THE country’s longest national trail, which includes the South West Coast Path, has been renamed the ‘King Charles III England Coast Path’ in a lasting coronation legacy for people and nature.

The trail, the first 35 miles of which crosses Exmoor from Minehead, will be fully walkable by the end of next year, connecting communities across England.

Now, the Government has renamed it in celebration of the coronation of King Charles III.

When he was the Prince of Wales, the King expressed a deep love and concern for England’s wildlife, natural, and rural places, frequently reflecting on his love of walking and its role in promoting a healthy mind and body.

The King Charles III England Coast Path will be a 2,700-mile long national trail around the whole of the English coast, passing through some of England’s finest countryside and most stunning, dynamic, and internationally-famous coastal scenery.

Natural England has worked in partnership with local authorities to open 794 miles of the route so far, and by the end of 2024 it will connect communities from Northumberland to Cumbria via Cornwall.

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said: “The King is a dedicated champion of nature in our country.

“He spearheaded efforts to move to more environmentally friendly farming techniques and through his Prince’s Foundation has sought to highlight how education can foster responsible stewardship towards the planet and the natural environment.

“The coronation marks the beginning of a new chapter in our national story and it is fitting that nature and the public will benefit from these lasting commemorations for years to come.”

In line with the spirit of sustainability championed by His Majesty, signage featuring the new name will only be installed as new stretches of the trail are established, with existing signage retained elsewhere along the route until it required replacing.

The most recent sections of the path to be opened were in Filey, North Yorkshire, and Crosby Beach, Liverpool.

His Majesty has held number of patronages of wildlife conservation charities, including the Wildlife Trusts.

He has also worked to encourage the private sector to work to respond to climate change and increase their focus on sustainability with more than 500 chief executives being part of his ‘Sustainable Markets Initiative’, including the heads of some of the world’s largest financial institutions.

Ms Coffey said: “Through our environmental improvement plan we want to be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we inherited, and in this coronation year even more people will get out and experience our incredible wildlife and landscapes.”

To celebrate the path’s gradual completion, a series of events will be held across England throughout the summer.