2023: The Year of the Coast

Never quite the same in any two places, England is bounded by its ever-changing coast. Whether you like yours sandy and duned or rugged and windswept — or somewhere in-between — the coastline of England has something for everyone. With the Year of the Coast now upon us, it’s never been a better time to get out, explore, and enjoy the shores of England in all their diverse glory. 

A Celebration of the English Coast

The Year of the Coast is a special initiative brought into the public fore by England’s Coast, a partnership of multiple individual coastal destinations and businesses that span the land from Dorset to Northumberland and Cumbria. As a collaborative entity, it seeks to highlight all that the coast of England has to offer, thereby actively driving and directing visitor interest to the nation’s seaside communities and its many coastal landscapes. The Year of the Coast is a direct celebration of the heritage, beauty, and variety to be found in and around the shores of England. As part of this, visitors who head to the English coast in 2023 can expect to find a wide range of events and activities planned for the year.

 

 

The England Coast Path

First and foremost among these initiatives is the opening of major segments of the England Coast Path, a walking route that offers the public exclusive access to previously unseen stretches of pristine shoreline. The latest section of this 2,700-mile path — perhaps the nation's longest and most challenging walking trail to date — opened in February and now offers ramblers the chance to skirt the Lake District National Park as it tumbles into the Irish Sea at the Duddon Estuary. Continuing on into neighbouring Northumberland, walkers can stop by the medieval towns of Amble and Warkworth, pass by the famous Bamburgh Castle, or spot grey seals basking on the shores of the nearby Farne Islands. Moving on, the England Coast Path encompasses huge stretches of shoreline in North and South Tyneside, the Tees Valley, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Essex, Kent, London, Dorset, and Somerset — enabling all who pass through these regions to appreciate the subtle differences of England’s wide and varied coastline. 

 

Enjoy a Full Calendar of Activities — Without Taking a Step

But you don’t have to walk the whole of the English coastline in order to appreciate it; indeed, the Year of the Coast brings plenty of activity to cities, towns, and villages around the region, so even if you’re staying put, you’ll always find something to see and do. March and April see art exhibitions come to Kent and Cumbria while pirates will make their presence felt in the Devon town of Plymouth in May. While the warmer months will see concerts, plays, and food festivals unfold from the southwest corner of England to the northeast, as the high heat of summer fades, cooler weather brings the opportunity for stargazing on the Yorkshire coast and Christmas-themed festivities to the shores of Dorset and Northumberland. A full calendar of events — including a range of off-peak ideas and inspiration — can be found here and here

 

Never the same in any two spots, England’s seasides delight all who visit them. Whichever one you choose, inspiration is all but guaranteed in this Year of the Coast.


Image courtesy of https://englandscoast.com/en/media-centre/image-gallery