Maps detail 2,748 miles of coastal paths as Natural England prepares to open up shoreline to walkers The obstacle course of barbed wire, live ammunition and beetling cliffs facing England’s planned coastal path is revealed in detail for the first time today. Maps drawn up for the marine and coastal access bill, which is expected to become law in November, trace a vivid red and green snake round the 2,748 miles of mainland coast. Each of the red sections is either private, inaccessible or dangerous. The audit by Natural England and shoreline councils is part of an effort to make all of England’s coastline accessible to walkers. “There will be 10 years’ work to be done before we can walk the whole way,” said Paul Johnson, coastal access manager for Natural England, “but we reckon that the first rights of way between major seaside towns could be in place by 2013.” The notion of a complete coastal ring goes back to at least the 18th century, although its supporters then were often landowners rather than ramblers seeking a right to roam. They came up with the nearest thing to the access bill’s proposals: the “coastguard’s path” which allowed customs officers to pounce on smugglers. The prospect of extra visitors to coastal areas has won over all of the 53 councils involved in the mapping exercise, as well as most fishing and other coastal businesses. Natural England said that the South West Coast path, which takes an average of 56 days to complete, generates an estimated £300m annually

Original Source England to clear coast paths for walkers