Monarch's Way

About the route

approximate route of Charles II's escape

Route description as recorded in OpenStreetMap by its contributors (ODbL).

How long it really is

We measure Monarch's Way at 921.9 km (572.8 miles), computed by walking the OpenStreetMap route geometry point by point. The route is tagged in OpenStreetMap as 990; where that differs from our figure, the difference is usually alternative sections, spurs, or a published distance that rounds.

Access rights along the way

The route stays within England, so one access regime applies along its length.

A waymarked route is a route you may walk — it does not follow that you may camp beside it, leave it, or take a dog on it. Long-distance paths cross farmland, estates and access land in turn, and byelaws and seasonal restrictions override the general position. This is general information, not legal advice. Check a specific spot with the access checker.

National parks on the route

The line passes through one national park, each with its own byelaws and camping position.

• South Downs

Summits on and beside the route

Listed hills from our hill dataset whose summit lies within 2.5 km of the line — none of them directly on it. Distances are measured from the nearest point of the path, not from a trailhead.

The route in day stages

Monarch's Way cut into 45 stages of roughly 20 km, measured along the line itself. These are equal-distance splits computed from the geometry, not an official itinerary — they will not always land on a village, a bunkhouse or a station, and the real day you walk should be set by where you can sleep.

Positions are 8-figure (100 m) OS grid references for points on the line, computed from WGS84 coordinates. Flat-ground times are Naismith at 5 km/h with a 6 min/hour rest allowance and no ascent — add the climb in the walking-time calculator before you plan around them.

Conditions on the route

Daylight at the midpoint today

Sunrise

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Sunset

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Daylight

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Civil twilight ends

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Computed astronomically for 51.454, -2.587. Set a turnaround with the daylight safety planner.

Plan this walk

• Walking-time calculator — add ascent, terrain, pack weight and fitness to get a usable time.
• Pack-weight calculator — multi-day routes live or die on base weight.
• Kit-list generator — season and terrain aware.
• Access checker — what a specific grid reference on the route allows.
• Best month to walk — historical rainfall, temperature and wind by area.
• Safety notes — conditions change fast; build in margin.

Other long-distance paths nearby

• River Avon Trail · 42 km
• Two Rivers Way · 34 km
• Limestone Link · 64 km
• The Mendip Trail · 73 km
• Samaritans Way South West · 57 km
• West Mendip Way · 47 km

Sources for this route

• Route geometry, name, waymark and operator: OpenStreetMap relation 20611 — © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
• Distance, stages, country crossings, park crossings and summit proximity: computed by OpenFell from that geometry.
• Boundaries: Office for National Statistics (OGL v3.0). Summits: Database of British & Irish Hills v18.3 (CC BY 4.0).
• Official route website: monarchsway.50megs.com
• Background reading: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

OpenStreetMap data is licensed under the Open Database Licence. Our derived trail measurements are published under the same terms — see data sources.