Mid June 2026, I was ready for another pilgrimage, and with a week to spare, I walked the St. James Way. 122km from Reading to Southampton. However for this one, my Mum joined me for UK side of the Camino Inglés.
Still in pilgrimage mode off the back of the Walsingham Camino, I took the 6 day trek from Reading to Southampton, on the St. James Way. Championed by the Confraternity of St. James as part of the Camino Inglés, which is recognised by the Spanish Pilgrim Authorities. It follows the medieval trail that pilgrims would have followed to reach the ports of Southampton, to set sail to A Coruña or Ferrol and continue their journey to Santiago de Compostela. For preparation for an adventure later in the year, my Mum joined me as I made my way through Berkshire and Hampshire
Video to follow of this adventure.
Ancient trail to set sail with medieval pilgrims
The Saint James Way
Still on a high from my Walsingham Camino, I found a book from the British Pilgrimage Trust about locations around the UK that were destinations for medieval pilgrimage – ‘Pilgrim Places’. The book also details some routes to follow. The chapters are separated into the counties, giving the history behind the locations. One route jumped out straightaway, ‘The Saint James Way’. Set up by the UK confraternity of St. James; the organisation for the Camino…
The St. James Way Day One – Wokefield/Mortimer
A nice gentle start to break us into this pilgrimage, with perfect weather and some nice pubs along the way. At 8am we set off from St. James Church, next to Forbury Gardens and Reading Abbey ruins. The busy streets from the night before now empty save a few dog walkers. We followed the route to the canal where we got a picture with a Camino way-marker in the Galician style. On it, it read…
The St. James Way Day Two – Basingstoke
Bit of a long one today, wading through brambles and nettles, with a spot of wildlife rescue. Wokefield Estate is clearly a popular location for lads golfing holidays. Sleep was little due to them coming and going throughout the night and holding phone calls in the corridors at 5am! At 8.30am we made our way across the fields into Mortimer, calling at the shop for supplies. Unfortunately the pub with the stamp wasn’t open this…
The St. James Way Day Three – Alresford
I lived up to that stereotype today; your walking friend, that utters the words “it’s not far now”, “just around the next bend”, “one more hill to go” – the biggest liar in your friend group. Had I fully disclosed the distance today, I think my mum would have taken the bus! We set off from Worting just after 8am, following an old Roman road that seemed to act as a dam to new housing…
The St. James Way Day Four – Winchester
Today brought rain and soggy feet, but also an easy 17km stroll into a former capital of England and the resting place of St. Swithun. It was probably our quietest night sleep on the pilgrimage so far. No revelling golfers, early morning beer deliveries or city noises. When we began today’s walk, there was a spring in our step. The only dampener – figurative and literally – was the rain. Although light, the overgrown paths…
The St. James Way Day Five – Eastleigh
A day of Peregrine Falcons, Kingfishers and Cetti’s Warblers. Ornithology and tranquil river banks. It started out in the drizzle, and as we passed the cathedral the Falcons were crying from the spires, clearly also disgruntled with the weather. The route winds through Winchester to the banks of the river Itchen, where it follows it to Eastleigh. The trees and bracken were alive with birdsong. After hearing an unusual call, we booted up the app,…
The St. James Way Day Six – Southampton
Brambles. Officially my least favourite plant. Next week’s forecast is a heat wave, and today was the warm up. At 8.30am it was already hot. We rejoined the riverside path, that seemed to turn into a jungle expedition the further along we travelled it. Nettles and brambles crisscrossed the narrow footpath. The nettles were nothing. I resided to their stinging presence with me wearing shorts; I hardly noticed them. The brambles were the pain. Snagging…
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Stu's Camino 