Pathways > The Pathways book > Pilgrimage routes
Pilgrimage routes
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The heyday of the pilgrimage in Britain was in the mid to late middle ages. Churches, abbeys and cathedrals all vied for the pilgrims' custom, with sacred relics or, better still, your own home-grown saint being highly sought after items. For those with sufficient resources and leisure time going on pilgrimage was the standard way to seek penance for one's sins; some even directed others to go on pilgrimage on their behalf after their death, making suitable provision in their wills.
Our image of pilgrimage is heavily influenced by Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Visiting St. Thomas Becket's shrine in Canterbury was indeed the best known of British pilgrimage destinations, almost on a par with Rome or Jerusalem. But in fact most pilgrimages were very short, perhaps just a few miles to the nearest minor shrine.
The Pilgrim's Way walk, featured in the book, is free to download once you have joined as a member of Walkingworld. The walk features a fascinating church porch in which pilgrims could gather before an open fire before venturing into the local wood. Pilgrims were, of course, easy targets for robbers and likely to be carrying money and valuables.
There is a special thread in the Pathways forum on pilgrimage routes, should you wish to join in the discussion.
Below is a list of other pilgrimage walks:
Bedfordshire
Two spectacular nature reserves with streams and woodland are homes to many plants and animals which are scarce in the rest of Bedfordshire. The Barton Hills are believed to be John Bunyan's 'Delectable Mountains' in The Pilgrim's Progress.... More info
Borders
Following in the footsteps of St Cuthbert on his pilgrimage to Lindisfarne, we leave Melrose Abbey and walk to St Boswells over the Eildon Hills, with a return to Melrose using public transport.... More info
Devon
A walk that will suit all the family and with enough interest to last all day. It takes in the quaint fishing port of Brixham with its fine harbour that houses a working, full-size replica of Drake's ship the Golden Hind, as well as the old wooden... More info
Dumfries and Galloway
Bishop Ninian established a church in nearby Whithorn in about 400AD and is credited with the spread of Christianity throughout Scotland. This gentle walk leads down to St Ninian's Cave, which it is said he often used as a retreat and which has been... More info
Kent
You begin near a tunnel on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and soon climb on to the North Downs. Past Westfield Sole and Bredhurst, you walk through Monkdown Wood to Scragged Oak on the outskirts of Maidstone and then use the North Downs Way at high... More info
From the large, well-developed and much used country park, you walk past Trottiscliffe (pronounced Trosley) Churchm then on to visit a Neolithic long barrow and the outskirts of Ryarsh Village. The return leg is along a section of the North Downs and... More info
This circular walk from Harrietsham on the North Downs, via High Wood and the Ringlestone Inn, covers varied terrain including pasture, woodland and the ancient Pilgrims' Way.... More info
Originally designed as a 'Pilgrimage' between Sandhurst's two churches, this walk leads gently downwards from the wonderful view point where St Nicholas' Church stands, through fields once hung with hop gardens, and on to the main village – a chance... More info
A linear walk using the train from Chilham to Wye and then walking back. The walk follows a section of the Pilgrim's Way from Boughton Aluph through King's Wood. The walk is featured in the 'Pathways' book.... More info
Lancashire
A walk from Irwell Vale up to Holcombe Moor. Walk to Pilgrims Cross across the moor returning to Irwell Vale via two woodlands and Lumb village.... More info
Northumberland
Paying close attention to the tides, we cross a vast expanse of sand to gain Lindisfarne - Holy Island. Once across, we continue past Lindisfarne Abbey to the castle before returning to the mainland across the causeway. If this walk is timed... More info
Fenwick Village to Lindisfarne Priory, crossing the causeway or following the pilgrims' route on the final part of St Cuthbert's Way.... More info
Oxfordshire
An annual pilgrimage in honour of St Birinus follows this route from high on the downs, through ancient villages, across water meadows and over the Sinodun Hills to the old abbey at Dorchester-on-Thames.... More info
Pembrokeshire
A gentle walk from Nevern, following the Afon Nyfer and also visiting places of interest on the way.... More info
Somerset
A short tour of the town, allowing optional visits to the Abbey Ruins and Glastonbury Thorn, the Chalice Well and other points of religious interest, plus the 'obligatory pilgrimage' to Glastonbury Tor and a suggested visit to the Rural Life Museum... More info
Surrey
A pleasant, scenic and varied walk along part of the North Downs Way and Pilgrims Way south of Guildford.
... More info
Aquitaine
A delightful country walk following old pilgrim trails along the Bescat Ridge at the entrance to the Ossau Valley, visiting the panoramic viewpoint before returning cross-country to Bescat.... More info