the fish and chips are among the best in England.
See also: Scarborough, Whitby
5. The Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland
The Causeway Coastal Route runs for 120 miles between Belfast and Londonderry along the north Antrim coast, and it is one of the most spectacular drives — and walks, in sections — in the British Isles. The Giant’s Causeway, the extraordinary basalt formation on the north Antrim coast, is the centrepiece, but the route also takes in Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge (crossing a 30-metre chasm above the sea), the ruins of Dunluce Castle perched on a cliff above crashing waves, and the sandy beaches of Ballycastle and Murlough Bay. The walk between the Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede along the cliff path is manageable in a half day and among the most dramatic short walks in the UK.
6. The Fife Coastal Path, Scotland (117 miles)
Running from Kincardine on the Firth of Forth to the Tay Bridge at Dundee, the Fife Coastal Path passes through the East Neuk — a string of old fishing villages with orange pantiled roofs and harbours still working. Pittenweem, Anstruther, Crail and St Monans are among the most charming small towns in Scotland. St Andrews, at the path’s midpoint, is worth a day of anyone’s time for its cathedral ruins, castle, beaches and golf. The northern section above St Andrews to the Tay is wilder and less walked, with views across to Dundee and the Angus glens on clear days.
7. The Isle of Wight Coastal Path (67 miles)
The Isle of Wight can be circled on foot in four or five days, and the full circuit reveals just how varied the island’s coastline is. The western end, with the chalk stacks of the Needles and the coloured sand cliffs at Alum Bay, is the most photographed. The south coast between Ventnor and Freshwater Bay is the most dramatic, with paths running high along the clifftops above the English Channel. The north coast is quieter and more estuarine. The island is crossed by the Tennyson Trail inland, but for coastal variety, the circumference walk is the better choice. The ferry crossing from Portsmouth adds a satisfying sense of real departure.
See also: Isle of Wight visitor guide
Planning tips for UK coastal walks
- Tides matter: Several sections of coastal path involve beach crossings that are impassable at high tide. Always check tide times before setting out.
- Spring for wildflowers, late summer for seabirds: April to June brings clifftop flowers; July and August are peak seabird season at colonies like Bempton Cliffs and Skomer Island.
- Book accommodation early on popular routes: The South West Coast Path between Padstow and St Ives fills up months in advance in July and August. Spring and September are quieter and often better for walking.
- Luggage transfer services: Most of the major long-distance paths have luggage transfer services that move your bag between guesthouses while you walk. Worth the cost.
- National Trail websites have downloadable GPX files for all the official long-distance routes — use them rather than relying on phone signal in remote areas.