Looking for a different way to plan your Ride + Stride walk this year? Some of OHCT’s existing walking routes follow part of St Frideswide’s Way, a Camino pilgrimage route through Oxfordshire.
St Frideswide’s Way was launched in 2024 by Christ Church Cathedral and the Confraternity of Saint James. The four day pilgrimage begins at the shrine of St Frideswide in Christ Church Cathedral and follows the Thames Valley through places including Abingdon, Dorchester-on-Thames, Wallingford and Pangbourne before reaching Reading Abbey. There it connects with St James’ Way, continuing the Camino Inglés towards Southampton.
St Frideswide is the patron saint of Oxford and its university. She founded a religious community on the site of what is now Christ Church, making Oxford a fitting starting point for this modern pilgrimage route.
Follow part of the route for Ride + Stride
You don’t need to tackle the whole four day pilgrimage. Several of OHCT’s existing walking routes take in churches on or close to St Frideswide’s Way, making them a great starting point for Ride + Stride on Saturday 12 September.
The Thames Path: Iffley, Sandford on Thames and Radley
A walk of just over nine miles from Oxford to Radley, visiting St Mary the Virgin at Iffley, St Andrew’s at Sandford and St James the Great at Radley.
Abingdon & Beyond
Explore the churches of Abingdon, including St Helen’s and St Nicolas, both among the churches on the St Frideswide’s Way pilgrimage.
A Wallingford Circuit
Discover Wallingford’s churches, including St Mary-le-More, St Leonard’s and St Peter’s.
Downstream along the Ridgeway: Crowmarsh Gifford to North Stoke
Continue south from Wallingford through Crowmarsh Gifford, Newnham Murren and Mongewell to St Mary’s at North Stoke.
Pilgrim stamps are available along St Frideswide’s Way, allowing those following the pilgrimage to build a record of their journey. Full information about the route, pilgrim passports and stamps is available from the Confraternity of Saint James.
Whether you are walking a few miles or making a full day of it, following part of St Frideswide’s Way is a lovely way to combine pilgrimage, local history and the chance to support Oxfordshire’s historic churches through Ride + Stride.
