The King Charles III England Coast Path: Seaford's Place on the World's Longest Coastal Walk

The Launch at Seven Sisters

On 19 March 2026, King Charles III arrived at Exceat to officially inaugurate the King Charles III England Coast Path. He walked approximately two kilometres along the Seven Sisters coastline — the same chalk cliffs that have become one of England's most photographed landscapes.

The ceremony brought together Natural England, the Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, the National Trust, Sussex Wildlife Trust, South Downs National Park Authority, and representatives from over 50 local authorities and conservation organisations involved in building the path. Seaford's own Town Crier, Peter White — in his 50th year in the role — was among those who met the King.

At the same event, the Seven Sisters was formally declared as a National Nature Reserve, the 13th in the King's Series of 25 planned reserves by 2028.

The Path

The England Coast Path is the longest managed coastal walking route in the world. At 2,700 miles (4,328 kilometres), it encircles the entire English coastline — from the Severn Estuary around to the Scottish border and back. Over 1,600 kilometres of entirely new paths were created, with 2,735 kilometres of existing routes upgraded.

The project took 18 years to complete. Work began in 2010 under Natural England, requiring collaboration between more than 50 local authorities, landowners, National Parks, conservation groups, and walking organisations. The path was renamed in honour of King Charles III's Coronation in 2023.

One innovative feature is "rollback" — the path can shift inland as coastal erosion occurs, ensuring permanent public access to the coast even as the cliffs change.

The Seaford Section

The stretch through the Seaford area is part of the Shoreham-by-Sea to Eastbourne section. From Newhaven, the path follows the coast around Seaford Bay, passing the ruins of Tide Mills before reaching Seaford's Esplanade. It then climbs Seaford Head — part of the Sussex Heritage Coast — before descending to Cuckmere Haven.

From the Cuckmere estuary, the path joins the existing South Downs Way at Exceat (Seven Sisters Country Park) and continues east along the famous cliff tops over all seven peaks to Birling Gap, Belle Tout lighthouse, Beachy Head, and into Eastbourne.

This section passes through some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in England:

• Tide Mills — the ruins of a once-thriving tidal mill village
• Seaford Head — a Local Nature Reserve with chalk grassland and cliff-top views
• Cuckmere Haven — where the River Cuckmere meets the sea through its meandering floodplain
• The Seven Sisters — seven undulating chalk cliffs, now a National Nature Reserve
• The Coastguard Cottages — one of England's most iconic views

What It Means for Seaford

Coastal path visitors already generate £350 million annually in local spending and support nearly 6,000 jobs across England. With Seaford sitting on one of the most spectacular sections of the entire route — and the official launch having taken place at Seven Sisters — the town is well positioned to benefit from increased walking tourism.

The path gives Seaford a direct connection to a national trail network. A walker starting in Seaford can now follow a continuous, managed path along the entire English coast — or simply walk the local section from Newhaven to Eastbourne, which takes in Tide Mills, Seaford Head, Cuckmere Haven, and the Seven Sisters in one day.

Walking the Seaford Section

Start: Seaford station (Southern Rail from Brighton/Lewes/London) Route: Seaford Esplanade → Seaford Head → Cuckmere Haven → Seven Sisters → Birling Gap → Eastbourne Distance: Approximately 13 miles (21km) one-way to Eastbourne Return: Bus Route 12/12X from Eastbourne back to Seaford Terrain: Chalk cliff paths, some steep sections over the Seven Sisters Facilities: Cafes at Seaford seafront, Exceat visitor centre, and Birling Gap

Sources: GOV.UK — King Charles III England Coast Path inaugurated with royal visit; National Trails — England Coast Path South East; Explorersweb — King Charles III Opens the England Coast Path; Seaford Residents Voice Facebook group (eyewitness account by Peter White)