The English Way strengthens its promotion in the United Kingdom with actions in Reading and Southampton

A Coruña Provincial Council, in collaboration with Turismo de Galicia–Xacobeo 27 and the Spanish Embassy in the United Kingdom, carried out at the end of April a new international promotional initiative for the English Way and the Fisterra-Muxía route. The initiative was developed with the collaboration of the Association of Municipalities of the English Way and combined a public outreach event in Reading with the unveiling of a new Waymarker in Southampton, further reinforcing the historic links between Galicia and England.

Reading, a meeting point with the British public

The first of the actions took place on Saturday 25 April in Reading, with the event Walk the Spanish Way – Primavera no Camiño, an open public initiative that brought the Camino experience to the heart of the town, along the route of the St James’ Way. Throughout the day, visitors were able to discover first-hand the cultural, scenic and gastronomic values of Galicia through a programme that combined tourism information, audiovisual content, traditional music and food tastings.

The event was organised by A Coruña Provincial Council, with the participation of Turismo de Galicia and the Spanish Embassy in the United Kingdom, and included the involvement of organisations such as the Confraternity of Saint James and the local network linked to the St James’ Way. The Association of Municipalities of the English Way took an active part in the event, represented by its president, Bernardo Fernández Piñeiro, who highlighted the importance of continuing to strengthen the presence of the English Way in the British market, one of the territories most historically connected to this Jacobean route.

As part of this institutional and technical visit, the delegation also had the opportunity to walk several sections of the St James’ Way in Hampshire, including stops in locations such as Preston Candover. These visits provided valuable insight into the historical context of the route, which once led pilgrims across the English countryside towards the southern ports, from where they would embark on their journey to Galicia.

Southampton, a symbol of the historic connection

The programme continued on Monday 27 April in Southampton, where a new English Way Waymarker was unveiled next to Holyrood Church, one of the most representative sites of the city’s pilgrim heritage. This milestone marks the end of the St James’ Way in the United Kingdom and reinforces Southampton’s historical role as a departure port for pilgrims travelling to Santiago de Compostela.

The event was attended by the Director of Turismo de Galicia, Xosé Merelles; the Director for Administration and Relations with Pilgrim Associations, Ildefonso de la Campa; and representatives of A Coruña Provincial Council, including Antonio Leira, as well as members of the Association of Municipalities of the English Way.

During the event, which included a symbolic walk from the medieval Bargate to the surroundings of Holyrood, the joint efforts being made to strengthen the international projection of the English Way were highlighted, particularly in the context of the upcoming Xacobeo 2027.

These actions in the United Kingdom consolidate an ongoing strategy aimed at recovering and strengthening the Atlantic dimension of the Camino, reinforcing the historic connection between both territories and positioning the English Way as one of the routes with the greatest potential for international growth.