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The Pilgrims' Way

The Pilgrims' Way

The Pilgrims' Way

Walk the historic Pilgrims' Way across Hampshire, Surrey and Kent, taking in a wide collection of towns, villages, countryside, historic churches and even a wine estate.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the city of Winchester was a centre of royal and ecclesiastical power. Home to both St Swithun's shrine and Alfred the Great's tomb, Winchester was also the principal focus of pilgrimage in England. Following the brutal death of Thomas Becket in 1170, his shrine at Canterbury became equally important. Pilgrims from all over Europe wanted to visit both shrines and so the Pilgrims' Way came about. The route between Winchester and Canterbury became arguably the most important pilgrimage way in the country.

 

Tour Highlights

  • Walk from St Swithun's Shrine, Winchester, to Thomas Becket's Shrine in Canterbury. 
  • Visit cathedrals, abbeys and historic churches as you trace the footsteps that pikgrims have followed since the 12th century, on tracks that date back to the Stone Age.
  • The Pilgrims' Way merges with other walking routes; St Swithun's Way and North Downs Way
  • Hampshire towns and villages include Alresford, Alton and Jane Austen's home town of Chawton
  • Walk the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty which includes St Martha's Hill and Church, Shere and Box Hill. Cross the pretty stepping stones in Dorking and stop for a wine tasting experience on a wine estate that The Pilgrims' Way passes through.
  • In Kent, the final county of the walk, stop at a pub that many pilgrims have passed through, the woods where pilgrims took cover in fear of robbers, take a detour to Rochester if time (and your legs!) allow, and finish in Canterbury. 
  • We can arrange this as a guided or non-guided walk
  • Accommdation can be a range of hotels mixed with small pubs/inns. 
  • Meals - enjoy a selection of pub-lunches, picnics and cream teas.

 

* Another route is the Southampton to Canterbury Pilgrims' Way, which King Henry II walked barefoot as penance for ordering the murder of Thomas Becket.

What Our Clients Say

I was very fortunate to be on their 70th and 75th D-Day celebration tours. The service and attention to details was exceptional. It was very moving to go back.

As a Jane Austen enthusiast, this tour was perfect - and the Jane Austen Festival in Bath was just fabulous to see!

Words fail me...The Downton Abbey was a perfectly wonderful travel experience! We did not know we would be the ONLY guests at the Abbey. When we realised how truly exclusive our tour was we were speechless! Surreal being there and actually meeting Lady Carnarvon.

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