E9
Description
- Name E9 (E9)
- Length of trail 5,229 km, 3,249 miles
- Length in days 260 days
- Start of trail Cabo de São Vicente (P)
- End of trail Narva-Jõesuu (Est)
- Traildino grading EW, Easy walk, nature trail
E9: Cabo de Sao Vicente (P) - Brest (F) - Tallinn (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 only partly ready, 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. Here, the E9 ends. Since 2018 Latvia and Estonia have joined the trail and you can start or end in Tallin!
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)
- Starting point in Estonia is capital Tallinn
- The trail closely follows the coast
- Last village before Latvia is Häädemeeste, stil quite a distance from the Latvian border
Latvia
- First village is Ainaži
- Follow the coastline!
- Last village in Latvia is Pape
- Here the trail is interupted. It continues in Poland, below
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
- Parts are ready (GR11)
- From Porto Covo onwards
- Fishermen's Trail (GR11) and Caminho Histórico
- Cabo de São Vicente, end point
Opinions
- Henk Nouws September 2014
- Rate 8
- Positive I did walk parts of the E9 in the Netherlands, Poland and England. Some parts are stunningly beautiful, others are boring, but the best is that you walk the history of Europe and get to know so many different countries that are in the same time so closely related.
- Negative Some boring stuff. The trail is not or rarely marked as E9, so you must find out the itinerary yourself (well: more a "like" than a "dislike").
- Andrew November 2014
- Rate 6
- Positive Most of the path is located on the coast. Because I love to swim (regardless from the season) during the breaks I could go to swim in the Baltic Sea. On the E9 in polish area is one National Prak and a lot of Landscape Parks (Wysoczyzny Elbląskiej, Trójmiejski Park Krajobrazowy; Nadmorski Park Krajobrazowy, ect)
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)
- E9 in Estonia and Latvia
This is where to find information on the E9 in Latvia and Estonia.
- 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!!
- Sintra – Cascais Section
Details about the Portuguese E9 section Sintra – Cascais
- 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 + pictures of European trail E9 from Polish/Russian to dutch border, E1 Sweden, Denmark, Germany + Switzerland, Appalachian + Pacific Crest + Continental Divide + Colorado Trail in 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
- Sintra Cascais - MAP
This is topographic map from Sintra Cascais that’s include GR 11 / E9 among others in this area.
- Southwest Alentejo and Vicentina Coast Nature Park - MAP
This is topographic map from Southwest Alentejo and Vicentina Coast Nature Park – MAP that’s include GR 11 / E9 among others in this area.
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
- Portuguese European Coastal Path
Complementary information about Sintra and Cascais section.
- Wander-Webcams (German)
Snow or not? Check out yourself!! Webcams!!!
Books
United Kingdom
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
- Purbeck & South Dorset - Poole, Dorchester - Weymouth & Swanage OS Explorer Active Map OL15 (waterproof)
- Purbeck and the southern part of Dorset on a detailed topographic and GPS compatible map OL15, waterproof version, from the Ordnance Survey’s 1:25,000 Explorer series. Coverage extends from Poole and Swanage in the east to Bridport in the west, and includes Dorchester, Tolpuddle, Bere Regis, Wareham, Weymouth, Chesil Beach, Portland Bill, the... Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
Maps
Netherlands
- Wandelkaart - Fietskaart Insel Rügen | Verlag Dr. Barthel
- Frei von Werbeanzeigen. reißfest, wetterfest durch Beschichtung mit hochwertiger nicht spiegelnder Folie, mit ausgewählten Straßennamen zur besseren Orientierung, farbig hervorgehobenen Ausflugszielen, Sehenswürdigkeiten der Umgebung in Text und Bild und alle regionalen und überregionalen Wander- und Radwanderwege sowie ausgewiesene... Read more
Forum
- LuisMarqu3s 2019-04-04 01:01:29
E9 portuguese section
- Hi All, I’m trying to do the Portuguese path by sections and map all on GPX file but the information for Portuguese pathway is confusing. My first step is Sintra – Cascais, already marked and after I’m thinking about Rota Vicentina marked as well but without references here. Someone can help? I’m checking the map on Traildino and don’t seems the sections I found match with the Portuguese sections submitted for approval as GR11. As far as I know, the Portuguese section should match with this GR11…
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- Traildino 2019-04-04 08:42:01
- I doubt if the route is in place currently. As you say, some sections in the South correspond with the Rota Vicentina. Further north, I don't think the trail is marked or existing at all. I recommend contacting the Portuguese Ramblers Association.
- LuisMarqu3s 2019-04-04 14:01:21
- Thank you for your feedback. I think you are trying to mention FCMP but I already tried and they just do not answer my emails or other kind of contacts :(
- TrailDog 2016-01-27 22:09:13
thru-hiking the E9
- hi, i'm going to attempt to thru-hike (start to finish in one go) the E9 from portugal to estland. im from Belgium and will leave for portugal on the 10th of april 2016. now i hardly find any documentation besides Germany and the Netherlands. wat i realy want to know is issent there like a somewhat complete guide or a list of connecting trails to help me realise my dream? if not im still going for it and will make up my own path ^^
friendly regards mathias -
- Traildino 2016-01-27 23:49:13
- Hi there!
No, you will not find a thru-guide. Your plan is a real challenge, and more so because you will have to collect the bits and pieces of information yourself. You will find gpx's in Traildino Mobile or http://hiking.waymarkedtrails.org/en/
The trail may have gaps in Portugal, but I'm not sure. Spain is fine, excellent even. Then in France, the worst part is between the Gironde and Loire. From them on it will be a very pretty walk all the way to Kaliningrad. By the way: Poland is excellent, I did parts there myself. In the Baltic States, the E9 is non existent, But there will be other trails and/or coastal paths.
Are you planning to add the trail to OpenStreetMap? Would be handy to everybody.
- dh2016 2017-01-02 17:05:40
- Hi Traildog, just wanted to ask if you were able to achieve your goal? Would be great to hear how it went.
- Karl Neilson 2018-03-28 15:08:48
- Hi there Ill be walking in the opposite direction starting on the 21st April 2018 in Estonia, to Portugal.
- Mischa 2015-10-31 16:29:57
From Estonia to Kaliningrad
- Hello everyone, does anybody knows if it's possible to reach Kaliningrad from the end of E9 in Estonia (through the coastline) ? Any advice regarding this part ?
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- Henk Nouws 2015-10-31 22:59:31
- I got information from the ERA that the E9 in Estonia is nonexistent. Poland is the last country.
- Karl Neilson 2018-03-28 15:13:27
- Hi Henk,
The Estonia, section is Non existent. I shall be walking that route in its entirety myself from the 21st april 2018. Attempting to map as much of it as possible. It is possible to reach Kallingrad, but you need a visa. Otherwise there is a bus service from Latvia to Poland, which allows you to cross through Russia without a permit.
- kika 2014-09-17 02:10:42
Portugese Part
- Well the portugese part of this trail is partely ready. with the fishermans trail / historical way already being marked.
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- kika 2017-01-08 09:35:45
- here is the link to some of the portugese trail for anybody that is looking
http://en.rotavicentina.com/go.html
- LuisMarqu3s 2019-04-04 01:03:19
- I don't know if someone is looking inside this site / E9 anymore. Are you interested on it yet?