Eroding cliffs force remapping of coastal path

Bruce Cutts, from Natural England, says the coastal path has to be as dynamic as the landscape

Part of a national walking trail is having to be remapped due to rapid erosion on the East Yorkshire coast.

Natural England said most of the King Charles III England Coast Path would be open by the end of 2024.

However, spokesman Bruce Cutts said sections between Hornsea and Bridlington would need to be redrawn due to crumbling cliffs, adding talks were needed with landowners.

As a result, that section of the path is not expected to open until 2025, said Mr Cutts.

It is no longer safe to walk along the cliffs at Skipsea after large clay cliff collapses in recent years

The King Charles III England Coast Path, once completed, will be a 2,700-mile (4,345km) National Trail around the whole of the English coast.

Mr Cutts said legislation allowed for the route to respond to coastal changes.

He said: "Cliffs erode and the path will have to respond to that movement and that change."

Mr Cutts said the section from the Humber Bridge to Hornsea was expected to open in the autumn.

Meanwhile, much of the path along the Lincolnshire coast is also expected to be completed this year, he said, although he added the route around the port of Immingham would need modifying to allow for large infrastructure developments.

Stuart Kemp believes the new national trail will provide a boost for local businesses.

Some parts of the coastal trail will be accessible to people with restricted mobility.

Mr Cutts added: "I'm excited about the coast and I'm excited about people's ability to come and visit the coast and walk along the coast for as long as they want and as far as they want and appreciate this spectacular view and this spectacular coastline that we've got."

Ramblers have welcomed the path.

Stuart Kemp, from the Hornsea District Rambling Group, said it was "a wonderful area to walk".

He said it would "encourage more and more people" to walk along the East Yorkshire coast.

Mr Kemp said some areas had become too dangerous to walk along due to coastal erosion.

"Paths three or four years ago were 10 to 15 yards wide," he said. "They're now only possibly a yard wide because of the coastal erosion."