E9
Description
- Length of trail 5,229 km, 3,249 miles
- Length in days 260 days
- Start of trail Cabo de Sao Vicente (P)
- End of trail Narva-Jõesuu (Est)
- Traildino grading EW, Easy walk, nature trail
E9: Cabo de Sao Vicente (P) - Brest (F) - Tallin (Est), 5000 km
International coast path Atlantic – North Sea – Baltic Sea
An approximate 5200km of coastal trail, southwest to northeast, of which considerable portions are still under development. Ideally it should start from Capo de São Vincente, Portugal and end in Narva-Jõesuu, Estonia. However the stretches along the Portuguese and Spanish Atlantic coast are as yet non-existent, as are some parts of the trail in France. From Brittany onwards, along the North Sea coast of Belgium and the Netherlands, and the Baltic coast of Germany and Poland, are a continuous trail. Only to be halted at the Poland-Kaliningrad border. There is a gap including the coast of Kaliningrad (Russia), Lithuania and Latvia. In Estonia the trail continues up to its far north eastern border with Russia.
From Roscoff in France, instead of continuing along the coast, there is an alternative route crossing over to the UK by ferry and walking a 711km section (or 719km if you include the Isle of Wight) from Plymouth to Dover along the British south coast. From Dover take a ferry back to Ostend where the trails then rejoin.
The trail is described North-South below:
Estonia (110 km is marked)
Small parts are done
- Paldiski matkaraja, 26 km
- Lohusalu matkaraja, 16 km
- Naissaare matkaradade, 10 km
- Rebala matkaraja, 15 km
- Kuusalu matkaraja, 23 km
- Vaivara matkaraja, 20 km
Latvia, Lithuania, Kalinigrad
- Non existent
Poland (656 km, marked)
- First village in Poland is Braniewo
- Braniewo - Żarnowiec, local trails, marked, 293 km
- Szlak Nadmorski / Coastal Trail, Żarnowiec - Świnoujście, marked, 378 km
- Last village in Poland is Świnoujście
Germany (944 km, marked)
- First village in Germany is Ahlbeck
- Coastel trail, sometimes joining Hanseatenweg, Ahlbeck – Warnemünde – Wismar – Rostock - Travemünde - Kücknitz
- Local paths, Kücknitz – Lübeck – Mölln, E1 and E6 join E9
- Local paths, Mölln – Hamburg, E1 joins E9
- Wanderweg Schlei-Eider-Elbe, Hamburg – Barmstedt, 54 km
- Local paths, Barmstedt – Glückstadt
- Ferry Glückstadt - Wischhafen
- Elbe-Weser-Wanderweg, Wischhafen – Bremerhaven, 111 km
- Ferry, Bremerhaven – Blexen
- Butjadinger Weg, from Blexen to Petershörn
- Jadeweg, from Petershörn to Wilhelmshaven
- Ems-Jade-Weg, from Wilhelmshaven to Aurich
- Ostfrieslandweg, from Aurich to Leer
- Emsweg, from Leer to Weener
- Local paths, Weener to Neuschanz
- Last village is Weener
Netherlands (650 km, marked)
- First village is Nieuweschans
- Wad- en Wierdenpad, LAW 5-5, Nieuweschans - Lauwersoog
- Friese Kustpad, LAW 5-4, Lauwersoog - Zurich
- Afsluitdijk, Zurich - Den Oever
- Hollands Kustpad, LAW 5-3 and LAW 5-2, Den Oever - Hoek van Holland
- Deltapad, LAW 5-1, Hoek van Holland - Sluis
- Grenslandpad, LAW 11, 1 km connecting LAW 5-1 with GR5a
- Last village is Sluis
Belgium (140 km, marked)
- First village is Hoeke
- GR5A - Wandelronde van Vlaanderen, Hoeke - De Panne
- Last village is De Panne
France (2189 km: partly ready)
- First village is Bray-Dunes, bordering on Belgium
- GR120, from Dunkerque to Pas d'Authie, 154 km
- Missing part, Pas d'Authie – Le Tréport
- GR21, Le Tréport – Le Havre, 161 km
- GR2, small part
- GR223, Le Havre – Cherbourg - Avranches, 417 km
- Local trails, Avranches - Le Mont St-Michel
- GR34, Le Mont St-Michel – Tour-du-Parc, 1700 km
- Missing part, Le Tour-du-Parc – Saint Brévin les Pins
- GR8, Saint Brévin les Pins – Sare: there are many missing parts, and a small part is covered by the GR4
United Kingdom (711 km, 719 via Isle of Wight)
Alternative for the continental trail: south coast of United Kingdom
- Ferry from Oostende, Belgium
- First village is Dover
- Saxon Shore Way, Dover – Rye, 65 km
- Local trails, Rye – Jevington, 56 km
- South Downs Way, Jevington – Queen Elizabeth Country Park, 111 km
- Staunton Way, Queen Elizabeth Country Park – Langstone Harbour, 19 km
- Solent Way, Langstone Harbour - Portsmouth – Lymington, 76 km
Alternative: Isle of Wight
- Ferry from Portsmouth
- first village is Yarmouth
- Isle of Wight Coastal Path, Yarmouth – Needles, 11 km
- Tennyson Trail, Needles – Carisbrook, 21 km
- Isle of Wight Coastal Path, Carisbrook – Newport, 5 km
- Bembridge Trail, Newport – Bembridge, 18 km
- Isle of Wight Coastal Path, Bembridge – Ryde, 13 km
- Last village is Ryde
- Ferry to Portsmouth
Back on the main trail:
- Solent Way, Lymington – Milford on sea, 11 km
- Bournemouth Coastal Path, Milford on Sea – Poole, 30 km
- South West Coast Path, Poole – Plymouth, 343 km
- Last village is Plymouth
Spain (partly ready)
- Parts in Asturias and Cantabria
Portugal
- Non existent
Map
Hike Reports
-
Hike a dike, Traildino!
- Traildino March 2009
- Friesland, in the north of the Netherlands, is a flat and open country. Meadows, scattered farms, ancient villages, and the sea. Walking on a dike you stick out high above this land and the sea and you will enjoy great views. The Friese Kustpad - ...
Photo Albums
More photos albums…
Links
Facts
- Wanderbares Deutschland (German)
Use the left menu to find any trail. Wanderbares Deutschland (Wanderful Germany) is a very good webpage, created and maintained by the German Walking Association, Deutscher Wanderverband. You will find many trails, including sketch maps, descriptions (often also in English), relevant guides and maps, and so on.
- British Ramblers
Details on the alternative British portion of trail E9.
- E-Route 9 UK Section Dover to Plymouth - LDWA Long Distance Paths
Facts for the Brittish section of the E9. Accommodation, maps, GPS downloads.
- E9 – Outdoor Wiki (German)
- European Long Distance trails on Wanderbares Deutschland (German)
Wanderbares Deutschland offers the trail information for Germany on behalf of the Deutscher Wanderverband (German Ramblers' Association). Click on "Übersicht Europäische Wanderwege" on the left, to get to the information of the E-Paths.
- European Ramblers Association
General overview of trail E9 per country.
- LDWA Long Distance Paths - E-Routes
Overview of the E-routes in the United Kingdom.
- Matkarajad - Eesti Matkaliit (Information on the E9) (Estonian)
Actually, if you walked all the way from Portugal to Estonia, you will be surprised the E9 is there! It is not finished, there are big gaps still. But probably the Estonians will accomplish their task before other countries. OK, the language here is a problem. But try translation tools and you'll find .. the real maps!!
- Wiki page E9 in Pommeria / Poland (Polish)
description of the exact route of last stretch of the E9 in Poland.
- Wiki page E9 Poland (Polish)
Village to village description of the route and remarks on sections that may be difficult to find or follow.
- Wikipedia
Very concise description of trail E9.
- Internationale routes | Wandelnet (Dutch)
Short intro to the E-paths running through The Netherlands (E2, E8, E9, E11).
Reports
- Wandern auf dem Europawanderweg (German)
Detailed information on three European Long Distance Trails: E1, E6, E9.
- Fernwanderweg E9 (German)
Trail report and picture gallery by the Wanderfreunde Leidenhofen.
- Hamburger Wanderjung (German)
Report and pictures of European trail E9 from polish/russian border to dutch border, also E1 Sweden, Denmark + Northern Germany, and Appalachian Trail + Pacific Crest Trail in the USA.
- Randonnée de la Bretagne au Pays Basque (French)
Description of a hike starting in Brittany / Bretagne to Pays Basquy (not finished yet).
Guides and maps
Lodging
Organisations
- Deutscher Wanderverband (German)
Platform for hiking in Germany. The Wanderverband is an association for the many local German hiking organisations. Germany has a rich hiking tradition, and many many local organisations. The website offers a good overview of hiking possibilities. However, the description of the different trails should be looked for at a different website: Wanderbares Deutschland (http://www.wanderbares-deutschland.de). The Deutscher Wanderverband is member of the European Ramblers' Association.
- Eesti Matkaliit - Estonian Ramblers Organisation (Estonian)
Estonian walking/hiking organisation, providing some info on hiking trails. Some English text, including a picture of a group on mountainbike through a cornfield. Google isn't too good in translating Estonian either. The organisation is member of the European Ramblers' Orgnisation and so they have the opportunity to connect Europe with Russia via the European Long Distance Trail E9.
- FFRP - Federation Francaise de la Randonnée Pédestre (French)
Official website of the French Federation for Long Distance Hiking. Offering all you need for hiking in France. The FFRP maintains all long distance hikes - Grandes Randonnées - in France. The organisation participates in the European Ramblers' Organisation.
- GR Sentiers - Les Sentiers de Grande Randonnée (French)
Long Distance Paths Association of French speaking Belgium, Wallonia, giving short info on all trails in Belgium, a clickable map, a webshop to order guidebooks and maps online. Some info on lodging too. The organisation is member of the European Ramblers' Organisation and takes care of the E-Paths in Wallonia.
- Grote Routepaden (Dutch)
Long Distance Paths Association of Flanders / Belgium. giving short info on all trails in Belgium, a clickable map, a webshop to order guidebooks and maps online. Online info on lodging is for members only. The Stichting Grote Routepaden is member of the European Ramblers' Association, and they are responsible for the Belgium trajects of E2, E3 and E9.
- Long Distance Walkers’ Association
As they write: "The LDWA is an Association of people with the common interest of walking long distances in rural, mountainous or moorland areas." The Long Distance Walking Association is member of the European Ramblers' Association.
- Polish Tourist Organisation (Polish)
The umbrella organisation maintaining the trails in Poland. Member of the European Ramblers' Organisation. Four European Long Distance Paths cross Poland: E3, E8, E9, E11.
- Stichting Wandelnet (Dutch)
The Dutch Long Distance Hikes are called LAW, the equivalent of the French GR. This organisation - Stichting Wandelnet - plans and maintains the paths, and publishes the guides of the 40 or so long distance hikes. Recent route changes can be found here. There is a section with all trails loaded in Google Maps. Stichting Wandelnet is member of the European Ramblers' Organisation and maintans the E-paths in The Netherlands.
Tour operators
GPS
Other
- Wander-Webcams (German)
Snow or not? Check out yourself!! Webcams!!!
Books

Germany
2013
- Pollmann, Bernhard: Ostseeküste
- Schleswig-Holstein. 50 Touren. Mit GPS-Daten Rother Wanderführer. 1., Auflage. Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
2013
- Wandelgids Oostzeekust - Ostseeküste Schleswig-Holstein | Rother | Bernhard Pollmann
- Uitstekende wandelgids met 50 dagtochten in dal en hoger gelegen delen van het gebergte. Met praktische informatie en beperkt kaartmateriaal! Wandelingen in verschillende zwaarte weergegeven in rood/blauw/zwart. Deze wandelgidsen uitgever staat hoog aangeschreven en is een begrip onder de wandelaars! > Von der Flensburger Förde bis zur... Read more

Germany
2004
- Jawinsky, Johanna: Ostseeküstenwanderweg E9
- Auf dem europäischen Fernwanderweg E9 von Travemünde bis Ahlbeck. Mit Kartenteil. 1. Auflage. Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
2004
- Wandelgids Ostseeküstenwanderweg E9 - von Travemünde bis Ahlbeck | Grünes Herz |
- Auf dem Europäischen Fernwanderweg E9 von Travemünde bis Ahlbeck. Routenbeschreibung, Sehenswürdigkeiten, Wissenswertes über Land und Leute. 13 Wanderrouten auf dem E9 von ca. 400 km, 2 Rundtouren ins küstennahe Binnenland, 14 Kurzbeschreibungen für Radtouren mit Tipps für Radler. Read more

Germany
- Hinrichsen, Klaus: Nicht quatschen, machen: Wandern durch Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Entschleunige dein Leben. Selbstfindung auf dem Ostsee -Fernwanderweg E9 Read more

Germany
- Hinrichsen, Klaus: Nicht quatschen, machen: Wandern durch Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Entschleunige dein Leben. Selbstfindung auf dem Ostsee -Fernwanderweg E9. 1. Auflage. Read more
Maps

United Kingdom
- Torquay & Dawlish
- Map sheet number 110 in the OS Explorer map series is the perfect map for exploring the eastern edge of Dartmoor national park and the coastal areas of Torquay, Dawlish and Paignton. Highlights of the area include:- The River Exe- E9 European Coastal Path- Dawlish Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
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Netherlands
- 110 Wandelkaart - topografische kaart Torquay & Dawlish - Explorer 110 | Ordnance Survey |
- Met zijn 4cm voor 1 km (2 ½ cm voor 1 mijl) schaal, is de OS Explorer kaartenserie de ideale en meest gedetailleerde kaartenreeks voor mensen die graag outdoor-activiteiten zoals fietsen, wandelen, paardrijden, klimmen en watersporten. Deze kaart is nog gedetailleerder dan de ´gewone´ Landranger maps. Voor- en achterzijde bedrukt! Zeker op de... Read more

United Kingdom
- Torquay & Dawlish
- Map sheet number 110 in the OS Explorer map series is the perfect map for exploring the eastern edge of Dartmoor national park and the coastal areas of Torquay, Dawlish and Paignton. Highlights of the area include:- The River Exe- E9 European Coastal Path- Dawlish Read more























