Green King Pilgrimage, Runnymeade to Windsor

A Pilgrimage of Sovereignty, Nature and Nation from Runnymeade to Windsor, 1 day, 6 miles

This six-mile pilgrimage from Runnymede to St George’s Chapel in Windsor weaves together folklore, nature and the story of English sovereignty.

Runnymeade

The journey begins at Runnymede (or possibly the Ankerwycke Yew & St Mary's Priory across the river if you have a car), where King John sealed the Magna Carta in 1215, a moment that helped shape ideas of law, liberty and responsibility. Around the same time, the Charter of the Forest was also signed. Today the meadow is dotted with memorials and artworks inviting reflection on freedom, justice and our shared inheritance.

Windsor Great Park

From here the route enters Windsor Great Park, passing ancient oak trees and wide open landscapes that speak to an older, deeper story of the land. In folklore, St George – patron saint of England – is sometimes understood not only as a dragon-slayer but as a figure connected to the Green Man, a symbol of the vital life force of nature. Walking through the park offers an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between power and the living land.

Windsor Castle

The path continues along the Long Walk, with its grand avenue leading towards Windsor Castle, and up to the Copper Horse statue of King George III, before descending into Windsor itself. There is an option to walk to Eton College Chapel – Henry VI built Eton College in 1440 as primarily a place of pilgrimage, where Thomas Becket's brain fragments and St George's arm were once relics. You can only catch a glimpse of Henry Vl’s great chapel from the outside (the college is never open to visitors).

St George's Chapel, Windsor

The pilgrimage culminates at St George’s Chapel, one of England’s most significant sacred spaces. The chapel is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the burial place of many monarchs including Queen Elizabeth II, and a place where royal ceremony meets daily worship. If timing allows, pilgrims may wish to end the pilgrimage by attending choral evensong, sung by the chapel choir, for stillness and reflection washed over by beautiful music.

Traditionally St George’s Day (23 April) is marked with red roses and civic celebrations, with scouts and local communities gathering in honour of England’s patron saint. Walking this route on or around that day can deepen the sense of connection between land, legend and nation.

Along the way, pilgrims are invited to reflect on sovereignty in its widest sense: the balance between crown and people, between human authority and the deeper vitality of the natural world, and perhaps also the sovereignty within oneself.

Route Overview

• Distance: approx. 6 miles (10 km)
• Start: Runnymede National Trust Memorial area
• Finish: St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle
• Terrain: Mostly flat parkland paths and paved avenues

Practical Notes

Many pilgrims choose to park or arrive in Windsor, then travel to Runnymede to begin the walk. Egham railway station is about an hour’s walk from Runnymede, or a short taxi ride.

Ending the Pilgrimage

If you arrive in the late afternoon, you may be able to attend choral evensong at St George’s Chapel (usually around 5.15pm). Visitors should check chapel access times in advance.

A Pilgrim Reflection

This route invites you to walk between two kinds of power: the political authority symbolised at Runnymede and Windsor, and the deeper green vitality of the land itself.

Some pilgrims may feel these forces meeting within themselves – a reminder that true sovereignty begins not only in kings and charters, but in our relationship with the living world.