English Heritage at Osborne has objected to the new King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP) passing along the coastline of their land, and Natural England tells OnTheWight that attempts to agree a similar route on the edge of Barton Manor Estate have stalled.
If this doesn’t change, it would mean a two mile detour through East Cowes’ busy main road.
The ‘East Cowes Ferry to Wootton‘ section is the only part of the Island’s coastal path that has not yet been approved and residents are invited to have their say on the Natural England proposals by 22nd October 2025.
The Coast Path is a nationwide grand plan to give people the ability to walk around the coast line of the whole country. It’s to commemorate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and in recognition of his regard for the natural world. It’s a project that’s been over ten years in the planning.
Two-mile diversion
Without Osborne and Barton giving permission to walk on the edge of their land, the route would have to take a two-mile inland diversion, which The Ramblers (Britain’s biggest walking charity), describe as forcing walkers to travel on “unpleasant and dangerous pavements beside busy roads.”
The local group, Isle of Wight Ramblers, say,
“The long inland detour from Norris Woods to Palmer’s Brook appears to be partly in response to private landowner claims that several coastline locations should be classified as ‘excepted land’ restricting a coastal route.
“Concerns include ‘Parkland’, a grass airstrip, Kings Quay Estuary conservation and High Health Cattle Fields.”
Isle of Wight Ramblers share a map of their preferred route below. This route would cross 300m of the shore at Osborne, as well as through woodland at Barton Manor, and would require the cooperation with the owners of Barton Manor.
“The King Charles III England Coast Path must follow the coast“
The Ramblers’ director for England, Jack Cornish, is urging English Heritage to rethink its stance, after the charity stated that the risk this would pose to the security of the site was “just too great”.
Mr Cornish told the BBC,
“Instead of supporting the completion of this iconic coastal route, walkers – including families with young kids – are being forced on to unpleasant and dangerous pavements beside busy roads, miles from the sea.
“It is common sense: The King Charles III England Coast Path must follow the coast.”
A “betrayal” of this gift to the Island
In a recent letter to the press, former Isle of Wight Council leader, David Pugh, reminded Islanders that the Osborne estate was given to the Island as a gift to the nation by Edward VII in 1902.
He added that for English Heritage to now adopt a stance contrary to the public interest is “undoubtedly a betrayal of the spirit of this gift”.
NE: Would consider re-routing the trail if agreement could be made with landowners
A Natural England spokesperson told OnTheWight,
“We have been liaising with landowners and stakeholders for several years to develop proposals for the Isle of Wight including this length of the KCIIIECP between East Cowes and Wootton Bridge.
“Affected parties have the opportunity to comment or object to our proposals, and these will be reviewed by the Secretary of State.”
They went on to add,
“We looked at a range of options to take the path along the coastline in this area, including discussing agreement to pass through ‘excepted land’ eg land used as park and garden. We were unable to agree a route through this land with landowners, and have found a more inland alignment.
“If in future an agreement could be made with landowners to take the trail closer to the coast, or there are land use changes, Natural England would consider re-routing the trail.”
Osborne diversion route
Isle of Wight Ramblers say that,
“If no agreement is reached about a shoreline path [300m] in the Osborne Paid Attraction, a practical route has been identified that leaves the A3021 near the Osborne House main entrance, then, using mainly arable and grassland field edges, it runs south of the paid attraction boundary to the coast, then along the edge of Kings Quay Woodland to reach Palmers Brook in existing open access woodland.
“This route also complies with the England Coast Path Scheme requirements.”
You can see Isle of Wight Ramblers’ full review of the proposals on their website.
Barton Manor Estate
In their “Analysis – Opportunity and Challenges for a truly coastal off-road route”, the Isle of Wight Ramblers highlight a number of questions about the land at Barton Manor Estate – the designation of a section of Barton’s woodland and ‘the airstrip’.
The Isle of Wight Ramblers say the woodland is a small area around 1.5 km down a track from the Barton Manor residence, they comment,
“A review of Natural England’s 2013 England Coast Path Scheme Section 8.18 Parks and Gardens clearly indicates that this area of Barton mixed woodland does not meet the criteria for ‘Current Parkland’ excepted land.”
In relation to the Barton Manor Airstrip, they give the view that,
“Several issues need to be addressed about the Status of The Barton grass airstrip before it can be classified as excepted land blocking a coastal route for the KCIII National Trail.”
Adding,
“Practical measures could be setup for limited light aircraft use of the airstrip that also provide safe passage for walkers.
“Examples exist at Bembridge, Sandown and Freshwater airfields.”
Route unable to be agreed with landowner
OnTheWight contacted one of the owners of the Barton Manor Estate to find out what their objections were to the Path crossing their land.
Dawn Haig-Thomas told OnTheWight,
“The proposed route has been decided by Natural England and not us. There are exceptions to the legislation which NE must, by law, regard.”
OnTheWight replied asking whether they had objected to the Coast Path being routed across their land. At time of publishing (12 days later) they haven’t replied.
We also approached Natural England about the proposed route and whether landowners had objected. They told OnTheWight,
“We suggested a more coastal route that would pass through excepted land within Barton Manor, but were unable to agree a route.”
Have your say
You can have your say on the proposed diversion of the England Coast Path by visiting the Government website.
You’ll also find documents for the other approved sections of Coast Path around the Island.
