Hampshire, W Sussex
76 km / 47 miles
A four-day walk from Portchester Castle to Chichester Cathedral, through the South Downs National Park, with a religious theme.
Set against the spectacular backdrop of the South Downs, this four-day walk links medieval churches in a crescent-shaped route from Portchester to Chichester. Here the genesis of a modern pilgrim route was formed - Mary's Crescent - highlighting a wealth of ancient ecclesiastical architecture nestled in breathtaking scenery.
En route are Portchester Castle, the Royal Armoury, The Sustainability Centre, Queen Elizabeth Country Park and the Iron Age hill top forts of Old Winchester Hill and The Trundle. Between Exton and Singleton, the route mainly follows the South Downs Way National Trail.
The churches, each dedicated to St Mary, are a fascinating window into our Saxon and Norman past. From the priory church of Portchester to the magnificent Lady Chapel at Chichester Cathedral, with the simple single-celled church of North Marden and the five Norman gems of Droxford, Buriton, South-Harting, Singleton and East Lavant in-between, this route connects us to these historical landmarks in need of continued attention to preserve them for future generations.
England was renowned in the middle ages for being 'Mary's dowry'. The sense that England had been given to Mary and was her treasured possession was a catalyst for devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary - St Mary. This Marian devotion largely disappeared after the reformation and has remained quiescent ever since. With this ancient devotion in mind and inspired by walking the classic pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, the route's author, Dr Tim Goulder, a former GP in this area, decided to visit all the medieval churches dedicated to St Mary in the countryside nearby, now linked by this route.
The walker is invited to explore the medieval mindset; why were elements of the interior church architecture first created and subsequently destroyed at the Reformation?
The four suggested daily walking sections are:
Portchester to Droxford 12.9 miles
Droxford to Buriton 12.9 miles
Buriton to Chilgrove 10.3 miles
Chilgrove to Chichester 10.9 miles
Each day ends near a country pub providing excellent food and accommodation, with plenty of refreshment stops in between.
The guidebook includes detailed walking instructions and maps. It has maps that provide an overview of the route as well as excellent photos and drawings of the church interiors and other features of note along the way
For further information, cycle routes and short circular walks from each individual St Mary's church please visit the dedicated website linked below.
Source: Mary's Crescent Walk website
Details:
| Path Type: |
Other Paths |
| Attributes: |
Average Gradients
Former Railway
Agricultural land
Downland/Wolds
Forest/Woodland
National Park
River
Heritage
Pilgrimage
Religious
|
| Start: |
SU626045 -
Portchester Castle, Portchester, Hampshire
|
| Finish: |
SU859048 -
Chichester Cathedral, Chichester, W Sussex
|
| Open Date: |
2023 |
| Web Sites: |
Mary's Crescent Walk
|
