Perhaps you want to try pilgrimage and let someone else do the hard work of planning everything for you. Here you can find details of churches across the country who have signed up to host a pilgrimage and pilgrimage resources from other organisations. You can also find details of how to undertake a pilgrimage virtually and go on a journey without having to step outside your front door.
Other UK pilgrimage walks
Peak Pilgrimage
Guided walks around the Peak District and Hope Valley arranged by a local church. Some walks are longer than others, each comes with a guidebook and most involve a pub or café as well as local churches! Website here
Seedbeds
Seedbeds is an international organisation with a local heart. Rooted in local people and communities, Seedbeds offers some pilgrimage walks focussing on awareness, growth and connection. Website here
North Wales Worship in the Wild Guided Walks
Eryl Parry the Pioneer priest from the BBC tv series Pilgrimage 2023 is involved, with others, in facilitating ‘wild guided walks’ in North Wales. Website here
12 Day North Wales Route
If you would like to follow in the footsteps of the celebrities who took part in the BBC series Pilgrimage 2023 and who in turn were walking in the footsteps of saints you might be interested in this route. Website here
British Pilgrimage Trust
A huge variety of planned and resourced routes of differing lengths, contexts (countryside, town, village), some are faith based routes, many are not. ‘Walking is for your body, pilgrimage is for your soul.’ Website here
The Centre for Christian Pilgrimage
A wealth of resources to support pilgrimage whether you want to try one or host one. Centre for Christian Pilgrimage. Website here
Pilgrim Ways
This is a Roman Catholic site linked to The British Pilgrimage Trust which welcomes people of all faiths and none to walk pilgrimage routes across England and Wales. Website here
The Peak Wesley Way
A new, self-guided, way-marked pilgrimage through the Peak District National Park, the Peak Wesley Way is 47 miles, starting at Matlock train station and ending at Edale (also the starting point of the Pennine Way for any brave souls wishing to continue their trek!). The path connects six rural Methodist chapels, each with their own character and story, still in use as places of worship, where pilgrims can stay overnight. The invitation is open to people of all faiths and none.
More information | Website
Saint Aelred Pilgrim Trail
A 41 mile long pilgrimage route accessible to walkers, cyclists and horse riders linking the churches of Upper Ryedale and Helmsley with Rievaulx Abbey.
Video
The Via Beata
A trail of artworks and sculptures across the UK from the most easterly point in Lowestoft, Suffolk to the most westerly point at St Davids in Pembrokeshire 453 miles! These ‘waystations’ are being linked by existing footpaths so that pilgrims can walk or ride across the UK with a resting place every 10 miles or so. Each artwork focuses on words from the Bible. The Via Beata works with local ‘walking wardens’ to help monitor and keep the pathway clear and maintained for future generations. More information can be found at ViaBeata.co.uk and the two start points are also on the map below.
Virtual pilgrimage
We want to make pilgrimage accessible to as many people as possible. This resource supports virtual prayer walks, but the approach can be applied to a pilgrimage too. It explains how to use visualisation, Google Maps and Streetview (you might know of others) to see and explore places without even walking out of the front door. Once you know where you would like to walk, you can apply this to your journey. You can even use it with the introductory resources found here
Finger Labyrinth
A finger labyrinth uses our hands and provides a structure for us to go on a journey in prayer. A labyrinth is a path, it’s not a maze, you can’t get lost. It helps you to reflect on your journey of life and has been used for millennia as a spiritual tool. A finger labyrinth can take you on a journey without you having to walk or go anywhere! Whereas a map shows a physical journey a finger labyrinth shows a spiritual one, a prayer journey. Download postcard.
Questions for the Journey
- Put your finger at the entrance to the labyrinth. Reflect on where you are right now, how do you feel? Begin to move slowly into the labyrinth.
- As you journey, consider the twists and turns of life. What are you grateful for?
- When you get to the centre, pause for a while. Is there anything you need to leave behind that’s been weighing you down on the journey?
- As you make your way back out of the labyrinth, consider the path ahead – what do you need to flourish on your journey of life?
- When you get to the exit of the labyrinth, pause, give thanks for the path you’ve walked, and ask for guidance with the path ahead.
Prayers for the Journey
We will be encouraging pilgrims to use the writings from the Bible called the ‘Psalms of Assent’, which we think were used by Jewish pilgrims when they travelled to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was their destination, a holy city for them and the Psalms of Assent would help pilgrims connect with God on their journey. The Psalms of Assent are included here as an invitation to pilgrims to use the journey as an opportunity to connect with people, places and with God…on the road. You might want to download and use this resource even if your road is virtual. Download leaflet