A new chapter in the UK’s link to the world-famous Camino de Santiago has been marked with the unveiling of a granite milestone in Southampton, and celebrations in Reading. The events highlight the growing recognition of St James’ Way, a 68-mile (110km) pilgrimage route connecting Reading Abbey ruins to Southampton via Winchester.

The St James’ Way retraces a possible medieval route taken by pilgrims journeying from England to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. It forms part of the wider Camino network, which attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year.

The latest milestone, shipped from Spain, now stands at the historic Holyrood Church in Southampton. The marker, unveiled by city officials alongside representatives from the Galician authorities and the CSJ, signifies Southampton’s official place on the Camino de Santiago network. It follows the installation of a similar markers in Reading and Winchester last year.

Last week’s unveiling and celebrations in Reading for “Walk the Spanish Way / Primavera no Camino” were a wonderful chance for pilgrims to meet, learn about the Camino and Galician culture, and mark an exciting development of the Camino Inglés in England.

For more information about the events, check out the BBC’s coverage at the links below and on CSJ’s Youtube channel.

Walk the Spanish Way Reading

Southampton Milestone Unveiling

Coverage on BBC South evening news

More about the St James' Way