99 miles completed, 31 miles to go. With the Mayor of Henley wishing us well Day 7 of the walk was alongside the Thames – and our first rain! There were delights and surprises, with important landmarks such as Hambleden Lock, the start of the first ever University Boat Race, a herd of near white deer and the discovery of a dynasty of brewers in Hurley. We dodged showers while enjoying a notable lunch at St Mary’s Church, Hurley and a very welcome tea stop at All Saints Church, Marlow – thank you! It was a slightly soggy but happy group that arrived to a warm welcome in Bourne End. Seven days completed, just four to go!

You can still join the walk. The last three full days walking - on the Monday 1st Sept: Bourne End to Windsor, Tuesday 2nd Sept: Windsor to Chertsey Bridge, and Wednesday 3rd Sept: Chertsey Bridge to Hampton Court - are all delightful. The finale - on Thursday the 4th September: Hampton Court to All Saints, Kingston - and the delivery of Athelstan’s crown is not to be missed! Ideal if you live nearby – just email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let us know you are joining or for information. There is no charge for being on the walk, there are short walk options on the 1^st and 2^nd September and we have minibus options.

If you are in North Wiltshire we've got a minibus going to and from Malmesbury on each day we are walking and there are a few spaces left. Don't delay. Just email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Full walk details are at: https://www.athelstan1100.co.uk/events-ticketing/the-athelstan-1100-pilgrim-way-walk-to-kingston-2025

43 Miles completed. 87 miles to go. Day Three took us from a great send off at St Lawrence Church in Lechlade via kind hospitality in Arts and Crafts Kelmscott - thank you David - to Newbridge and one of the oldest surviving bridges on the Thames. We had our first footwear failure - skilfully replied by a kind Thames lock keeper! Suddenly it feels like we are long way from Malmesbury.

This summer - walk with the Mayor of Malmesbury on the Athelstan 1100 Pilgrim Way Walk to Kingston upon Thames.

It is a great chance to be part of a unique, sociable, symbolic – and fun - community event. 

Starting on Monday 18^th August, you can join the Mayor of Malmesbury, Cllr Stephen James, on a walk from Malmesbury to Kingston upon Thames. It is taking place to mark the strong connection between both towns and our celebrations of Athelstan becoming king. There are eleven daily stages and many stretches will be on the Thames Path National Trail. The towns along the way are getting involved! Those on the final day will arrive in Kingston at 10:30am on Thursday the 4^th September to be part of the events highlighting the 1100^th anniversary of Athelstan’s coronation.

You can choose to be on all the stages, some of the stages, one of the stages or part of a stage. It is a great chance to involve family, friends and meet others from Malmesbury and along the way. Have a look at the information sheet and if you are interested just email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or register your interest on the events page.

Stop Press: The opening walk from Malmesbury to Cricklade on Monday 18^th August is 14.25 miles. If that feels like too much but you want to be part of the first day action there will be stopping points at Garsdon (3 miles) and Ravenswood (7 miles). 

87 miles completed, 43 miles to go. We're closing in on Kingston! Day 6 took us from an encouraging send off by the Mayor of Wallingford, Cllr Ros Lester, to a very warm welcome from the Mayor of Henley, Cllr Tom Buckley. We combined the Thames Path and the Ridgeway along a section of Grim's Ditch for a delightful 12 mile walk to Henley.  And such hospitality! Thanks to the teams at St Leonard's, a beautiful and remarkable Anglo Saxon church in Wallingford, Wendy Tobbit, Chair of the Thames Path Partnership for fascinating insights along the way, and to St Mary's, Henley for a beautiful home-made tea!

You can still join the walk. The last three days walking - on the Monday 1st Sept: Bourne End to Windsor, Tuesday 2nd Sept: Windsor to Chertsey Bridge, and Wednesday 3rd Sept: Chertsey Bridge to Hampton Court - are all great. And the finale on Thursday the 4th September: Hampton Court to All Saints, Kingston and the delivery of Athelstan’s crown is not to be missed. We've got a minibus going to and from Malmesbury on each day we are walking and there are a few spaces left. Don't delay. Just email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more info. Full walk details are at: https://www.athelstan1100.co.uk/events-ticketing/the-athelstan-1100-pilgrim-way-walk-to-kingston-2025

If you would like to support the Mayor of Malmesbury and the effort to reach Kingston upon Thames with Athelstan's crown in time for the 1100th anniversary of Athelstan's coronation, please donate to the Mayor's Charity Appeal in aid of HEALS and the Malmesbury and District Foodbank. https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/9061/mayor-of-malmesburys-charities/

Day Two: Suddenly we are walking along the Thames, the historic border between the kingdoms of the West Saxons and Mercia. Highlights include the rousing send off by Cricklade's town crier, the friendly break in Castle Eaton, the amazing church at Inglesham and our warm welcome in Lechlade.

We've got a special treat for Athelstan fans on Saturday 24th May at 7:30pm in Malmesbury Abbey. Historian Tony McAleavy is opening Malmesbury's celebration of the 1350th anniversary of Aldhelm becoming the first Abbot of Malmesbury Abbey with a talk 'Aldhelm and his Legacy 675 to 2025'. Aldhelm is special - Michael Wood says he 'was one of the most important people in early English culture' (and, as Tony will show, much more besides). Athelstan certainly thought so, Aldhelm was his hero and a big reason he chose to be buried in Malmesbury.

There is NO ADMISSION CHARGE but you do need a ticket and we will be asking you to give generously to the Malmesbury Abbey Roof Fundraising Appeal. Tickets are at tonymcaleavy.eventbrite.co.uk or our own event listing https://www.athelstan1100.co.uk/events-ticketing/athelstan-1100-events/aldhelm-and-his-legacy-675-to-2025

This is a joint event being organised by Athelstan 1100 and Malmesbury Abbey and is part of Malmesbury's Pride of Place Festival 2025.

75 miles completed. 55 miles to go. Day 5 was along a glorious stretch of the Thames and delivered treat after treat. The Mayor of Malmesbury is now

The Athelstan 1100 Pilgrim Way Walk from Malmesbury to Kingston upon Thames has started. A great crowd was in Malmesbury's Cloister Gardens to see Athelstan entrust his crown - made buy local blacksmith Isaac Owen - to 'Stephen Mayor of Malmesbury' and the 43 walkers setting of on the first day of the walk towards Cricklade. 

Photos: Richard Harris

In 2024 Malmesbury in North Wiltshire celebrated the 1100th anniversary of Athelstan beceoming king. On September 4th 2025 Kingston upon Thames is celebrating the 1100th annivesary of Athelstan's coronation as the King of Wessex and Mercia. 

To highlight the connection between these events the Athelstan Pilgrim Way, a popular network of footpaths and cycelways across North Wiltshire, is being extended to Kingston for two special events; a symbolic walk with a crown and a cycle from Malmesbury to Kingston, arriving together in Kingston on the anniversary of the coronation.

The walk will take place over 11 days - divided into three blocks of days - and starts on Monday 18th August, and the bike ride is on the 3rd and 4th of September. Might you be interested in taking part? Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we'll send you more information. 

58 miles completed. 72 miles to go. Day 4 took us from the Rose Revived at Newbridge to Abingdon and a warm welcome from the Mayor of Abingdon, Cllr Rawda Jehanli. This is the day we felt we were well on our way. A cross-country shortcut moved us past Oxford and the Thames has now 'grown up'. The walkers are enjoying themselves!

The waiting is over! The Athelstan 1100 Pilgrim Way Walk from Malmesbury to Kingston upon Thames is underway. The Mayor of Malmesbury is setting out on the 130 mile, 11 day journey through the historic borderlands of the kingdoms of the West Saxons and the Mercians to deliver Athelstan's crown. It has to arrive in time for the 1100th anniversary of Athelstan's coronation on the 4th September... We'll report on progress here. 

Stop press: If you would like to join the walk you still can. You will be very welcome. The details of each part of the walk is on the events pages of this website. Just email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let us know.  

Last July, hundreds of budding archaeologists and residents took part in a project to dig test pits all over Malmesbury, in a search of the town’s rich history. Called ‘Malmesbury’s Big Athelstan Dig’ in honour of the first King of England who is buried in Malmesbury Abbey, the results exceeded expectations the amazing finds have now been on show.

Over Saturday and Sunday the 15^th and 16^th March 2025, hundreds of visitors again flocked to Malmesbury Town Hall, this time to see the site-by-site display with archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology on hand to provide explanations and answer questions.

Martin Watts, Director of Research and Engagement at Cotswold Archaeology said: “The diggers produced finds from every period of Malmesbury’s history except the Roman. We were particularly pleased there was a find from the period of King Athelstan and so many indications of living in Malmesbury across the centuries. We have been very pleased to support Malmesbury’s Big Athelstan Dig and the chance it has given so many people to experience archaeology at close hand.”

Kim Power, who led the Athelstan 1100 team organising the Dig said: “Malmesbury had great fun last summer and this weekend discovering more about the history of Malmesbury and we would really like to thank the site owners, Cotswold Archaeology, the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and all the organisations and volunteers across the town who helped make the Big Dig possible. It will remain as an unforgettable part of Malmesbury’s Athelstan 1100 celebrations.

Visitors were able to nominate their ‘Favourite Find’ and three finds in particular were strongly supported. These were a small medieval key, which probably unlocked a casket, a tiny Victorian terracotta doll called a ‘Frozen Charlotte’ and the overall winner –  the single piece of Anglo-Saxon pottery unearthed by the Dig, a rim fragment from a cooking pot from the time of King Athelstan.