King Charles has inaugurated the coast path named in his honour, aimed at creating a continuous trail around England’s shoreline.

Once completed, the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP) will see 1,000 miles of new path created and 1,700 miles improved, allowing people to walk the beautiful headlands, cliffs, beaches, and dunes that make up the English coast.

New signage and infrastructure such as bridges and boardwalks are being installed, helping to improve the accessibility of many coastal areas. 

It is hoped, the path will help to attract more income from tourism for coastal communities as people come to visit the path.  

The nearest open section to the New Forest is between Hythe and Calshot.

The coastline of this section is dominated by the Fawley oil refinery with views across Southampton Water to Hamble, Netley and Southampton.

Further down Southampton Water, the path runs from Ashlett Creek, alongside the site of the former Fawley Power Station towards Calshot Spit.

Calshot Marshes Local Nature Reserve provides an opportunity for bird watching – with the chance of seeing Teal, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Black Tailed Godwit, Redshank and Dunlin.

Calshot Castle on the edge of the Solent was built by Henry VIII as an artillery fort in 1539, as part of his chain of defences along the English south coast.

A climb to the the top of the English Heritage-owned castle offers views of the Solent and across to the Isle of Wight.

Calshot has also been used as a Navy and RAF base. The original hangar from the World War 2 flying boats remains as an activity centre for watersports, climbing and snowboarding. There is also a small indoor velodrome and dry ski slope.

The 35-mile section of the KCIIIECP along the southern coastal edge of the New Forest – from Calshot to Highcliffe – is not yet fully open.