King Charles III England Coast Path: North East and East Coast

This is the full North East and East Coast section of the King Charles III England Coast Path, walked one way from the Humber Bridge to the Scottish Border. It runs about 328 miles (528 km) as a point-to-point National Trail section, so plan it as a multi-week walk rather than a day out. Most ordinary walkers take somewhere around 20 to 25 days depending on how long you make each stage and how often you stop.

From the Humber Bridge the path works out along the East Riding coast, then north past Bridlington and Filey onto the North Yorkshire coast, through Scarborough, Whitby and the cliff villages, across Teesside and Durham, on through Tyneside and finally the long Northumberland coast to the border near Berwick-upon-Tweed. Along the North York Moors coastline it shares the line of the Cleveland Way and is waymarked as both trails, which is handy for navigation and also means the coast path and the whole Cleveland Way are not the same walk. At the southern end of the North Yorkshire stretch the route leaves the cliffs and heads inland on signed permissive paths toward Bridlington.

The payoff is variety: rocky cliffs and flower-rich meadows, sandy beaches and rock pools, working harbours and seaside towns, then wide open sands in Northumberland with the tidal causeway across to Holy Island. Surfaces change constantly. Expect natural coastal paths on some days, promenades and pavement through towns on others, and steps in places, including some long steep flights between Bridlington North Sands and Filey. Do not assume the whole route walks or feels the same underfoot, and do not assume it is all easy going.

Overall this is a hard undertaking, mostly because of sheer length, day after day of exposure and the logistics rather than steep climbing. Individual sections can be gentle and even paved. The coast is open to storms and strong winds, cliff edges erode, and tides and waves matter on beach and causeway sections. Local diversions and seasonal or tidal changes happen, so follow the acorn and Coast Path waymarks and any local signs on the ground rather than an old plan.

• Start at the Humber Bridge and finish at the Scottish Border, so sort out overnight stays, resupply and your return travel before you set off. Bridge-side parking exists at the start, though some approaches through the country park involve steps.
• The route threads through towns and villages, but availability varies a lot by stage, so check locally as you plan each leg.
• Dogs are fine on the public sections, kept under close control near livestock, wildlife, nesting birds, cliff edges and tidal ground, and following local signs and restrictions.
• For photography, the cliff-top stretches near Whitby, Scarborough and Filey Brigg give you headlands, harbours and long coastal lines, best in low morning or evening light.