St Swithun's Way

Hampshire, Surrey

This historic walk takes a rural path from Winchester, the capital of Saxon England, where Swithun was bishop in the ninth century. It can be considered as the first part of a modern Pilgrim’s Way since at Farnham it joins the North Downs Way National Trail that takes the walker on to Canterbury.

With its shrine to St Swithun and tomb of Alfred the Great, Winchester was the first principal place of pilgrimage but later Becket’s shrine at Canterbury became more important and pilgrims would have visited both. Much of the original Pilgrim’s Way here follows the busy A31 road so this walking route uses rural paths and some lanes or minor roads along the same broad line. From Winchester it passes through the Itchen river valley, with attractive villages and interesting churches, then passes the market towns of Alresford and Alton, and Chawton, home of Jane Austen. The final section along the River Wey leads to Farnham.

The route also links with the South Downs Way at Winchester. Some six miles are coincident with the Allan King’s Way in the stretch between Winchester and Ovington.

Details:

Path Type:	Paths Marked on OS mapping
Waymark:	Named green and white discs with shell/two croziers
Attributes:	Average Gradients Downland/Wolds River Heritage Pilgrimage
Start:	SU481292 - Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire
Finish:	SU844465 - Farnham, Surrey
Open Date:	2002
Web Sites:	Hantsweb - St Swithun's Way Jason McDonald's Walking Pages - St Swithun's Way