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The Pilgrims' Way

To Canterbury from Winchester and London

ISBN

9781852847777

Availability

Published

2 Feb 2017

Reprinted

20 Aug 2024

Edition

First

Pages

208

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.20cm

Weight

240g

Delivery & Returns

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This guidebook describes an ancient pilgrimage route in southern England from Winchester in Hampshire, or Southwark, London to Canterbury, a 138 mile walk through wood and farmland, with views across the Weald. Divided into stages of about 10 miles, with route summary and information on public transport, accommodation and places of interest.

Seasons

Medieval pilgrims were hardy and often undertook the walk in winter but summer and autumn offer the chance of seeing hops, hillside vineyards, lavender fields and orchards bursting with growth.

Centres

Winchester, Alton, Farnham, Guildford, London, Dartford and Rochester, with plenty of accommodation and easy transport on the two routes.

Difficulty

The first pilgrims always sought the easiest route so while there are unavoidable rises in ground and sometimes steep hills there are also long flat stretches. No special equipment is required beyond a water bottle and sandwiches in case progress is slower than expected. The ancient rutted path can be partly flooded in wet winter months.

Must See

The Pilgrims' Way is often along a shelf on the side rather than the top of the North Downs but still high enough for long views. The downs are broken by valleys marked by chapels, castles and river crossings.

ISBN

9781852847777

Availability

Published

2 Feb 2017

Reprinted

20 Aug 2024

Edition

First

Pages

208

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.20cm

Weight

240g

Delivery & Returns

Overview

A guidebook to walking the Pilgrims’ Way, a 230 km (138 mile) historic pilgrimage route to Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, home of the shrine of the martyred archbishop, St Thomas Becket. With relatively easy walking on ancient pathways, it can be comfortably completed in under a fortnight.

The route is presented in 15 stages ranging between 7 and 22 kms (5-14 miles) and is described from both Winchester in Hampshire (138 miles) and London’s Southwark Cathedral (90 miles), with an optional link to Rochester.

1:50,000 OS mapping for each stage
Detailed information on accommodation, public transport, and refreshments for each stage
Information on the historical background of the pilgrimage, historical figures, and local points of interest
GPX files available to download
Facilities table to help you plan your itinerary

Table of Contents

Map key

Route Summary Table

Overview map

Introduction

History of the Way

Renewed interest

Historical figures along the Way

Variations to the Way

Walking the Way

When to walk

Where to stay

Refreshments

Waymarking

Maps

Using this guide

Winchester to Canterbury

Stage 1 Winchester to Alresford

Stage 2 Alresford to Alton

Stage 3 Alton to Farnham

Stage 4 Farnham to Guildford

Stage 5 Guildford to Box Hill

Stage 6 Box Hill to Merstham

Stage 7 Merstham to Oxted

Stage 8 Oxted to Otford

Stage 9 Otford to Wrotham

Stage 10 Wrotham to Halling

Stage 11 Halling to Aylesford

Stage 11a Peters Village to Rochester

Stage 12 Aylesford to Harrietsham

Stage 13 Harrietsham to Boughton Lees

Stage 14 Boughton Lees to Chilham

Stage 15 Chilham to Canterbury

London Route

Stage 1a Southwark to Shooters Hill

Stage 2a Shooters Hill to Dartford

Stage 3a Dartford to Otford

Appendix A Itinerary planner

Appendix B Accommodation

Appendix C Further information

Appendix D Further reading

Updates

March 2025

Westwell pub

Page 145 (last two paragraphs)

The Wheel pub has reopened after a long closure. The new opening days are Thur–Sun. Food available Thu–Sat 12–3pm & 5pm–8:30; Sun 12–3.30pm. Children must be 14+. The pilgrim stamp is available from the church.

November 2024

Godmersham viewpoint

On page 154 (last paragraph) you now cross the field to a gate. The tall posts have lost their yellow colour.

June 2023

Author updates

Wrotham Station and village
On page 108 the distance from Borough Green & Wrotham station to Wrotham is 1 mile (1.6km).

Wrotham Recycling centre
On pages 106 and 108 the recycling centre mentioned has closed

Peters Village road name change
On page 118 Hall Road is now called Village Road. The change concerns the road through Peters Village. Hall Road north of the roundabout (the way to Rochester page 122) retains the old name.

June 2023

Ropley church

On pages 41-42 Ropley church has been restored and is open 9-5 with tea and coffee available. The building now has toilets.

December 2021

2021 reprint route updates

777 Reprint 2021 (4.697 MB)

September 2021

Frederick Delius and Thomas Beecham

On page 96 the Oxted information includes mention of Frederick Delius and Thomas Beecham’s graves. These are found at Limsfield church on the east side of Oxted.

November 2017

Route updates

Chartham Hatch, page 159

The Chapter Arms pub has closed.

Harbledown, page 160
The parish church is called 'St Michael & All Angels', not All Saints.

June 2017

On page 74 the second sentence in the last paragraph should read: “Near the top of the hill go left by Southbrooks Farmhouse.”

On page 78 the second sentence in the last paragraph should begin: “At a second bus stop go left…”.

On page 80 remember to start counting the flights of steps as soon as you leave the stepping stones. At the turn off point there is an arrow on the left pointing to the right.

Appendix B Shooters Hill, page 201
Rose Cottage bed & breakfast has closed.

May 2017

Seale, page 62
Totfield Lane should be Totford Lane.

St Martha’s Hill, page 70
After St Martha’s Church look out for purple waymarks which are a good guide as far as the kissing gate opposite the post box at Albury Street (page 71).

Hackhurst Downs, page 75
Once through the kissing gate onto Hackhurst Downs note that the National Trust sign calls the spot 'Blatchford Down'.

Appendix B Wouldham, page 202
Wouldham Court Farm bed & breakfast has closed.

April 2017

Bishop's Sutton, Page 40
At the bottom of the page: note that the road runs downhill followed by a slight incline before going further downhill. The stile on the left is a little further along the road than maybe expected and is seen at the last moment.

Ropley, Page 42
The "unusual corrugated iron gate" has been replaced with a kissing gate.

Woodside Hill hamlet, Page 44
Start of last paragraph: At the bottom of the hill you pass Lower Woodside Farm (left) before the road double bends. After 0.25 miles turn left when the road goes sharp right.

Downloads

The Pilgrims' Way - GPX File

By Leigh Hatts

Leigh Hatts has been walking the Thames towpath and exploring the river and Docklands since 1981, when he worked on the feasibility study that resulted in the decision to establish the route as a National Trail. He worked as a reporter with the walkers’ magazine TGO and as arts correspondent of the Catholic Herald. He is co-founder of Bankside Press.

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