Two new waymarkers strengthen the English Way

The Asociación de Concellos do Camiño Inglés took a decisive step this week in strengthening the international consolidation of the route, with the inauguration of two new waymarkers in the British cities of Reading and Winchester, located on the historic southern section of the Jacobean itinerary that once connected England with Santiago de Compostela. The ceremonies were led by provincial deputies Bernardo Fernández, president of the Asociación de Concellos do Camiño Inglés, and Antonio Leira, accompanied by the association’s honorary president, Manuel Mirás, and by the managing director of Xacobeo, Ildefonso de la Campa. The Confraternity of St. James, a key organisation in the Jacobean sphere in the United Kingdom, collaborated in managing the necessary permits and coordinating the official events.

Two key cities in the recovery of the southern section of the Camiño Inglés

The first ceremony took place in Reading, a city with a significant historical link to medieval pilgrimage, where a waymarker was installed to signal the continuity of the route towards Santiago. The second inauguration was held 24 hours later in Winchester, the former historic capital of England and an important point on the medieval Jacobean itinerary. The new waymarker was unveiled in the gardens of St. Bartholomew, located exactly 100 kilometres from Praza do Obradoiro. During the event, the Galician delegation received an official welcome from the Mayor, Sudhakar Achwal, who addressed the representatives from Galicia in Spanish, followed by a blessing of the marker delivered by the Bishop of Winchester’s envoy, David Hames.

A strategic action in historical recovery

During the visit, the Association’s president, Bernardo Fernández, highlighted that these installations represent “a fundamental step in the historical recovery and international projection of a route that remained forgotten for half a millennium.” Provincial deputy Antonio Leira emphasised the ongoing work underpinning this project: “For years we have been recovering the memory of the Camiño Inglés and strengthening its historical connections. Every waymarker we install in the United Kingdom is a symbol of the bond between territories, of institutional cooperation, and of the shared heritage we are rebuilding step by step.” The association’s honorary president, Manuel Mirás, also underlined the symbolic value of the route and the commitment of local and provincial institutions to consolidating the Camiño Inglés as one of the great pilgrimage ways to Compostela.

Strengthening a living, historic and international route

Since the Deputación da Coruña launched a comprehensive strategy in 2016 to recover the Camiño Inglés from its historic origins in eastern Britain, the number of pilgrims from the United Kingdom has continued to rise, recording a percentage increase higher than that of other international markets. This sustained growth highlights the dynamism of a route that combines history, Atlantic identity and strong tourism and cultural potential.

With the installation of the Reading and Winchester waymarkers, the Asociación de Concellos do Camiño Inglés, together with the Deputación da Coruña and Xacobeo, strengthens institutional cooperation and enhances the international visibility of a route that is regaining its rightful place among Europe’s major Jacobean itineraries. This action forms part of a long-term plan to consolidate the Camiño Inglés as a historic, living, sustainable and continuously growing route, connecting Galicia with Britain’s medieval heritage and promoting a Jacobean experience fully aligned with its cultural significance.