Monarch's Way

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Monarch's Way
Waymark on a public footpath
Length615 mi (990 km)
LocationWarwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Sussex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Shropshire, Somerset, Devon, Wiltshire and Dorset, England.
TrailheadsWorcester – Shoreham-by-Sea
UseHiking
SightsCotswolds, Mendip Hills

The Monarch's Way is a 625-mile (1,006 km)[1] long-distance footpath in England that approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester.[2] It runs from Worcester via Bristol and Yeovil to Shoreham, West Sussex.

All of the route is

Royal Oak tree (which is at Boscobel House). The route is shown as a series of green diamonds on the Ordnance Survey
(larger scale) 1:25000 maps, and of red diamonds on its 1:50000 maps.

The route was established in 1994 by Trevor Antill,[4] and was published in a three volume guide (see Further reading below). The trail is maintained by the Monarch's Way Association in partnership with local highway authorities.[5]

Route description

From its starting point at

Stow on the Wold before turning south west towards Bristol via Cirencester
.

South of Bristol the route is almost directly south across the Mendip Hills to Wells, continues through Somerset almost to Yeovil and then south west to Charmouth in Dorset. There is then a short section along the Dorset coast before turning north again to Yeovil, before turning east and following much of the escarpment of Cranborne Chase, the Hampshire Downs and South Downs to Shoreham-by-Sea where it has a short extension to neighbouring Brighton and Hove, being its historic port and today a main yachting centre in Sussex.

The Monarch's Way is an approximation of the King's route using available public rights of way and visiting places noted in the historic records. Most of the route has been radically changed in the intervening centuries by enclosure, mining, urbanisation and the building of roads, canals and railways. Use of canals and disused railways allows a more pleasant walk than taking to the public highway and provides an insight into industrial history particularly of the Black Country.

Worcester to Stratford-upon-Avon via Boscobel (180 mi, 290 km)

A memorial near Powick Bridge commemorates the thousands of Scots who perished in the Royalist cause at the Battle of Worcester. Powick Bridge saw both the first and last engagements of the English Civil War. From here the footpath follows the banks of the River Teme and River Severn across the battlefield to enter the 'Faithful City' of Worcester . The King watched the battle unfold from the tower of the cathedral before fleeing with Colonel Charles Giffard of Chillington and others.

The Monarch's Way leaves the city past the Commandery, now a museum, on the towpath of the

Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. Continuing north along the canal to the Bratch Locks at Wombourne to pick up the trackbed of the former Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway now the South Staffordshire Railway Walk to Oaken. Leaving the railway the northerly route continues passing Pendrell Hall and Boscobel to White Ladies Priory
. The King was hidden overnight in the house by Richard Pendrell.

The next part of the route traces the King's unsuccessful attempt to cross the River Severn to escape into Wales. Leaving White Ladies and the nearby Pendrell home at Hubbal Grange the route turns west via Tong to Evelith Mill and Kemberton. Reaching Madeley it became apparent that the river crossings were well guarded and the King spent a night in the 'Royal Barn' before beating a hasty retreat. Retracing the route through Norton and Beckbury to Boscobel House where the King hid in an oak tree to avoid capture. A descendant of the Royal Oak stands in the grounds of the English Heritage property.

An alternative plan was hatched for the King's escape and the path now heads east. Crossing the grounds of Chillington Hall and using sections of the

Wyrley & Essington Canal the 'Curly Wyrley' and the ancient forest at Rough Wood to reach Bentley Hall at Bentley, West Midlands
.

Monarch's Way following the towpath of the Anson Branch Canal

The Monarch's Way picks up the closed

Netherton Tunnel and Dudley Canal to Halesowen. Then Bromsgrove, Headless Cross, Alcester, Wootton Wawen, Snitterfield and Welcombe Hills Country Park. Finally following the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal until it joins the River Avon in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon
.

Stratford-upon-Avon to Charmouth (210 mi, 340 km)

The

National Trust, before rejoining the Heart of England Way.[6] The path crosses Campden Tunnel on the Cotswold railway line and enters the market town of Chipping Campden.[6]

Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold, Northleach, Cirencester, Tetbury, Chipping Sodbury, Wick.

River flowing between grassy banks surrounded by trees.
River Chew

The Monarch's Way enters

Regil before passing between Chew Valley Lake and Blagdon Lake to Compton Martin,[8] where it climbs up into the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, passing East Harptree before entering the Forestry Commission plantation Stock Hill.[7] On leaving the woods the path skirts the Priddy Mineries and Priddy Pools Site of Special Scientific Interest[9] and continues south to Wookey Hole before entering the city of Wells, where it passes the Cathedral and Bishop's Palace
.

South of Wells the Monarch's Way crosses the

Hornblotton. It then crosses the River Alham and travels east crossing the River Brue and the A371 before entering Castle Cary.[10]

South Cadbury, Trent, Dorset

The King was sheltered by Colonel Wyndham at Trent Manor House. The next part of the journey leads down to the Dorset coast where a ship had been found to take the King to France. At Montacute the Monarch's Way passes in front of the Grade I listed Abbey Farmhouse,[11] which incorporates the gateway of the medieval Montacute Priory.

Ham Hill, Crewkerne, Drimpton, Hawkchurch, Charmouth The King stayed overnight on 22 September 1651 at the Queen's Armes before taking passage; the plan fell through and the King beat a hasty retreat inland, returning to Trent.

Charmouth to Shoreham (225 mi, 360 km)

From Charmouth the Monarch's Way follows the South West Coast Path east along the Jurassic Coast of Dorset past St Gabriel's Mouth, over Golden Cap, the highest point on the south coast,[12] through Seatown, over Thorncombe Beacon and past Eype's Mouth to West Bay. From here it heads north up the River Brit to Bridport, swinging west and north to Pilsdon Pen, briefly joining the Wessex Ridgeway eastwards before reaching Broadwindsor. The King hid overnight in the George Inn, Broadwindsor on 23 September 1651.

From here it continues eastwards to the north of Beaminster, before zig-zagging north and east to Winyard's Gap near Chedington, where it meets the head of the River Parrett Trail. Continuing north the path enters Somerset and passes Hardington Marsh, swinging east from Hardington Mandeville to East Coker and then north through Yeovil and Mudford.

Crossing the River Yeo and back into Dorset, the path returns like the King to Trent. The King stayed here before setting out for the south coast and exile in France.

Skirting north of

South Cheriton, then north to pass under the A303 to Wincanton. From here it continues north-east to Penselwood
.

After crossing the

Lower Woodford. Traversing the country to the north of Salisbury, the path next crosses the A345 and the River Bourne at Winterbourne Dauntsey. After passing Figsbury Ring the path crosses the A30, to follow the course of the former Roman road from Winchester to Old Sarum. As it approaches Middle Winterslow, the path is joined by the Clarendon Way
, the two paths following the Roman road over the county boundary.

Beacon Hill across the Meon Valley towards Old Winchester Hill
Bat and Ball Inn at Broadhalfpenny Down

Entering

A3(M), the path crosses The Holt to Rowland's Castle, where it passes the station
.

Arundel Castle in West Sussex

Entering

Brighton Pier. From here it runs westwards along the sea-front through Hove and Portslade, to Shoreham-by-Sea
.

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Monarch's Way". The Monarch's Way Association. 2 February 2006.
  2. ^ "The Monarch's Way". The Quinton Oracle. 2005. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
  3. ^ "Monarch's Way". www.jont.org.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  4. ^ Enfield, Lizzie (21 May 2021). "Big walk: Monarch's Way". Walk: Magazine of the Ramblers. Rambler's Association. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Supplier: Monarch's Way Association". LWDA. The Long Distance Walkers Association. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  6. ^
    ISBN 0-319-23762-1
  7. ^ a b c Landranger Map 172: Bristol & Bath. Published in 2006 by the Ordnance Survey
  8. ^ a b Landranger Map 182: Weston-super-Mare. Published in 2005 by the Ordnance Survey
  9. ^ "Priddy Pools" (PDF). English Nature. Retrieved 17 July 2006.
  10. ^ Landranger Map 183: Yeovil & Frome. Published in 2005 by the Ordnance Survey
  11. ^ Historic England. "Abbey Farmhouse (1057256)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  12. National Trust. "Coastal walk" (PDF). Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2007.

Further reading

External links
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