Chalk ridges, cathedral cities, and a centuries-old path across the south
The Pilgrims’ Way is a long-distance self-guided travel trail linking walking routes, landscapes, and historic places between Winchester in Hampshire and Canterbury in Kent. Following ancient trackways beneath the North Downs, the route connects cathedrals, villages, and open countryside, often sharing ground with the North Downs Way, and remains one of England’s most enduring journeys on foot.
Walking here is shaped by continuity rather than challenge. Much of the route follows gentle woodland tracks, farmland paths, and quiet lanes beneath the chalk escarpment, creating a steady rhythm through the Surrey Hills National Landscape and the Kent Downs National Landscape. Gradients are generally manageable, with occasional climbs onto ridges that open wide views across the Weald.
The character of the path is cultural as well as scenic. Churches, wayside crosses, and old settlements appear at regular intervals, reflecting centuries of movement between Winchester and Canterbury. Towns such as Farnham, Guildford, Dorking, and Rochester provide natural pauses along the way, where the landscape and history feel closely linked.
Approaching Canterbury, orchards and rolling farmland replace the wooded ridges. The route gradually narrows into quieter lanes and footpaths before arriving at Canterbury Cathedral, the traditional end point of the journey. The sense of arrival is subtle but distinct — a slow transition from countryside to one of England’s most significant historic cities.
Unlike ridge or coastal trails defined by exposure or terrain, the appeal of the Pilgrims’ Way lies in its story and continuity — a path shaped by centuries of footsteps, experienced best at an unhurried pace.
Trail Overview
Distance
Approx. 120 miles / 193 km
Typical time on foot
9–12 days (or shorter sections)
Start
Winchester, Hampshire
Finish
Canterbury, Kent
Terrain
Chalk ridges, woodland tracks, farmland paths, quiet lanes, towns and villages
Waymarking
Not consistently waymarked; often follows the North Downs Way
