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London to Walsingham Camino

by: Andy Bull

UPDATES

Spring 2025

Andy re-walked the route in Spring 2025 in order to update things. Some adjustments to the path have been made, which are itemised below. Many more churches have pilgrim stamps, and are open, and there are more accommodation options, including the first Sanctuary pilgrim accommodation, Champing (church camping)  and village community offering bed and breakfast in aid of their church funds.

Many thanks to all the pilgrims who gave their feedback and offered their suggestions – your input has been invaluable! If you come across further things that need updating, please contact us via info@trailblazer-guides.com

Follow the links in the London to Walsingham Camino guidebook to download amended walking instructions, gpx and kml files. The files you download will be the latest  versions. 

Some updates to facilities along the path have also been necessary. These are itemised below. Please read these in conjunction with the guidebook. Only alterations are mentioned on this page, all other information in the guidebook stands.

If you are using the gpx files, we strongly recommend you load them into the OS (Ordnance Survey) app. While the file will generally work well in other readers, such as Komoot, one or two pilgrims have reported that the route is occasionally not rendered with 100 per cent accuracy, which can cause you to stray from the path.

At the bottom of the page also note the information on the London to Walsingham Cycle Pilgrimage route.

 

Stage 1: Magnus Martyr to Waltham Abbey  

St Katharine Docks (1 mile) 

In St Katharine Docks, the route passes over a footbridge between two dock basins. It is sometimes closed temporarily. If it is, notes on the GPX map and on the Tabulated Directions tell you what alternative route to take.

King Edward Memorial Park (2.3 miles)

Major construction work means that the path through the park is likely to be closed. The route is amended at this point to take you up to The Highway (A1203) for the approach to the Royal Foundation of St Katharine.

 

Stage 2: Waltham Abbey to Ware

The path after Gt Amwell (at the 11.4mile point) has been adjusted to take a more direct route on the final leg to Ware, and cuts .75 of a mile, 1.2km from the route, making the new total 12.6miles/20.3km for this stage.

Waltham Abbey

The pilgrim stamp is not left out, but the very helpful volunteers on duty during open hours (see guidebook) will be happy to produce it for you.

Broxbourne

The Old Mill Retreat Cafe, at Broxbourne, makes another option for lunch. https://cafesinthepark.com/old-mill-retreat. Toilets nearby.

St Augustine’s church, Broxbourne, is usually open between 9.30am-1pm on Mon-Wed and Fri, and Sunday 10.30am until around 12.30pm.  On 2nd and 4th Sundays  the church opens for an 8am service. Parish office: bwparishoffice@btinternet.com The church has a loo.

Gt Amwell 

St john the Baptist, Gt Amwell. You will need to arrange in advance to have the church opened for you. Contact the benefice administrator, Anna Bond, at admin@3churches.net Churchwardens are very friendly and welcoming.

 

Stage 3: Ware to Stansted Mountfitchet

The path has been adjusted at two points, the first (at the 2.7mile point) leaving out Wareside to give a more direct path. The second (at 15.2miles) adjusts the route to end the stage at St Mary’s church, Stansted Mountfitchet, where they now offer Champing (camping in church, see below for details). The gpx map and tabulated directions for the kml version give directions for continuing into Stansted Mountfitchet on the original route. The stage now runs to 15.9miles, 25.6km.

St Mary’s Ware

The church now closes as dusk

Much Hadham

The Bull was undergoing renovation at the time of walking, and opening hours were restricted. To check current opening hours: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Bull-Much-Hadham-61560140846105/

Bus services

The timetable for buses between Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford, serving Ware, Widford and the half-way point of Much Hadham, has been amended and route numbers changed. The numbers are now 35 and 35c and there is no longer a Sunday service. The stop in Much Hadham is outside the former Red Lion. For details: www.intalink.org.uk

St Andrew’s and Holy Cross, Much Hadham 

The pilgrim stamp is kept in a Tupperware box on the shelves to your left as you enter the church. There is also a notice headed ‘Pilgrims’ but that sometimes isn’t visible. The Tree of Life window mentioned in the guidebook is now generally kept behind a locked door. Contact the church in advance if you would like to see it (contact details in guidebook).

The path after St Andrew’s and Holy Cross

Just after the church, the footbridge was out for a couple of years has now been replaced, and the original, direct route is now re-instated in the gpx and kml route maps.

Stansted Mountfitchet

The route maps are now extended to take the path from Stansted Mountfitchet to St Mary’s church. The tabulated directions for this stage have been updated to give directions for both St Mary’s, and Stansted Mountfitchet village centre and railway station.

St Mary’s Stansted Mountfitchet Champing (church camping) 

Open for church camping (champing) from end of March to end of October. Full details of facilities and how to book are here: https://champing.co.uk/church/stansted-mountfitchet-essex-st-mary-the-virgin/

 

Stage 4: Stansted Mountfitchet to Saffron Walden 

There are some important alternations to the route.

The stage now begins at St Mary’s on the outskirts of Stansted Mountfitchet (see above). If you are joining the route in Stansted Mountfitchet village centre, you can pick up the route there, at the .7mile/1.1km point. 

From St Mary’s church in Newport the route now goes via Wendens Ambo (pub and church) and Audley End rail station. This brings a further charming church and village pub into the route, plus the additional rail link. The tabulated directions have been updated, and gpx and kml maps amended.

There are two new pilgrim stamps on this stage: at St John’s, Stansted Mountfitchet, and at St Mary’s, Widdington.

The stage now runs to 14.4miles/23.2km, which is 330yds/300m longer than the original.

Ugley

In addition to the rail services noted in the guidebook, there is also a station at Elsenham, .6 of a mile from Ugley Green, reached at 2.9miles from the start point at St Mary’s, Stansted Mountfitchet.

Widdington

St Mary’s

The new pilgrim stamp is a small green cylinder placed in a scallop shell on the table to your left as you enter the church.

Fleur de Lys 

Now open for lunch, Wednesday to Sunday (book in advance). Website ‘coming soon’ at a new web address: www.fleurdelyspub.co.uk phone as in guidebook, info@fleurdelyspub.co.uk. Open times, at the time of writing (April 2025) are as follows: Mon closed, Tue 6pm-to close, Wed-Sat noon-close, Sun noon-close, (Close being flexible depending on trade). 

 

Newport

St Mary’s church has a new website: www.stmarynewport.org

Accommodation

The Toll House B&B has a new web address:  https://www.the-toll-house.co.uk/ other contact details as in guidebook.

Camping

There is free camping in Newport for members of Welcome To My Garden https://welcometomygarden.org/ (joining fees begin at €36). Search ‘Newport, Essex’ for details.

 

Wendens Ambo

New to the route: here are the facilities

The Bell  01799 540382 https://www.thebellinnpub.co.uk/ Royston Rd, CB11 4JY,

Open Mon-Thur noon-11pm, Fri-Sat noon-midnight, Sun noon-11pm, Food Mon-Fri noon-3pm, 6pm-9pm, Sat noon-9pm, Sun noon-6pm

 

St Mary’s 

Church Path, Wendens Ambo, CB11 4JZ

https://www.wendenheritage.org.uk/

Open daylight hours (Sun 9am-late afternoon) Services Sun 9am

 

Audley End Station

Station Rd, Wendons Ambo, CB11 4LB

https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/travel-information/station-information/aud

The No 34 bus runs from station to town. https://stephensonsofessex.com/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/2019/03/34-Saffron-Walden.pdf

 

Stage 5: Saffron Walden to Withersfield

There are a couple of very minor alternations to the route, caused by landowners redirecting footpaths for short stretches. These add very marginally to the route, which now totals 13.9miles/22.5km.

 

Withersfield

The White Horse Inn is now closed on Mondays. You can stay overnight on Sundays, but there is no evening meal on Sunday or breakfast on Monday. Other details as guidebook.

 

Haverhill 

Accommodation 

The correct web address for Rosebarne is www.rosebarne.weebly.com

 

Stage 6: Withersfield to Stansfield 

Hundon

All Saints

The church is now open 10am-4pm daily. There is a very welcome Pilgrim Box, a green-topped, Tupperware-style container on the table ahead of you on your right as you enter the church. In it, along with the pilgrim stamp, is a selection of snacks, plasters and tissues.

Hundon shop and post office

The shop hours have been extended. It is now open Mon-Sat 8am-1pm, Sun 10am-noon. Post office Mon-Sat 9am-1pm. North St, CO10 8EE.

The Rose and Crown

Amended opening hours are now Mon-Tue closed, Wed-Thur 6pm-to close (close varies depending on trade), Fri-Sat noon-close, Sun noon-9pm. Food: Mon-Tue closed, Wed-Thur 6pm-8.30pm, Fri noon-2 and 6pm-8.30pm, Sat noon-8.30pm, Sun 1-2.30 (booking essential for Sun)

Laurel Bank B&B

Now has a pilgrim stamp

 Stansfield Compasses

This pub – home to the Old Goat Brewery – has opened and closed a couple of times but as of April 2025 it is open at weekends 01284-789009 https://www.oldgoatbeer.com/ High St, Stansfield CO10 8LN Open Fri 4pm-10pm, Sat 3pm-10pm, Sun 3pm-7pm  

 

Stage 7: Stansfield to Bury St Edmunds

An illegally blocked footpath on farmland to the north of Hawkedon means the route has had to be adjusted.

 Rede

There is now pilgrim accommodation offered in the village. Contact Jackie Pratten 07980-526881, 01284-850078, jackiepratten@icloud.com One single, one double, rooms share bathroom, £70 per night for the double, £40 for the single. All proceeds donated to Rede church. There is now a pilgrim stamp in the church.

Whepstead

There is now accommodation in a shepherd’s hut, offered on Airbnb. 

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/45074143?source_impression_id=p3_1742403701_P3nQ7sUjA4p6dkiZPilgrims report it is ‘very nice’.

 

Stage 8: Bury St Edmunds to Thetford (16.8miles/27km)

The experimental adjustment to the route north of Culford, cutting out the village of Barnham, has been made permanent. Feedback from pilgrims was that the two miles of verge-walking along the A134 could be dangerous, particularly in bad weather, so the revised route along forest tracks will remain in place.

 

Rest day in Bury St Edmunds

St Mary’s

This church does not feature in the guidebook, which was an oversight. It holds the tomb of Henry VIII’s sister, Mary, who was married to the king of France. Here are the details: stmaryschurchbse.org, Honey Hill IP33 1RT; open Mon-Tue 10.30am-3pm, Wed 9.45am-3pm, Thu-Sat 1030am-3pm, Sun 9am-noon, services Sun 9.15am, 11am, 4pm, Wed 10am.

The church now has a pilgrim stamp.

St John's

The church now has a pilgrim stamp.

Stage 9 Thetford to Brandon

The route is unaltered, but a waypoint has been added at the 7.1mile point suggesting an alternative route in case the riverside path from here to Brandon has become waterlogged.

Santon Downham

St Mary the Virgin, ‘the Church in the Forest’ (7.3miles) is now open during the day

For details https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/2166/

 

Stage 10 Brandon to Gt Cressingham

There is a slight amendment to the route at the  8.9mile mark, where the path has been blocked and a new one created 20yds to the left of it. Details on kml and gpx maps, and in tabulated directions.

 

Two more churches on this stage now have pilgrim stamps. They are:

Ickburgh

St Peter’s church can be opened for pilgrims, call in advance if possible to be sure.

Church Wardens: Judy Gallop 07717682034 and Angelika Peters Dennis 07883077297

Hilborough:

All Saints church is now open daily, 10am-dusk.

 

Stage 11 Gt Cressingham to Castle Acre

Great Cressingham:

St Peter’s church now has a pilgrim stamp. Church open daily Easter to end September, roughly 8am-6pm.

South Pickenham

All Saints' has a new keyholder: 01760-756219

Houghton-on-the-Hill

St Mary’s open hours are now: winter, (first weekend in November to last weekend in March), Sat-Sun only, noon-2pm. Summer, (last weekend in March to last weekend in October,) daily 2pm-4pm. Other times may be possible by prior appointment. Contact details as in guidebook.

For pilgrims who visit when the church is locked, a second pilgrim stamp is now provided in a green plastic box fixed to the gate to the left of the church, in the car parking area.

 

Stage 12 Castle Acre to Fakenham

There are three adjustments to the route. The first, at Newton Mill (1.2miles) is because the obstruction on the Nar Valley Way has now been removed. The second, leaving Litcham (6miles) now follows a quieter lane and a footpath/farm track. The third, after Colkirk (14.2miles) gives a quieter approach to Fakenham along a byway. These adjustments add half a mile to the route but greatly improve the walking experience. The new total is 16.4miles/26.4km.

Litcham

All Saints' now has a pilgrim stamp

 

Whissonsett

St Mary's now has a pilgrim stamp, and a loo.

Pilgrim accommodation is available in the church hall, via the Sanctuary scheme run by the British Pilgrimage Trust https://www.britishpilgrimage.org/sanctuary-network

 

Stage 13 Fakenham to Walsingham

Fakenham

St Peter and St Paul now has a pilgrim stamp

 

Stage 14 New Bonus Stage Walsingham to Wells-Next-The-Sea (6.1miles/9.8km)

This additional section taking the path to the coast, does not feature in the current edition of the guidebook, but will be added in future ones.

Wighton

Carpenter’s Arms food, drink. 

Camping for free for members of Welcome to my Garden Join for a fee (from €36) and search ‘Wighton’ for details.

Wells-next-the-Sea

 The Globe Inn food, drink, accommodation, The Quay bed and breakfast 

London to Walsingham Cycle Pilgrimage route

This route is by David Munchin, to whom we extend grateful thanks. It takes in most but not all of the pilgrim points along the walking route. You will need to compare it to the walking route in the book to ensure you don’t miss out on any you particularly want to visit.

Cycling Pilgrims notes

These notes are designed to be read in conjunction with the London to Walsingham Camino guidebook and with the gpx file detailing the cycling route, at https://www.komoot.com/tour/1042931355?ref=wtd-m 

The route passes through every start and finish point of the walking route’s 13 stages, and where possible follows National Cycle Routes – though the way-marking for the latter should not be relied upon. The total distance is 172 miles. 

Some sections of the ride are off road – a gravel / adventure bike would be ideal, though a hybrid or cross-country mountain bike would also be suitable. Conditions of these off road sections may vary with the seasons. 

Please note that bicycles are not permitted on Overground rail or Underground routes into London during peak hours, and at no time on London Buses. 

Cycle shops on route

London to Walsingham Camino