July 25th 2026 Edition of the walk.
This year's iteration of the pilgrimage is taking place on the Feast Day of St James. Fr Joby will celebrate Mass in the chapel at 12:15. Please read below for a report on last year's pilgrimage so that you know what to expect.
Please note that booking is essential, as this will allow the organisers to connect people offering lifts with those who need them, and also allows them to predict numbers which is important for your safety.
The pilgrimage will be split into small(ish) groups each with a leader who has maps and a prayer plan. For most walkers the pilgrimage takes about 3.5 hours, so leaving from 08:15, the last (fastest) group will leave at 08:45 approx.
Pilgrimage Walk to St James, Postlip, July 25th 2026
There are no tickets available for this event currently, please come back later
Pilgrimage Report
The pilgrimage walk from St Gregory the Great, Cheltenham to St James, Postlip took place on July 26th 2025. About 50 parishioners aged from 8(ish) to 80(ish) walked the pilgrimage way prepared by parishioners, utilising the Elgar way to ascend Cleeve Hill, and then the Cotswold way along the edge of Cleeve Hill with outstanding views across the Golden Valley. Part way we were met by another group who had ascended by motor car and bus, who joined us for the last part of the way down to St James Chapel at Postlip. We were warmly greeted by Parishioners from Winchcombe, who provided squash, cakes and music for the Mass celebrated at 12:30 by Fr Joby with a homily by Dcn John connecting our pilgrimage to that of so many others in the past who had walked their pilgrimage way via St James. A picnic followed with the joyful sound of parishioners from across the pastoral area catching up with one another while rejoicing in the peaceful ambiance of St James, and Postlip.
Will this become an annual event? Watch this space! But if you would like to help with the administration and planning for a future pilgrimage please contact Deacon John.
Grateful thanks to the walkers and their generous spirit of sharing and supporting each other up that hill, to JJ, Zoe, Brandon, Jane and Graham who designed and piloted the route, to Michael for printing the pilgrims handbook, Winchcombe Parishioners for their hospitality, and Fr Joby for offering his time on a busy weekend.
Timings - Plan A
07:30 Park return cars at Postlip and get lift back to Cheltenham
08:00 Pilgrim's Prayers at St Gregory the Great
08:15 to 08:40 Pilgrims depart in groups.
11:00 Pilgrims arrive at Cleeve Cloud Golf Club (Toilets and refreshments available)
11:30 Pilgrims depart Cleeve Cloud and walk with Plan B Pilgrims to Postlip.
12:15 Mass at St James, Postlip (Toilets available). Followed by shared picknic.
14:00 Depart for return to Cheltenham - either by car share or by foot!
Timings for Plan B Pilgrims
07:30 (Optional) Provide lift to Cheltenham for walker-drivers
08:15 (Optional )Pilgrim's Prayers at St Gregory the Great
11:00 Pilgrims arrive by car at Cleeve Cloud Golf Club (Toilets and refreshments available) Don't forget to pay for your car parking!
11:30 Pilgrims depart Cleeve Cloud and walk with Plan A Pilgrims to Postlip.
12:15 Mass at St James, Postlip (Toilets available).
14:00 Depart for return to Cheltenham - either by car share or by foot back to Cleeve Cloud.
Slideshow from the Pilgrimage
The Route
The route for the pilgrimage has been carefully researched and piloted by a team of St Gregory the Great Parishioners. It is VERY IMPORTANT that pilgrims stick to the given route. Total walking time for route A is about 3.5 hours and includes some steep inclines and rough country paths, there are numerous stiles. A much shorter walk of about 20 - 30 minutes with no stiles, but still on moderate inclines and country paths, is available.
The GPX file for the pilgrimage route is available here.
Start at St Gregory’s Church. Take Knapp Road, left into New Road, straight across the traffic barrier into Great Western Road, then right fork into Market Street.
After 50 yards, turn right into Winston Churchill Memorial Gardens, and follow the path to the left, which curves round to the right. Follow the path and continue up the ramp to the Honeybourne Line.
Follow the Honeybourne Line to the Prince of Wales stadium, turn right to reach Tommy Taylor’s Lane. Turn left onto Tommy Taylor’s Lane and, after passing the Leisure Centre and Cricket Hall on your right, take the tarmac path into Pittville Park.
Follow the path as it goes down to meet the lake. Continue alongside the lake, past the boathouse and following the path as it curves round the end of the lake, and take a left to go through the pedestrian tunnel and come up on the other side of Evesham Road.
Follow the path left, across the bridge, skirting the play area on your left and continue up to Pittville Pump Room.
Continue across the front of the Pump Room and straight on into Eastern Approach Drive. At the end of Eastern Approach Drive, turn left into Albert Road. Where and when it is safe to do so, cross Albert Road and continue up to the junction with New Barn Lane.
Cross New Barn Lane at the mini-roundabout, turn right and, after 50 yards, turn left down the footpath next to the entrance into Prestbury Park (residential road). Follow the path until you reach the edge of the racecourse.
Turn right to follow the edge of the racecourse, left-right over a small bridge over a stream, and continue following the edge of the racecourse. After about 300 yards, turn right off the path, through some trees, into an open field.
Follow the path across the field to a gate to the right of a lone house. Go through the gate and right into Lake Street. Follow Lake Street at it turns to the left and continue to the junction with The Burgage.
Go straight across into Mill Street until you reach the rear entrance into St Mary’s Church.
From St Mary’s Church, continue along Mill Street to reach the junction with the B4632. When it is safe to do so, cross over in Mill Lane. After about 500 yards, turn left into Queenwood Grove. Follow it as it turns right towards Cleeve Hill and, after going past a group of houses on the left, turn left through a courtyard onto the Gustav Holst Footpath.
This is where things start to get steep. Go through a gate, through a field, and then follow the path up through the next field as it curves to the right between two trees. At the top right of the field, climb over a stile and continue through a wood, climbing over a second stile to reach another field. Continue straight up the field, through a gap into another field until you reach a wood.
Continue into the wood, curving to the right to meet a rocky path which then curves to the left to reach the Cotswold Way. The path is uneven and steep but, it’s probably the worst part, so things will get better. Follow this path as it continues up, evens out as it enters a wooded area, and then opens out at a gate onto Cleeve Common.
Go through the gate and stop at the memorial wall on the left.
You can now follow the Cotswold Way markers that will take you up to the triangulation point and onto the Golf Club where you will hopefully be able to find refreshments and toilets.
From the Golf Club, turn right and continue on the Cotswold Way, possibly signposted Cotswold Way circular walk. Continue down, going through a gate until you reach a stone wall, which is the perimeter of St James’s Chapel and Postlip Hall grounds. On the left is a waist-high gate.
