The Whittington Way

Walkopedia friend Tom Sheldon says:

"2023 was the 600th anniversary of Dick Whittington’s death. He was Mayor of London four times and Master of the Mercers’ Livery Company three times. It therefore seemed appropriate to recreate the walk that Whittington might have taken when he left home and set out for London (where the streets were reputed to be paved with gold) to seek his fame and fortune.

Whittington was born at Pauntley Court, Pauntley, 14 miles or so north west of Gloucester. The distance to the City of London and Mercers’ Hall is 168 miles.

When coming up with the route it needed to be as short as we could make it, scenic and varied, using national trails where possible and avoiding main roads.
We allowed 9 days, an average of over 18.5 miles a day, so a challenge and requiring a reasonable level of fitness.

Day 1 from Pauntley to Gloucester started on minor footpaths until we joined the Wysis Way and Three Choirs Way at Taynton and then on into Gloucester a distance of 14.5 miles.

Day 2 Gloucester to Sapperton. The intention had been to get to Tarlton Bridge but I had underestimated the amount of up and down involved in crossing the Cotswolds. As it was it was still 18.5 miles of strenuous walking along the Wysis Way to Chalford which then joined with the
Thames and Severn Way to Sapperton.

Day 3 Sapperton to Stanton Fitzwarren. A long 26 mile day but generally at without too many obstacles. From Sapperton we were on the Thames and Severn Way to the source of the Thames and from there the Thames Path eventually diverting to our overnight stop in Stanton Fitzwarren.

Day 4 Stanton Fitzwarren to Letcombe Regis. 19.5 miles starting on minor footpaths and then a hill climb at Ashbury to join the Ridgeway. Glorious views in all directions and then a descent off the Downs to Letcombe Regis and our overnight stop.

Day 5. Letcombe Regis to Goring on Thames. 16.5 miles, when, after ascending the Downs, we rejoined the Ridgeway which took us all the way into Goring.

Day 6. Goring to Henley in Thames. 18.5 miles along the Chiltern Way to Shiplake and then we rejoined the Thames Path into Henley.

Day 7. Henley on Thames to Burnham Beeches. 19 miles along the Thames Path to Cookham and then the Shakespeare Way to Burnham Beeches.

Day 8. Burnham Beeches to Brentford Lock. 21 miles along the Shakespeare Way to Yiewsley and then the Grand Union Canal to Brentford Lock.

Day 9. Brentford Lock to Mercers’ Hall (City of London). 14.5 miles mainly along the Thames Path.

The Whittington Way is not a recognised route and has not been way-marked as such but it would be nice to think it might be in the future."
Tom Sheldon 31st August 2024