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The Monarch's Way - Long Distance Footpath

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Welcome to one of the best known stories and one of the best, most varied, walks in British History.

The Story

The escape of Charles II after the Battle of Worcester in 1651.

For six exciting weeks, and hotly pursued by the Parliamentary forces under Oliver Cromwell, he travelled first north, then south through the Cotswolds and the Mendips to the South Coast, and finally along the South Downs to Shoreham where he made his escape to France.

Loyally supported by his followers, many at great risk to their own lives, he was given shelter in places both great and humble, many of which still exist today.

The Walk

This long distance walk (615 miles) using footpaths and bridleways closely follows the route taken by Charles and enables you to visit many historic sites and buildings, maybe only previously known to you through the history books. It also takes you through two World Heritage Sites, one National Park and five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty plus some of the finest scenery in western and southern England.

The walk is waymarked and is shown on the latest editions of the Ordnance Survey's Landranger and Explorer maps. The route is described in detail in three books by Trevor Antill, published by Meridian Books. Each book is divided into sections so enabling you to pick out suitable day walks if you are not intending to follow the complete route - please visit our 'About Page' for more information.

View from Lodge Hill Castle Cary towards Glastonbury and the Mendips.

'Walk a day, live a week'
(Old French proverb)

Good Walking !

The Monarch's Way logo below represents the Royal Oak tree at Boscobel (in which the King famously hid with Colonel Carless); the Prince of Wales crown; and the ship 'The Surprise' on which Charles eventually escaped to France.

The logo also forms the basis of the waymarks which sign the Way throughout its historic 615 mile length.

The Monarch's Way Association

The Association was formed just a couple of years after the launch of the Way itself. Apart from providing a service to members, publishing a bi-annual bulletin and generally maintaining waymarking and the like, the aims of the Association are:

to promote a knowledge of the way
to further the historical knowledge of those times
to establish an informal stewardship of the Way
to advise local highway authorities of footpath maintenance issues

and

to establish and maintain links with like minded organisations

To achieve these aims the Association has no membership fee at present (other than a nominal supply of SAE's to offset postal costs) but largely relies upon any generous donations forthcoming from members and principally from donations received from clubs, societies and associations following the presentation of our illustrated talks about The Monarch's Way. There are three talks, each one coinciding with the three guide books which describe the 615 mile route.

Should you or your organisation be interested in these illustrated talks then please email us via the link below for further information.

click here to contact The Monarch's Way Association

Important News for all Monarch's Way Users

(please visit the new ALERT page)

Last updated 5 June 2009.

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Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy of the information provided, neither the website authors or The Monarch’s Way Association will be held responsible for consequences arising from using information from this website.