The St James’ Way is approximately 68.5 miles / 110km long and runs from Reading Abbey, the centre of the cult of St James in England in the Middle Ages, via Winchester, to the port of Southampton, from where pilgrims may have sailed to France or Spain on their way to the shrine of St James at Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain.
This beautiful route, mostly through rural Hampshire, uses existing public footpaths as far as possible and takes in medieval churches of St James and places of pilgrim interest.
Stamps that you collect in your pilgrim passport on the St James’ Way (a Camino Inglés in England) count towards the 100km you need to obtain a Compostela from the Pilgrims Office in Santiago.
This 5th edition is a complete review of the guide’s content and was written by expert members of the CSJ.
It incorporates developments to the route since the 4th edition (2022), and includes:
- - refreshed images
- - comprehensive starting advice and information
- - additional points of interest
- - helpful advice following feedback from pilgrims who have walked this Camino
- - a pilgrim stamp symbol to easily spot locations that offer a stamp for your pilgrim passport
- - links with four connected pilgrimages
- - tables of:
- - Weekday Mass and Service Times
- - Churches and other sites with Pilgrim Stamps
- - Distances and Transport Links
Like all the Camino Pilgrim™ guides, this edition is lightweight (100g), pocket-sized (165 x 120mm) and great value (84 pages of guidance), making it ideal to carry and reference whilst walking. Your Camino will be greater for it.
In addition, this guide will be complemented by an Adventure Series map booklet by Harper Collins. This map booklet contains the full St James’ Way route traced on cascading maps. It is available separately or, for better value, together with this guide. However, the map booklet is not yet ready for publication (anticipated May 2024).
Note that the map booklet is not as essential as the guide; the route can be navigated by following its waymarks, and other mapping aids or by following the guide’s directions.
Buen Camino!
The previous (4th) edition of this guide is available from the CSJ at a SALE price of £5. Please contact the CSJ office directly using the "Find Us" details at the bottom of every web page if you would prefer this version.