Monarch’s Way
A 579-mile long-distance walk in the Midlands and Southern England following the flight of King Charles II from his defeat at the Battle of Worcester to his escape from England at Shoreham-by-Sea. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: SO 835 525
Distance: 579 miles (932 km)
Time: 270–300 hours
Duration: 40–60 days
Summary
The Monarch’s Way is based on the lengthy route taken by King Charles II during his escape after defeat by Cromwell in the final battle of the Civil Wars at Worcester in 1651, when for six weeks the young royal was hotly pursued by Parliamentary troops. Charles’s escape from captivity, which included excursions into many counties of the Midlands and Southern England, took him from Worcester to Shoreham-by-Sea where he fled the country via Alcester, Stourbridge, Wordsley, White Ladies, Madeley, Boscobel, Moseley Hall, Bentley, Bromsgrove, Wootton Wawen, Snitterfield, Stratford-upon-Avon, Long Marston, Chipping Campden, Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Northleach, Cirencester, Tetbury, Chipping Sodbury, Bristol, Abbots Leigh, Wells, Castle Cary, Trent, Charmouth, Bridport, Broadwindsor, Yeovil, Wincanton, Mere, Hindon, Great Wishford, Middle Winterslow, Broughton, Mottisfont, Hambledon, Arundel, Bramber, and Brighton.