Walkers gain 13 miles of new Suffolk coast path

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-07-29 17:04 3 min read

A silhouetted tea room sign set against a sunset sky in Suffolk, England.

A new 13-mile section of the King Charles III England Coast Path has opened beside the Stour estuary, linking the White Bridge at Cattawade with Shotley Gate.

The route, available from 29 July 2026, takes walkers through Brantham, Stutton, Lower Holbrook and Harkstead. At Shotley Gate it connects with the existing coast path towards Southwold, creating a continuous walking route from Cattawade along Suffolk’s coastline.

A route through estuary scenery and coastal history

The Stour estuary is wide and shallow, joining the River Orwell before reaching the North Sea through Harwich Harbour. Its open bays and low-lying landscape give the trail a distinctly coastal character.

The route lies within the Suffolk and Essex Coast and Heaths National Landscape, known for wintering waterbirds including Black-tailed Godwits and Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Walkers will also pass the site of Britain’s first and only Xylonite works, described as the country’s first commercial plastics factory. Near Erwarton, a short diversion leads to St Mary’s Church, which is associated with Anne Boleyn. Her heart is reputed to have been buried at Erwarton Hall after her execution in 1536.

Walkers gain 13 miles of new Suffolk coast path

At Holbrook, the Royal Hospital School dominates the skyline. The school was built in 1933 to educate children of seafarers. The path then follows higher ground above the estuary before finishing at Shotley Gate, the former site of HMS Ganges naval training establishment.

New access sections respond to coastal erosion

The opening formalises existing permissive routes and creates 4.5 miles of brand-new access. At Stutton Ness, the trail has been realigned away from the cliff edge because of coastal erosion, while retaining views across the estuary.

The route includes rollback provision, allowing the path to be adjusted as the coastline changes. That measure is intended to protect long-term public access rather than fix the trail permanently to ground that may become unsafe or inaccessible.

Hannah Thacker, Natural England’s Deputy Director for Norfolk and Suffolk, said the new section opens another stretch of coastline and offers a family day out during the summer holidays. Regular bus services run to Shotley Gate from Ipswich, according to Natural England.

The latest link in Suffolk’s wider coastal trail

Around 120 miles of the King Charles III England Coast Path are already open in Suffolk. The county now has only a few miles left to complete, according to Suffolk County Council.

The national trail is being delivered by Natural England with UK Government funding to expand and improve access around the English coast. It was officially inaugurated by King Charles III in March 2026 and is planned as a continuous 2,700-mile walking route.

For visitors planning a walk, the new section’s endpoints are Cattawade and Shotley Gate, with the route passing through Brantham, Stutton, Lower Holbrook and Harkstead before joining the open trail towards Southwold.

Source: Suffolk County Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source check

The route details, opening date, access arrangements and coastal context were checked against Suffolk County Council’s published announcement.

Checks

Confirmed the 13-mile route between Cattawade and Shotley Gate
Checked the named villages, 4.5 miles of new access and rollback provision
Verified the Suffolk total of around 120 open miles and the 2,700-mile national target

Suffolk County Council Check Stour estuary coast path coverage