Latest News: Read more



Two saints wayTwo Saints Way

Cheshire, Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent

148 km / 92 miles
A pilgrimage route of approximately 92 miles has been created between the cathedral cities of Chester and Lichfield, named the Two Saints Way after the Saxon saints who brought Christianity from Northumbria to the ancient kingdom of Mercia in the seventh century. St Chad's shrine at Lichfield and St Werburgh's shrine at Chester were popular destinations for pilgrims in medieval times and are linked by this route. The last twenty years or so has seen a marked rise in the idea and practice of pilgrimage. Old pilgrimage routes, such as the paths along the North Wales coast to Bardsey are being walked again and new pilgrimage routes, such as St Cuthbert's Way from Melrose to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, have been established. The Two Saints Way Project ties in with this new mood of enthusiasm for the active spirituality of pilgrimage in a way that is relevant to the contemporary context. The route has four sections:

Section 1 - Chester to Nantwich: from Chester Cathedral mostly along canals and including the dramatic Beeston Castle before ending at the fine market town of Nantwich.
Section 2 - Nantwich to Stoke-on-Trent: there are notable churches such as the intriguing Primitive Methodist Chapel at Englesea Brook and significant industrial heritage sites in Stoke-on-Trent.
Section 3 - Stoke-on-Trent to Stafford: the route follows the Trent Valley passing the impressive Trentham Estate and the canal town of Stone before reaching the county town of Stafford.
Section 4 - Stafford to Lichfield: after meandering along the River Sow the route joins and crosses Cannock Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, before the last few miles to Lichfield and the pilgrim sites at the Cathedral and St Chad's Well.

The route is referred to as The Way of St Chad in the Chester to Lichfield direction and is waymarked with the cross of St Chad; the route from Lichfield to Chester is referred to as The Way of St Werburgh and is waymarked with a goose, a symbol associated with St Werburgh.

An updated 2019 guidebook is listed below. Check the website for temporary diversions to the route.

MARCH 2023:
A short part of the route of the Two Saints Way near Hough and Chorlton in Cheshire is closed for gas pipeline diversion work until October 2023. (The closed Right of Way is one of three which are affected, but the only one which is on a named LDP.) Diversions via minor roads and footpaths may make use of Chorlton Lane and Chorlton.


Details:

Waymark: Two saints way
Path Type: Other Paths
Waymark: Cross and path name / Goose and path name
Attributes: Other Paths
Average Gradients
Urban
Pilgrimage
Start: SJ406664 - Chester Cathedral, Chester, Cheshire View on StreetMap
Finish: SK122102 - St Chad's Well, Lichfield, Staffordshire View on StreetMap
Web Sites: Two Saints Way BBC news : Lichfield Cathedral members walk Two Saints Way

Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook Two Saints Way  (Northern Eye Books  - 2019 )

Maps:

You can use the interactive controls to zoom in and out and to move around the map, or click on a path or a marker for more info.(interactive map help)

Show Connected Path Outlines
E Routes
Paths Marked on OS mapping
Other Paths
Anytime Challenges

Show Accommodation
Hostel Accommodation

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2016.
© OpenStreetMap contributors under Open Database Licence.
Rights of way data from selected Local Authorities.
Large scale digital mapping is provided by John Thorn.
At high zoom levels the route is indicative only.
Purchase Ordnance Survey Maps:
OS Landranger 117, 118, 127, 128
OS Landranger Active 117, 118, 127, 128
OS Explorer 232, 243, 244, 245, 257, 258, 266, 267
OS Explorer Active 232, 243, 244, 245, 257, 258, 266, 267

Walking Support Providers:

Support Providers
Baggage Handling and Self-Guided Walks (Nearwater Walking Holidays)

Accommodation within 5 km of this Path:

 
 
From
Path
Along
Path
Hostel Accommodation
< 1 km
2 km

Additional Images:


Connected Paths:


Downloads:

Reminder: Material downloaded from this website is for personal use only. Commercial use, reproduction, modification of all content is strictly prohibited without prior approval by the LDWA. Please Contact Us if you have any requests.

GPX Route File
Two Saints Way GPX Exchange Format Route File
Last Updated 24/01/2021 23:21:12 - Route changes near to Beeston Castle along Moss Lane
Login to Download
(Members Only)
MemoryMap Route File
Two Saints Way Memory Map Route File
Last Updated 24/01/2021 23:21:12 - Route changes near to Beeston Castle along Moss Lane
Login to Download
(Members Only)
Tracklogs Route File
Two Saints Way Tracklogs Route File
Last Updated 24/01/2021 23:21:16 - Route changes near to Beeston Castle along Moss Lane
Login to Download
(Members Only)

Route Profile:

148.3 km (92.1 miles)
1,667 m (5,469 ft) ascent
244 m (801 ft)  maximum height

This website uses cookies

To comply with EU Directives we are informing you that our website uses cookies for services such as memberships and Google Analytics.

Your data is completely safe and we do not record any personally identifiable information.

Please click the button to acknowledge and approve our use of cookies during your visit.

Learn more about the Cookie Law