Pilgrims' Way

In short: Pilgrims' Way: from Winchester to Canterbury. Length: around 190 km, duration: 8 to 10 days. Best time: May to September.

Overview

After the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170, Canterbury became England's most important place of pilgrimage. Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales are about such journeys.

Today's Pilgrims' Way runs from Winchester through the North Downs, largely on old paths along the ridge. For long stretches it follows the North Downs Way long-distance trail.

The route suits beginners well, and railway stations lie close to the path, so you can walk single sections. You sleep in bed and breakfasts and pubs, as there are hardly any hostels of the Spanish kind.

Planning your stages

How long you need depends on your daily distance. The table works this out for 190 kilometres, with one rest day a week.

Who is this route for?

This route suits a first pilgrimage well. You need no mountain experience, normal basic fitness and broken-in shoes are enough.

What does the route cost?

With an albergue or simple guesthouse and one hot meal, 60 to 80 euros a day is usually enough. Over about 11 days that comes to roughly 650 to 900 euros, plus travel and gear. This is a guide figure.

You can find more routes under Pilgrimage routes in Europe, Pilgrimage in the United Kingdom, sorted by religion under Christian pilgrimage routes.