Canterbury Travel Forum

Hi. I'm really interested in doing the original walk traced in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Does anyone know anything about doing this? Are there companies that have this mapped out? I've seen lots of companies who will help out in the walk across the Lakes District, so I was hoping there would something similar - help finding accom, maybe shuttle bags, etc. If there aren't these sorts of places that help, has anyone done this walk? Is it something worth investigating? Thanks.

That is a very interesting question. There is an ancient neolithic trackway in Kent known as the Pigrim's Way that ran (runs) roughly from Winchester to Canterbury (it was a trackway before those places existed though). It is similar to many upland trackway routes in the UK. It was not the route that Chaucer's pilgrim's used, but many places on both routes coincide.

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Northdowns/article.asp?PageId=3&ArticleId=8

tells you about the history of these routes. You should be able to find a lot of info about the Pilgrim's way . It coincides with something called the North Downs Way in places.

I noticed a company offering this walk,
http://www.awhile.fsnet.co.uk/pilgrim.html
but you could do it independently

The original route ran roughly along the Roman Watling Street, which is the A2 today (more or less) according to the little bit of googling I've done. I'm not aware of any organised trips etc. Perhaps there's a gap in the market? I think the best thing to do (if you are really keen) would be to order the relevant Ordnance survey (OS) maps online (possibly from Amazon etc, but certainly from the OS site www.getamap.co.uk and work out your own route using public footpaths/ Pilgrim's Way etc. You will certainly be able to find b&bs/hotels at convenient intervals and it would make a brilliant holiday, although you'd have to carry your own stuff.

Aha!

http://www.responsibletravel.com/Trip/Trip900402.htm

Yes there is a company that offers self-led and guided walks along the Pilgrims Way. It is called Walk Awhile and can be found at www.walkawhile.co.uk
Holidays include Land Rover support and an extensive library of books about the Pilgrims Way for walkers as they make their way to Canterbury.

As the question dates from Spring 2006, I suspect the OP has already sorted themselves out!