The King officially inaugurated the coastal path last month (Image: PA)
The collapse of a vital ferry link has thrown a spanner in the works of King Charles III‘s new coastal path just weeks after it opened. Hikers planning to trek the 2,700-mile route around the entire coast of England from the Severn estuary will now have to choose between taking a bus or walking ten miles down a dual carriageway. The coastal path, which is the longest of its kind in the world, was plotted on the assumption that walkers would travel by ferry over the Southampton estuary, but in an unfortunate turn of events, its operating firm collapsed into liquidation a month after King Charles officially inaugurated the route.
The ferry service has been out of service since August 2024 due to safety concerns around a damaged pontoon and supporting structure. Despite this, England Coast Path signage continues to point walkers in the direction of the out-of-action pier, forcing those committed to exploring the country on foot to “breathe in fumes” along a dual carriageway, navigating two flyovers on their way.
Hythe Ferry has been out of operation since 2024 (Image: UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Zoe Langley-Wathen, 54, who is walking 7,300 miles around the coast with her husband to raise money for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, told The Times: “It was really unpleasant, because it takes you along the side of dual carriageways and docks – very industrial areas.”
She added that the prospect of instead taking a bus for 40 minutes was “quite a big thing for long-distance walkers”.
“They wouldn’t want to have to be pushed into taking a bus,” she said. “This is a self-powered journey.”
A spokesperson for the Hythe and Southampton Ferry Company said earlier this month that it had decided to enter voluntary liquidation after “exhausting every possible avenue” to find grants, funding or another operator.
“Over the past 18 months, [we have] worked extensively to try and find a sustainable solution that would allow the service to return,” they added. “Unfortunately … no viable proposals or interested parties have emerged.”
The Ramblers Walking Association used the collapse of the ferry firm as an opportunity to call for the King’s new path to include a “continuous walking route around Southampton Water, which does not rely on a ferry service”.
“We hope Natural England will act quickly to join up the path between Hythe and Southampton, removing the need for people to rely on public transport to complete this section,” the group added.
A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “As an alternative to the Hythe Ferry, continuity of the Coast Path is currently via a bus service, with Natural England supporting this arrangement as suitable for public access.
“We remain committed to working with Natural England to ensure access along the Coast Path, recognising that like other parts of the country, maintaining continuous access along a dynamic coastline can be subject to change due to natural processes and other factors.”
The Express has commented Natural England for comment.