The Clarendon Way is a gentle introduction to the world of multi-day hikes, or it would be a gentle introduction if you wear the right shoes and check the weather forecast in advance. Two things I dramatically failed to do. 

Yet, despite two days of horrid abuse at the hands of the British weather gods and some soggy toes thanks to my own poor planning, I loved this hike and had a few epiphanies along the route. Such as the decision to start a hiking blog.

Clocking in at a tidy 26 miles, The Clarendon Way is the length of a marathon and could be run in a single day. But running is for sweaty weirdos who haven’t discovered that the best things in life are better done slowly.

For me and for most, it is a two-day jaunt with an overnight stay midway in a pleasant country village with a pleasant country pub.

The route links the historic cities of Winchester and Salisbury – two big names in Cathedral nerd circles – and took me across farmland, rolling downland, past peculiar pyramid-like tombs dedicated to heroic horses and through a hell of a lot of puddles. 

The Clarendon Way ticked a whole heap of boxes for a beginner hiker like myself. It was flat but not boring, it was easy to access by train from London and it had great accommodation choices.

Both Salisbury and Winchester are well-heeled tourist hubs. I especially enjoyed the romantic couple's “bijou” love pad I accidentally booked for my solo stay in Winchester. 

Due to the grim November rain and biting November wind, I had the trail largely to myself which started off as a little glum but in the end made me feel like a bit of a legend. Where others hid in their beds I strode forth into the deluge. Like a real hiker hero.

To read the rest of this adventure check out this article on Mike McLeish’s HikerHero blog

Salisbury Journal: