An English Camino to Santiago #1
2 people attending
13 places left
Starting a Camino in the UK
It might come as a surprise, but you can undertake a Camino journey right here in the UK on a number of officially recognised routes.
Opened in 2022 as a modern-day Camino route outside of Spain, the new 68.5 mile St James' Way between Reading and Southampton offers an option for those looking to experience a pilgrimage or journey closer to home.
About this section of the route
For this 13.2 mile / 21.3km linear walk section, we will set off from our meeting point at the front of Reading train station and make a first stop at Reading Museum (where I will be picking up my first Camino passport stamp). We will then pass by the ruins of Reading Abbey and through the town, before joining the Kennet and Avon Canal and heading into the countryside. Upon reaching Theale, we will turn southwards towards Sheffield Bottom (where we will stop for lunch). After lunch we will head via Wokefield Common and on to Mortimer, where I will collect a second stamp at the Horse and Groom pub (and where we may want to take a near walk-end refreshment stop), before heading to our end point about one mile away at Mortimer train station. From here you will be able to make your way back to Reading and your onward journey.
About the St James' Way
The 68.5 mile / 110km route was established by volunteers from the Cofraternity of St James and includes new signage and organised passport stamp collection points at churches and pubs along the way.
The terrain is mostly flat, combining countryside views with historical landmarks. Some highlights include:
- Reading Abbey: Start at this historic site, once a significant centre for the St James cult in medieval England.
- Silchester Roman Fort: Enjoy expansive views while seeing the area's Roman past.
- Bramley: Visit this pretty village to see its medieval wall paintings.
- Winchester Cathedral: Explore this iconic cathedral and experience the Wayfarer’s Dole at the Hospital of St Cross.
- Southampton: Conclude your journey at this historic port, where medieval pilgrims once set sail for Santiago.
If you would like to collect Camino passport stamps
Although my walk is not for religious purposes, I plan to collect Camino passport stamps from churches and pubs along the way in case I decide to continue on the Camino Inglés route in Spain from A Coruña to Santiago de Compostela and want to gain a compostela or certificado. If you too are interested in collecting stamps, you can purchase pilgrim passports online at https://www.csj.org.uk/Pages/Category/memberships-and-pilgrim-records or at Reading Museum (but worth noting that they were out of stock when I was there a few weeks ago, so may not be available to buy on the day).
Please note that you are absolutely not required to purchase a Camino passport or collect stamps to take part in this walk!
Continuing on to Santiago de Compostela
The requirements do change from time to time, but those wanting to continue on in future to Santiago in order to obtain a compostela (religious) or certificado (non-religious) will need to meet certain requirements; namely that pilgrims starting outside of Spain must complete a total distance of 100km and cover at least 70km in Spain on a recognised route and collect two passport stamps per day. Upon arrival in Santiago you would be required to demonstrate evidence of your UK route, hence collection of two stamps on each leg to demonstrate the journey from Reading to Southampton.
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Image credits
All images used are photographs taken by the event leader (Anthony Hull), with permission granted for their use for events and promotions undertaken by Outdoorlads.
What to bring
The below is not mandatory, but just to give you some ideas of what to bring in the ever-changeable British weather:
Water: bring enough to keep you hydrated.
Suncream: we do get sunshine and it's good to keep have protection.
Sunglasses: you might need them!
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely.
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain.
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions.
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters.
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece).
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK.
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry.
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer.
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of.
Food & drink
Please bring food and drink with you for a packed lunch.
We will stop for short breaks as and when we feel we need to and will stop to eat our packed lunch at Sheffield Bottom (roughly at the 7.5 mile/ 12km point). There is a pub there if you wanted to get something to eat, but I am not planning on a group pub lunch.
I will be collecting a Camino passport stamp at the Horse and Groom pub on the outskirts of Mortimer (and around 1 mile from the end point at Mortimer train station), so we can take this as an opportunity to have a refreshment stop close to the end of the walk. I could not see a pub on the map located next to the station.