St Matthew's Way (West) to Nottingham
St Matthew's Way
The western Pilgrimage of Hope Way from St David's Cathedral in Cardiff to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham and the Shrine of St Chad in Lichfield.
Patron: St Melangell (c 7th or 8th Century) Welsh hermit, consecrated virgin and abbess.
According to her hagiography, Melangell was a princess who fled an arranged marriage and became a consecrated virgin in the wilderness of Powys. She saved a hare from a prince's hunting dogs and is associated with protection of wildlife. Her feast is celebrated on 27th May.
Overview:
The Way starts at St David's Cathedral in Cardiff. The route soon joins the Welsh Coast Path to Newport and then Chepstow. Here the Way turns inland following the Offa's Dyke Path through the Wye Valley to Monmouth. The route follows the Wye Valley Walk to Ross-on-Wye where the Way joins the Herefordshire Trail to Ledbury. The Geopark Way and the Three Choirs Way (3CW) are followed over the Malvern Hills. After Malvern the Way continues on the 3CW until the River Severn is crossed and followed to Worcester. The Monarch's Way is followed to Droitwich Spa and then the Wychavon Way and John Corbett Way to Bromsgrove Spa. Here the Monarch's Way is regained until just before Illey the Way diverts into central Birmingham along the Illey Way. From the Cathedral of St Chad in Birmingham the Way follows the St Chad's Way, at first along canal towpaths. The Way passes through Sutton Coldfield before joining the Heart of England Way to Lichfield. The route joins the Trent & Mersey Canal towpath to Burton upon Trent and then on to Sawley. Here the Way diverts to Long Eaton and then follows the Way of Blessed Cyprian Tansi along the Broxtowe Country Trail and finally the Beeston Canal towpath to central Nottingham and the Cathedral of St Barnabas.
Essential facts:
- Route length: 210.2 miles
- Ascent: 10,955 ft
- Peak elevation: 1,378 ft
- The Way can be followed using a GPX file (download button below).
St Matthew's Way route
Potential day stages
Stage 1: Cardiff to Newport
THE ROUTE IN DETAILWalk overview
The Way leaves central Cardiff through Splott, passing the Cardiff Oratory. The Welsh Coast Path is reached and followed to the outskirts of Newport. This section is flat and remote. There are no facilities after leaving Splott.
Details
Distance: 15.3 miles
Approximate time taken: 8 hours walking
Ascent: 233 ft
Start: St David's Cathedral, 38 Charles St, St David's Centre, Cardiff, CF10 2SF
End: St Mary's Catholic Church, 9 Stow Hill, Newport NP20 1TP
Accessible sections: Walk below uses pavements.
Shorter walk options
From Cardiff Cathedral to the Oratory at Splott, distance 1.6 miles. Return transport to central Cardiff by foot or bus.
Stage 2: Newport to Caldicott
THE ROUTE IN DETAILWalk overview
A long but flat walk, mostly along the Welsh Coast Path. There are no facilities after Goldcliff.
Details of the walk
Distance: 16.6 miles
Approximate time taken: 8 hours walking
Ascent: 69 ft
Start: St Mary's Catholic Church, Stow Hill, Newport, NP20 1TP
End: The Church of St Paul, Longcroft Rd, Caldicot, NP26 4EX
Accessible sections: From 15.1 miles at a junction just south of Severn Tunnel Junction there is a wide tarmac path to Caldicot.
Shorter walk options
St Mary’s Church, Newport to Goldcliff: 6.8 miles, start 9am, ETA 12md. Walkers should arrange to be collected by car.
Stage 3: Caldicott to Chepstow
THE ROUTE IN DETAILWalk overview
A short but varied walk along the Welsh Coast Path and then through quiet countryside.
Details
Distance: 8.6 miles
Approximate time taken: 5 hours walking
Ascent: 431 ft
Start: St Paul's Catholic Church, Longcroft Rd, Caldicot, NP26 4EX
Ends: St Mary's Catholic Church, Bulwark Rd, Chepstow, NP16 5JE
Accessible sections: None identified
Shorter walk options
A short day so none planned
Stage 4: Chepstow to Monmouth
THE ROUTE IN DETAILWalk overview
A hilly and strenuous walk above the River Wye along the Offa’s Dyke Path.
Details
Distance: 17.2 miles
Approximate time taken: 9 hours walking
Ascent: 2,913 ft
Start: St Mary's Catholic Church, Bulwark Rd, Chepstow, NP16 5JE
End: St Mary's Catholic Church, St Mary's St, Monmouth, NP25 3DB
Accessible sections: None identified
Shorter walk options
St Mary’s, Chepstow, leaving the route at 7.5 miles near Brockweir. Return transport: the 69 bus runs infrequently from Brockweir Bridge to Chepstow.
Stage 5: Monmouth to Ross-on-Wye
THE ROUTE IN DETAILWalk overview
A long but largely gentle riverside walk. It does include a cable suspension bridge which may preclude walkers with a fear of heights. There are steep hills near Symonds Yat and before reaching Monmouth.
Details of the walk
Distance: 16.4 miles
Approximate time taken: 8 hours walking
Ascent: 1,499 ft
Start: St Mary's Catholic Church, St Mary's St, Monmouth, NP25 3DB
End: St Frances Catholic Church, Sussex Ave, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 5AL
Accessible sections: None identified
Shorter walk options
A: St Mary’s, Monmouth to Lower Lybrook: Distance 9 miles
B: Lower Lybrook to St Frances, Ross on Wye: distance 7.4 miles.
Public transport: the 35 bus runs infrequently from Monmouth and Ross on Wye to Lower Lydbrook.
Stage 6: Ross-on-Wye to Ledbury
THE ROUTE IN DETAILWalk overview
A long and strenuous walk across quiet countryside with some hills and no facilities enroute.
Details
Distance: 16.2 miles
Approximate time taken: 8 hours walking
Ascent: 997 ft
Start: St Frances Catholic Church, Sussex Ave, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 5AL
End: Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 70 New St, Ledbury, HR8 2EE
Accessible sections: None identified
Shorter walk options
There are no obvious shorter options.
Stage 7: Ledbury to Malvern
THE ROUTE IN DETAILWalk overview
A beautiful but strenuous walk through the Malvern Hills.
Details
Distance: 11.3 miles
Approximate time taken: 6 hours walking
Ascent: 2,070 ft
Start: Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 70 New St, Ledbury, HR8 2EE
End: St Joseph's Catholic Church, 125 Newtown Rd, Malvern, WR14 1PF
Accessible sections: None identified
Shorter walk options
A: Holy Trinity, Ledbury to British Camp, distance 6 miles
B: British Camp to St Joseph’s Malvern, distance 5.3 miles
Pilgrims would need to arrange their own transport by car to or from British Camp.
Stage 8: Malvern to Worcester
THE ROUTE IN DETAILWalk overview
Mostly easy, flat walking. No facilities on route apart from at the former Stanbrook Abbey Hotel & restaurant.
Details
Distance: 9.8 miles
Approximate time taken: 4 hours walking
Ascent: 207 ft
Start: St Joseph's Catholic Church, 125 Newtown Rd, Malvern, WR14 1PF
End: St George's Catholic Church, 1 Sansome Place, Worcester, WR1 1UG
Accessible sections: The only parts of route suitable are in built up areas: In Malvern from start to SO 79181 47582; and from footbridge at SO 84758 53160 to entrance to Cathedral Garden, then there are steps to road level; through streets to St Georges is OK
Shorter walk options
No obvious shorter options.
Stage 9: Worcester to Bromsgrove
THE ROUTE IN DETAILWalk overview
Long but fairly flat walk, some canal towpaths and difficult stiles.
Details
Distance: 16.3 miles
Approximate time taken: 7 hours walking
Ascent: 394 ft
Start: St George's Catholic Church, 1 Sansome Place, Worcester, WR1 1UG
End: St Peter's Catholic Church, Rock Hill, Bromsgrove, B61 7LH
Accessible sections: From:
1. St Georges to canal bridge 17 and
2. Valley Walk to church.
Shorter walk options
A: St George’s, Worcester to Sacred Heart & St Catherine, Droitwich Spa, distance 8.3 miles.
B: Sacred Heart & St Catherine, Droitwich Spa to St Peter’s Bromsgrove, distance 8 miles.
Return transport: there are trains and buses from and to Droitwich Spa from Worcester and Bromsgrove.
Stage 10: Bromsgrove to Harbourne
THE ROUTE IN DETAILWalk overview
Mostly easy walking, gently uphill then down.
Details
Distance: 13.4miles
Approximate time taken: 6 hours walking
Ascent: 961 ft
Start: St Peter's Catholic Church, Rock Hill, Bromsgrove, B61 7LH
Ends: St Mary's Catholic Church, Vivian Rd, Harbourne, Birmingham, B17 0DN
Accessible sections: None identified
Shorter walk options
No shorter options identified.
Stage 11: Harbourne to Sutton Coldfield
THE ROUTE IN DETAILWalk overview
Urban and mainly flat. Some canal towpath walking.
Details
Distance: 13.7 miles
Approximate time taken: 6 hours walking
Ascent: 443 ft
Start: St Mary's Catholic Church, Vivian Rd, Harbourne, Birmingham, B17 0DN
Ends: Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 69 Lichfield Rd, Sutton Coldfield, B74 2NU
Accessible sections: Birmingham Canals possibly passable with an off-road buggy. Please check in advance. Wheelchair access inadvisable.
Shorter walk options
A: St Mary’s, Harbourne to St Chad’s Cathedral, distance 3.8 miles
B: St Chad’s Cathedral to St Margaret Mary, Perry Common, distance 5.2 miles.
Return transport: there are buses from and to the City Centre from Harbourne and Perry Common.
Stage 12: Sutton Coldfield to Lichfield
THE ROUTE IN DETAILWalk overview
Fairly flat, rural, crossing the HS2 works. There are no facilities after Roughley.
Details
Distance: 10.6 miles
Approximate time taken: 5 hours walking
Ascent: 354 ft
Start: Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 69 Lichfield Rd, Sutton Coldfield, B74 2NU
Ends: Holy Cross Catholic Church, Upper St John St, Lichfield, WS14 9DX
Accessible sections:
1. Holy Trinity to Weeford Road
2. Horse and Jockey (52°40'17.5"N 1°47'59.0"W) to Holy Cross, Lichfield
Shorter walk options
No suitable shorter walks identified.
Stage 13: Lichfield to Burton upon Trent
THE ROUTE IN DETAILWalk overview
Generally flat, easy walking, a lot of it beside the canals
Details
Distance: 15.2 miles
Approximate time taken: 7 hours walking
Ascent: 66 ft
Start: outside Lichfield Cathedral, The Close, Lichfield, WS13 7LD
Ends: SS Mary & Modwen Catholic Church, 78a Guild St, Burton-on-Trent, DE14 1NB
Accessible sections:
1. Holy Cross, Lichfield to Chadswell Heights (52°41'46.9"N 1°48'56.5"W)
Shorter walk options
A: Lichfield Cathedral to Alrewas (Church Rd canal bridge), distance 7.1 miles.
B: Alrewas (Church Rd canal bridge) to SS Mary & Modwen, Burton on Trent, distance 8.1 miles
There are buses from and to Alrewas from Lichfield and Burton on Trent.
Stage 14: Burton upon Trent to Long Eaton
THE ROUTE IN DETAILWalk overview
A long day, mostly beside canals and rivers.
Details
Distance: 20.5 miles
Approximate time taken: 9 hours walking
Ascent: 62 ft
Start: SS Mary & Modwen Catholic Church, 78a Guild St, Burton-on-Trent, DE14 1NB
Ends: St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 199 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, NG10 1DH
Accessible sections:
1. Burton St M & M until River Dove Aquaduct. (Opportunity to leave canal path at Mill Stream Lane, Stretton)
2. Tamworth Road to Long Eaton station
Shorter walk options
SS Mary & Modwen, Burton on Trent to Willington, distance 5.3 miles
There is a railway station near the route in Willington.
Stage 15: Long Eaton to Nottingham
THE ROUTE IN DETAILWalk overview
Short walk beside canal and river into central Nottingham.
Details
Distance: 8.8 miles
Approximate time taken: 3.5 hours walking
Ascent: 112 ft
Start: St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 199 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, NG10 1DH
End: St Barnabas Cathedral, N Circus St, Nottingham, NG1 5AE
Accessible sections: All route but NB
there is a small section of the path around the Attenborough reserve which is mud track. If there has been wet weather it might be best avoided.
Shorter walk options
None as a short day.
