Help us safeguard access to Britain’s coastline for future generations
Existing access to the coast in England and Wales
England and Wales have approximately 4,400km or 2,700 miles of coastline and estuaries.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no general right to walk on beaches or the foreshore in England and Wales, though such a right exists in Scotland.
There is a lack of consistency and clarity in access arrangements on the coast. There are also many gaps in the provision of access, for example, where public rights of way have fallen into the sea and have not been replaced with new routes.
The Ramblers’ Association believes that there should be a legal right of access to coastal areas in England and Wales – including beaches, foreshore, cliffs, dunes, banks, barriers, estuaries and mudflats. A legal right of access around the coast would give clarity and certainty and open up more of the coast for the public to enjoy.