Walking on the edge: the England Coast Path
This weekend, I walked a stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path. This ambitious new trail, when complete, will join the dots between the many smaller paths that wrap around the English coastline. It’s set to become the longest managed coastal path in the world, opening access to shores previously hidden behind fences, farmland, or forgotten corners.
Much of the coastal path is now accessible, with work to complete the route set to end in 2026. A similar walking route has already opened in Wales, making it the only country in the world with a continuous waymarked path around its entire coast.
For walking artists, paths like these can be game-changers, helping link individuals to place, to each other, and to the stories that shape our landscapes. Artists like Ali Pretty, whose Beach of Dreams Coastal Arts Festival takes place from 1 May – 1 June 2025, are already using coastal paths to connect walking, sustainability and community participation. Beach of Dreams began as a 500 mile walk along the English coast, where participants carried hand-stitched silk pennants to represent their personal connection to place and their hopes for the future.
Continuing our theme of the connections between walking, place, and storytelling, this Wednesday (April 16) our Walking America series, hosted by Ann de Forest, welcomes two authors who have made walking central to their writing. Janice Deal and Sharon White will discuss their new books, The Blue Door and Minato Sketches, delving into how walking can heal and transform us. Don’t miss it!
And if the only steps you take this week are metaphorical, why not make them count? Our 39 Steps Flash Fiction competition invites you to create short, snappy stories—whether inspired by a real path, a fleeting moment, or a sense of the unknown. You’ve got 39 words to surprise us and win some great prizes. The deadline is 22 April, so take a creative step and send us yours.
Happy walking, writing and creating!
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Writer, walker, digital storyteller, psychogeographer
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2025-04-30 19:00
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