Camino milestone marker unveiled in Winchester on historic pilgrimage route
A milestone marker - a 'mouteira' - has been unveiled at St Bartholomew’s Church (Hyde Abbey) in Winchester.
The new mouteira is part of the 68-mile ancient pilgrimage St James’ Way Camino Ingles, one of the UK stages of world-renowned pilgrimage route the Camino de Santiago.
Its installation was marked by a visit from a delegation from the Galician government and the Provincial Council of A Coruña in north-west Spain, who gifted the marker to Winchester.
The Camino de Santiago route is one of the world’s most famous long-distance walks, and part of a network of ancient pilgrimage routes across Europe, primarily in Spain. The Winchester mouteira marks the significant stage of 100km ‘to go’ on a pilgrim’s journey.
To claim a devotional Compostela from the Pilgrims’ Reception Office in Santiago de Compostela, the last 100km must be walked and evidenced by a least two stamps per day, collected at chapels, churches, cathedrals, visitor attractions, pubs and cafés, in a crendencial or pilgrim passport.
Councillor Lucille Thompson, Cabinet Member for Business and Culture at Winchester City Council, said: “It has been a delight to welcome colleagues from Galicia and we would like to formally thank them for the generous gift of this mouteira to Winchester.
“Winchester welcomes thousands of walkers following this world-famous route, many of them stopping to enjoy our hospitality, supporting local businesses, and making the most of all that Winchester has to offer, while they are here.
“We are looking forward to renewing and further deepening and developing our tourism and economic relationships with our colleagues in Galicia.”
David Sinclair, CSJ Development Lead, St James’ Way Camino Inglés (Volunteer), said: “We hope that this mouteira will herald a return of pilgrimage to St Bartholomew’s Church and Hyde Abbey, the resting place of King Alfred the Great. It is a further significant step in the ongoing development of the St James’ Way Camino route.
“The milestone marks in a magnificent way at this most apt of sites, the 100 km ‘to go’ point by foot in a pilgrim’s journey to Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. This is the point from which their Compostela is earned!
“We are grateful for the efforts and contributions of the Galician government, A Coruña Provincial Council, Winchester City Council, St Bartholomew’s Parish Pastoral Council and the Diocese of Winchester in its placement, production, shipment, and installation, and for the future pilgrims that reach it, we wish them “ultreia et suseia” (go further, and higher)!”
Winchester City Council’s Visit Winchester team has worked with Reading and The Confraternity of Saint James (CSJ), a UK-based volunteer organisation promoting the pilgrimage route, since 2022. Walker numbers have grown from a handful to thousands each year.
The Winchester mouteira directs walkers along the St James’ Way in the direction of Galicia, 690 miles from the official start point in Reading, where another marker has also been unveiled.
The Winchester leg passes through Alresford and follows the St Swithun’s Way. Walkers can continue along the River Itchen past the Hospital of St Cross, which still gives out a dole of bread and beer to travellers.
More information about the trail can be found on the Visit Winchester website.