St James' Way
An English Camino from Reading to Southampton
The Camino Inglés (68.5 Miles)
The St James’ Way, an officially accredited Camino pilgrimage route, traces the path medieval British pilgrims travelled on their journey to the shrine of St James at Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain.
What you should know
The route broadly follows the direction of the old Roman Road from Silchester towards Winchester via Basingstoke, winding its way to finish in Southampton. Along the way, you’ll wander through picturesque landscapes, follow meandering rivers and canals, discover traditional pubs, quaint village churches often dedicated to St. James and other historic treasures.
The 68.5 mile route covers mostly flat or gently undulating countryside and is waymarked with the distinctive blue and yellow Camino signs and yellow arrows. The best time to walk is between April and October; during spring and autumn paths can become boggy after heavy rain; however, there are always alternative routes to bypass the worst sections.
The journey starts at St James Church adjacent to Reading Abbey and winds its way to God’s House Tower in Southampton. The route detours through the historic Roman city of Silchester where you can explore the well preserved Amphitheatre and walk around the Roman walls. A few miles further and you’ll pass through the Domesday Book villages of Monk Sherborne and Dummer before reaching New Alresford renowned for its watercress beds and the ‘Watercress Line’ railway.
From here, it follows the crystal-clear River Itchen, leading you to Winchester, England’s Saxon capital, boasting a majestic cathedral and the Great Hall, home to King Arthur’s legendary Round Table. The route concludes at God’s House Tower in Southampton.
Camino Passport
Collect stamps along the way in your Camino ‘passport’ to earn a certificate of completion, available at either God’s House Tower or Tudor House & Gardens at the end of the route in Southampton.
For some, the journey doesn’t end in Southampton but continues across the English Channel to Ferrol or A Coruna in Northern Spain. From there, you can carry on along the Spanish Camino Inglés to Santiago de Compostela. The Galician authorities allow you to count the distance covered on the UK Camino towards earning the coveted ‘Compostela’ certificate in Santiago.
