In March 2026, itching to get a long distance walk done and on home soil. I embarked on the Walsingham Camino. 277km pilgrimage starting at London Bridge and ending in Walsingham, North Norfolk.
I hosted a long distance walker back in November 2025, as he made his way from Azerbaijan to Rochdale, UK for charity. Listening to his adventures got me in the mood to pack my rucksack and get on another walk. Having not done one in the UK for a couple of years, I chose the Walsingham Camino. A route that is recognised by the Spanish Pilgrim Authorities. With some leave to use up before the end of March, I set off from London Bridge on 6th March, covering this ancient pilgrimage over 12 days.
A video of this adventure will follow.
Following in the footsteps of Kings
The Walsingham Camino
I recently hosted a long distance walker Owen Charnley, who was on the home stretch of his epic journey, walking from Azerbaijan to Rochdale, raising money for Manchester homeless charities. He documented his journey on Instagram (@owen.charnley91 if you are interested in seeing his adventure). It was a fantastic evening hearing about his adventures and geeking out over every part of the walking life — gear, blister hacks, pack weight, trail essentials, and even the…
The Eve of The Walsingham Way
I arrived in the big smoke with no hassle on the eve of my Walsingham Camino. By midday I had dumped my bag off at the hostel and left, with one goal. Get the three London cathedral stamps for my passport and the stamp from St Magnus the Martyr. The starting point for the pilgrimage. Southwark is opposite my digs, stamp collected. It is more of the traditional church style I like, no pomp, no…
Walsingham Camino Day One – Waltham Abbey
It was a fairly murky start to the day with the high rises obscured by the clouds. By 0730h I had begun my first steps on this pilgrimage. From the church of St. Magnus the Martyr, the route followed the Thames, skirting around the Tower of London, through wharfs that have now been converted into swanky apartments, leading me to the Limehouse basin. The difficult part of the navigation over with at this point -…
Walsingham Camino Day Two – Ware
Another grey start to the day, the last nights rain had ceased thankfully. I returned to the church to start the next stage and set my GPS on the go. I rejoined the towpath and followed it through the Lea Valley. Runners and the waterfowl were my company for the day. The peace and quiet were chalk and cheese compared to yesterday. Apart from the brief sections around Broxbourne and Stanstead Abbots, my sound track…
Walsingham Camino Day Three – Stanstead Mountfitchet
Mud is the word best to describe today’s stage. I had another lazy start, beginning my walk at about 0830h. The route rejoined the Hertfordshire Way, which it followed all the way to Bishop’s Stortford. Not a towpath in sight – proper countryside walking. The trade off was the mud, the worst claggy type. Slippery underfoot and sticks to your boots. It made the trek tricky, each step was taken in care and my legs…
Walsingham Camino Day Four – Saffron Walden
There are always highs and lows on pilgrimages, and not always about the topography. I was shattered yesterday, the whole day of walking in the mud had sapped my energy. Once I had my evening meal I was in bed by 1930h – out like a light. When 0700h came round I was rejuvenated and ready to hit stage 4. Another murky and misty day but it added to the atmosphere. Mostly country roads to…
Walsingham Camino Day Five – Havershill
The first bit of sun on the walk, the views have finally revealed themselves – if only I had a drone to capture them. A quick breakfast then I was out the doors at 0800h. I made my way to the start of the stage and headed Northeast out of the town into the countryside. The sun chased the clouds away, the murk only in the distance. I ambled along, I felt like taking a…
Walsingham Camino Day Six – Bury St. Edmunds
It has been a rewarding day but also brutal, 38km the longest day of my planned routes for this Camino. I was up at 0550h. I didn’t get much sleep from noise of the traffic outside and fellow residents walking up and down the corridor all night, over very creaky floorboards. But you get what you pay for – £40 for the night. An hour later I set off. The sun was out, blue sky…
Walsingham Camino Day Seven – Thetford
My mate from my years in Norfolk popped on his bike to meet me in Bury for the night, and brought a special delivery. Thanks to the wonders of internet shopping, my drone has been replaced! We had a good catch up having not met up in 13 years! Time flies, but nothing changed, it was as if we had a couple of beers last week. He has recently been on a mad jaunt himself,…
Walsingham Camino Day Eight – Brandon
A short lazy day, ambling in the sunshine along the banks of the River Little Ouse – my legs thanked me for it. The stage today was only 16km according to the guide, 3 hours max I reckoned. Check out wasn’t until 1100h, I stayed in bed to about 0800h. Did some supply shopping, got my stamp from St. Cuthbert’s then Lounged in my room until boredom got to me. At 1030h I was back…
Walsingham Camino Day Nine – Gt. Cressingham
Another glorious day in the sunshine, although it was even colder today. There was a layer of ice on the puddles when I first set off! A slightly later start this morning as I popped into Aldi for supplies. The route crossed the railway into Norfolk. The final county on this pilgrimage and an area that I spent 5 years in. I recognised the villages I passed through, nostalgia of the quiet lanes I once…
Walsingham Camino Day Ten – Castle Acre
I’ve been so lucky with the weather thus far. Another glorious day to be walking a pilgrimage. For breakfast, I had a very filling Scrambled egg on toast. Proper thick bread, lavished with peppered fluffy eggs. By 0820h I was energised to hit road. I called into St. Michael’s for the stamp and followed a single track road out of the village. Which was the only problem for the day. It was majority on tarmac.…
Walsingham Camino Day Eleven – Fakenham
This 26km stage, I was dreading with how my right shin had been reacting yesterday. However it was pretty even with road and track walking. The kinesiology tape was out and my right leg looked like a modern art piece by the time I had finished strapping it up. From Castle Acre the route follows the ‘Nar Valley Way’ through quiet paths and lanes. Although the sun was out, it was cold – my dexterity…
Walsingham Camino Day Twelve – Walsingham
Oh the Irony. I had it all planned out, how I was going to film the arrival. The shots and composition for the drone at the abbey. Only to find through March, the Abbey is only open at the weekends! For the last day, I took a late start. I’d booked breakfast for 0930h to begin walking at 10. I popped into the supermarket for supplies beforehand so I was good to go. The Sun…
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