Pilgrims’ trail, Hampshire, UK
Distance: 29.1 miles Start: Winchester Cathedral Maps: OS Explorer 3, 29, 32 Walking the Pilgrims’ Trail This long-distance walk begins at Winchester Cathedral and follows one of southern England’s most quietly fascinating routes: the Pilgrims’ Trail, also known as the Hampshire Millennium Pilgrims Trail. It forms part of a wider network of historic pilgrimage paths known as Les Chemins du Mont-Saint-Michel, linking Winchester with the famous tidal island in Normandy. For centuries, pilgrims travelled along these paths to reach Winchester Cathedral, coming from across Britain and mainland Europe to visit the shrine of St Swithun. A former tutor to the young Alfred the Great, his cult helped turn Winchester into one of medieval England’s most important destinations. Leaving the city behind, the route follows the line of an ancient Roman road towards Bishop’s Waltham before slipping into quieter countryside via Kingsmead and the Forest of Bere. Woodland tracks, open farmland, and ...