St Kenelm's Way

Location: Worcestershire, Gloucestershire

OS Maps: Explorer™ 219, 204, 190, OL45

St Kenelm's Way is a walk of 60 miles from St Kenelm's church, Romsley in the Clent Hills to Winchcombe in the Cotswolds, tracing the legendary journey of the young prince's body from the site of his murder to his burial place at Winchcombe. The holy remains were carried ceremoniously by the monks of Winchcombe Abbey and, so the legend goes, wherever the cortege rested on the journey a crystal spring gushed forth.
This is a new route for 2005, conceived, surveyed and written by Gerry Stewart, author of the guidebook. It passes through some of the finest Worcestershire countryside visiting the following towns and villages: Belbroughton; Upton Warren; Hanbury with it's beautiful Hall; Temple Broughton; Himbleton; Huddington; Upton Snodsbury; Wyre Piddle; Pershore; Great Comberton; Elmley Castle; Ashton Under Hill; Dumbleton and Winchcombe. The section south of Pershore is particularly attractive, passing through the villages at the eastern foot of Bredon Hill, although the whole route can be recommended. However, it is the facinating story of St Kenelm which draws one to making this journey, following a legend and, who knows, discovering some truths.

Guide Book: Click for further information or to purchase]

St Kenelm's Way by Gerry Stewart The legend of the Saxon prince, St Kenelm, is a fascinating story and one that Gerry Stewart brings to life in this book in which he describes the route he has devised through beautiful Worcestershire countryside. Following initial chapters on the St Kenelm legend and the Saxon Kings of Mercia the guide describes the route in five sections, with plenty of details about places associated with St Kenelm, and the text is supported by clear and accurate sketch maps. The sections are: Clent to Upton Warren; Upton Warren to Upton Snodsbury; Upton Snodsbury to Great Comberton; Great Comberton to Dumbleton; Dumbleton to Winchcombe.