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Invalid Image SizeSt Edward's Way

Dorset

51 km / 32 miles
St Edward was murdered, possibly on the orders of his stepmother, at Corfe Castle in 978 AD and this pilgrimage walk follows the route of St Edward's body, when for political reasons, it was taken from his first internment at Wareham to Shaftesbury Abbey. Here it became an object of pilgrimage.​

This footpath route between Wareham and Shaftesbury Abbey was developed by the Dorset Ramblers. An inaugural pilgrimage walk over the route took place in September 2021.

The walk begins at the west door of Lady St Mary Church in Wareham and for the first five miles follows the Wareham Forest Way through some of the lesser known landscapes of north Purbeck and east Dorset. It ends at the Abbey Museum in Shaftesbury where he was laid finally to rest in the Abbey.

There is information on the walk including a pdf route description and a gpx file available for free download on the Shaftesbury Abbey and the British Pilgrimage Trust weblinks below. The walk can be conveniently broken into three stages:

1. Wareham to Winterborne Kingston
2. Winterborne Kingston to Shillingstone
3. Shillingstone to Shaftesbury.


Details:

Waymark: Invalid Image Size
Path Type: Other Paths
Waymark: St Edward's head in red roundel
Attributes: Other Paths
Average Gradients
Forest/Woodland
Heath
Pilgrimage
Religious
Start: SY925872 - Lady St Mary Church, Wareham, Dorset View on StreetMap
Finish: ST862229 - Shaftesbury Abbey, Shaftesbury, Dorset View on StreetMap
Open Date: 2021
Web Sites: St Edward's Way - British Pilgrimage Trust St Edward's Way - Shaftesbury Abbey

Maps:

You can use the interactive controls to zoom in and out and to move around the map, or click on a path or a marker for more info.(interactive map help)

Show Connected Path Outlines
Paths Marked on OS mapping
Other Paths

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2016.
© OpenStreetMap contributors under Open Database Licence.
Rights of way data from selected Local Authorities.
Large scale digital mapping is provided by John Thorn.
At high zoom levels the route is indicative only.
Purchase Ordnance Survey Maps:
OS Landranger 183, 194, 195
OS Landranger Active 183, 194, 195
OS Explorer 15, 117, 118, 129
OS Explorer Active 15, 117, 118, 129

Connected Paths:


Downloads:

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GPX Route File
MemoryMap Route File
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(Members Only)
Tracklogs Route File
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(Members Only)

Route Profile:

50.9 km (31.6 miles)
863 m (2,831 ft) ascent
220 m (722 ft)  maximum height

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