ITINERARY | HIGHLIGHTS | WEATHER | ACCOMMODATION & ADDITIONAL INFOTHE SHAKESPEARE WAY 2009
- a self-guided walking holiday between Stratford and London
The Shakespeare Way follows a route that the great poet and playwright may have taken when he left his birthplace, Stratford-on-Avon, for London sometime between 1585 and 1588. We cannot know the exact route that he took but we know that he had connections in Oxford with his friend and inn-keeper, John Davenant, whilst he was of course familiar with the countryside of Warwickshire and probably of the Cotswolds, which feature in Richard II. The Shakespeare Way passes through some beautiful places and beside notable landmarks, including the Rollright Stones, Chipping Norton, Woodstock (close to Blenheim Palace and the burial place of Sir Winston Churchill at Bladon), Oxford, Marlow,Cookham, and Kew, before finishing at the recreation of Shakespeare's Globe Thatre in Southwark, London. The route can be followed in either direction and taken on in sections.
This route has been developed in order to raise funds for the Shakespeare Hospice in Stratford. World Walks will donate £5 to the cause for each booking made.
PRICE
Please see each section below.
INCLUDED
Accommodation with breakfast (and private bathrooms where available); luggage transportation on walking days; route instructions.
NOT INCLUDED
Meals apart from breakfast; transportation (except for luggage on walking days).
Departure dates 2009:
Daily according to accommodation availability
To book email:
walking@star.co.uk T: (44) (0)1242 254353
Any number of nights is possible but for the sake of convenience the route has been divided into 4 sections. The first three are essentially rural, the fourth is initially rural but urban in its latter stages as you walk through West London, following a mixture of river and canal-side path, and street pavements. The first two, in particular, could be combined into a six night package between Stratford and Oxford.
SCROLL DOWN FOR FURTHER DETAILS
SECTION 1 – STRATFORD-on-AVON to CHIPPING NORTON
Day 1: Arrive Stratford-on-Avon for overnight.
Day 2: Stratford to Alderminster (7 miles)
Day 3: Alderminster to Shipston-on-Stour (10 miles)
Day 4: Shipston to Chipping Norton (14 miles)
Day 5: Departure
3 days walking 4 nights B & B: £250 per person based on two people sharing
SECTION 2 – CHIPPING NORTON to OXFORD
Day 1: Arrive Chipping Norton for overnight
Day 2: Chipping Norton to Woodstock (16 miles)
Day 3: Woodstock to Oxford (11 miles)
Day 4: Departure
2 days walking 3 nights B & B £175 per person based on 2 people sharing
SECTION 3 - OXFORD to MARLOW
Day 1: Arrive Oxford for overnight
Day 2: Oxford to Chiselhampton (10 miles) or Stadhampton (11 miles) or Chalgrove (13 miles)
Day 3: To Cookley Green, Upper Maidensgrove, or Pishill (up to 15 miles)
Day 4: To Hambledon (up to 9 miles) or to Marlow (up to 20 miles)
Day 5: departure or continue to Marlow for overnight
3 or 4 days walking 4 or 5 nights B & B £225 to £250 per person based on 2 people sharing
SECTION 4 – MARLOW to LONDON
Day 1: Arrive Marlow for overnight
Day 2: Marlow to Farnham Common (11 miles)
Day 3: Farnham Common to Iver (9 miles)
Day 4: Iver to Kew/Chiswick (14/15 miles)
Day 5: Kew/Chiswick to Southwark (16/15 miles)
Day 6: depart
4 days walking 5 nights B & B £275 per person based on 2 people sharing
DIFFICULTY OF WALK
Variable but essentially easy to moderate - nothing strenuous if you are able to walk the distances concerned.
GROUP SIZE
If you have done this walk before we would like to hear of your personal highlights.
Mail Us
ACCOMMODATION
B & Bs and inns with private bathrooms
GETTING THERE
In general the starting points can be reached by train or by train and taxi.
WHAT TO TAKE:
Comfortable, well aerated clothes in keeping with the season. Always bring a pullover, good walking boots (already worn-in) and several pairs of cotton or wool socks. For your daily needs, you are advised to have a plastic bag to line your day-pack (to protect the contents from rain), rainwear, a sun-hat, sun glasses, sun block, a water bottle, plastic picnic boxes (for transporting your lunches), first-aid kit, camera and film, torch/flashlight.
WHEN TO GO
April to October
INSURANCE
We recommend that you take out appropriate holiday insurance covering you against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for whatever reason.
To book, contact
worldwalks at:
email:
walking@star.co.ukT: (44) (0)1242 254353