The Lord-Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire welcomed a senior delegation from the Galician Government and the Provincial Council of A Coruña to Reading this week for the unveiling of a new granite milestone marker on the St James’ Way.
The marker – known in Galician as a mouteira – was sent from Galicia as a gift to the town and marks the official start of the St James’ Way, a 70-mile pilgrimage route from Reading to Southampton. The St James’ Way forms the English section of the historic Camino Inglés, one of the official routes of the world-renowned Camino de Santiago, which ends at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
Positioned on Chestnut Walk, below the historic Reading Abbey Ruins, the mouteira directs walkers towards Galicia – 690 miles away – and mirrors the traditional markers found throughout the pilgrimage routes in northern Spain. The Lord-Lieutenant joined the Mayor of Reading, representatives of the Confraternity of St James, and officials from the Galician regional government for the unveiling ceremony.
The visit highlighted the deepening relationship between Berkshire and Galicia, built on shared cultural heritage and a longstanding history of pilgrimage. In medieval times, Reading Abbey was a major pilgrimage destination, drawing visitors to view the Hand of St James and other significant relics. Many then travelled south from Reading to the English coast before sailing to Spain to complete their journey to Santiago. Today, the modern St James’ Way faithfully retraces that historic route and is now an accredited part of the wider Camino network.
The delegation’s visit included a walk along part of the St James’ Way, a civic reception hosted by the Mayor of Reading, and visits to Reading Museum and the Abbey Gateway. Discussions were also held with Reading’s tourism partners to strengthen cultural and economic links between Reading and A Coruña.
The development of the St James’ Way in recent years has been a successful partnership between Galician authorities, the Confraternity of St James, Reading Borough Council, and local heritage organisations. Waymarking, mapping, and promotion have seen walker numbers grow from only a handful to several thousand each year, establishing the route as a compelling addition to the UK’s long-distance walking and pilgrimage landscape.
More information about the mouteira milestone marker and the St James’ Way in Reading can be found at visit-reading.com/pilgrim.
