Hiking Collection by
Conquer the longest inland trail in England — Monarch’s Way: Part 1
12 routes
73:50
282km
2,220m
The Monarch’s Way traces the escape route taken by King Charles II after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651, the final battle of the civil war between the Royalists and Parliamentarians. At 615 miles (990 km) in total, it is the longest inland trail in England.
The epic journey begins at Powick Bridge, where the first and last battles of the civil war took place. From the tower of Worcester Cathedral, Charles II watched his forces defeated by Oliver Cromwell’s army and so began his six-week escape.
From Powick Bridge, this first part of the Way winds 175 miles (282 km) through the heart of Worcester, around the patchwork countryside of Worcestershire and into Shropshire to the River Severn, where Charles’ attempt to escape into Wales was thwarted.
The Way then loops back around Wolverhampton, skirts Birmingham and drops into the beautiful and wildlife-rich Warwickshire countryside to finish in Stratford-upon-Avon, where playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was born and laid to rest.
The trail is waymarked throughout and follows well-maintained paths. The hiking is generally quite leisurely but there are some challenging sections, making it a good choice for all abilities.
In this Collection, we split the route into 12 stages, each averaging 14.6 miles (23.5 km). Of course, you can divide each stage into as many days as you are comfortable with. You can also walk any single stage, or couple of stages, in isolation. As stages 4 and 6 are both around 18 miles (30 km), however, there is a suggestion on how to split the routes in the stage description.
Every stage finishes close to accommodation, even if there are only a few options nearby. However, places to stay are not always abundant so it is worth planning in advance and scheduling any rest days accordingly.
If you are planning to arrive by public transport, Worcester has excellent transport links, including regular and direct train services direct from London and Birmingham. From the city centre, it is a 2-mile (3.2 km) hike to the start of the route at Powick Bridge. Alternatively, you can catch the 44 bus, which runs regularly to the start. To get home, Stratford-upon-Avon also has excellent public transport links.
If you plan to drive, your best bet is to negotiate with a hotel or B&B owner in Worcester to stay for a night either side and leave your car for the duration. Alternatively, there is long-stay parking available in Worcester. To get back, there are regular trains between Stratford and Worcester, which typically take two hours.
For more information about the Monarch’s Way, visit: monarchsway.50megs.com.
For the 44 bus timetable, visit: bustimes.org/services/44-county-hall-worcester-the-malverns.
For train timetables and tickets, visit: thetrainline.com.
Click the links below for more Collections on the Monarch’s Way.
Part 2: komoot.com/collection/914707/conquer-the-longest-inland-trail-in-england-monarchs-way-part-2.
Part 3: komoot.com/collection/918048/conquer-the-longest-inland-trail-in-england-monarchs-way-part-3,
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Monarch's Way
950km
11,920m
11,930m
Last updated: November 28, 2024
Do it yourself!
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Activities
1. Stage 1: Worcester to Droitwich Spa — Monarch's Way
18.7km
04:47
70m
50m
Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
2. Stage 2: Droitwich Spa to Hagley — Monarch's Way
26.0km
06:50
250m
180m
Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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3. Stage 3: Hagley to Wombourne — Monarch's Way
24.1km
06:18
170m
190m
Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
4. Stage 4: Wombourne to Shifnal — Monarch's Way
29.0km
07:32
180m
180m
Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
5. Stage 5: Shifnal to Norton — Monarch's Way
25.0km
06:42
290m
300m
Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
6. Stage 6: Norton to Codsall — Monarch's Way
25.5km
06:38
190m
140m
Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
7. Stage 7: Codsall to Wood End — Monarch's Way
19.2km
05:00
130m
110m
Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
8. Stage 8: Wood End to West Bromwich — Monarch's Way
19.9km
05:04
50m
60m
Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
9. Stage 9: West Bromwich to Rubery — Monarch's Way
23.7km
06:15
240m
150m
Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
10. Stage 10: Rubery to Redditch — Monarch's Way
25.6km
06:51
270m
360m
Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
11. Stage 11: Redditch to Alcester — Monarch's Way
20.1km
05:18
160m
250m
Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
12. Stage 12: Alcester to Stratford-upon-Avon — Monarch's Way
24.9km
06:36
240m
250m
Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Collection Stats
Activities
12
Distance
282 km
Duration
73:50 h
Elevation
2,220 m
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