Reading Abbey was at one point the resting place of the Hand of St James. Whilst its authenticity as the severed hand of the martyred apostle is disputed, it is believed to be the relic brought back to England by the Empress Matilda in the 12th century. In the Middle Ages, Reading was the centre of the cult of St James in England. Pilgrims would have made their way here to venerate the relic, before likely making their way to the closest seaport and catching a boat to the shores of Galicia. The Reading Museum holds samples of pilgrimage badges found in the ruins of the Abbey and an image of the head of St James as a pilgrim can be seen in the Reading Abbey Gate.

The path is mostly flat and goes through beautiful parts of the country and at times follows rivers and canals. You will pass village churches, riverside pubs - some of them offering discounts to pilgrims - and historic sites.