Natural England

England has many popular coastal resorts for those who enjoy the hustle and bustle of seaside towns.  But 33% (1,057km) of scenic English coastline is conserved as Heritage Coasts.

These special coastlines are managed so that their natural beauty is conserved and, where appropriate, the accessibility for visitors is improved.  The first Heritage Coast to be defined was the famous white chalk cliffs of Beachy Head in Sussex, the latest the Durham Coast.  Now much of our coastline, like the sheer cliffs of Flamborough Head and Bempton, with their huge seabird colonies, is protected as part of our coastal heritage.

Heritage Coasts are a non-statutory landscape definition, unlike the formally designated National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and are defined by agreement between the relevant maritime local authorities and Natural England. Most are part of a National Park or AONB.

Many stretches of our most beautiful coastlines - and, indeed our wider countryside - are easily accessible by a network of public footpaths and bridleways, some of the most challenging of which are designated as National Trails.

The Coastal Network represents the interests of our rural coastlines.