Pilgrims’ trail, Hampshire, UK & Chemin de Cherbourg, France
About the route: Editors note: See bottom for photos. Uk route: The pilgrims’ trail, also called the Hampshire millennium Pilgrims’ trail, is part of a longer network of pilgrim routes known as les chemins du Mont-Saint-Michel. The trail forms a link between Winchester in Hampshire, Uk and Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, France. The route follows paths dating back to medieval times, when pilgrims travelled to Winchester cathedral from across the country and beyond to worship at the shrine of St Swithun, a former teacher of the young Alfred the great. In Hampshire, the trail traces the course of a roman road to Bishop’s Waltham, then continues via Kingsmead and the forest of bere, crossing the portsdowns before reaching Portsmouth ferry terminal. Along the way, the route is marked with distinctive green waymarks bearing the image of Mont-Saint-Michel, in contrast to the blue signage used for most the route in France. From Portsmouth, a ferry to Cherbourg is easily available either overni...