What is Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage is to walk freely, empty of hindrance of destination, aims, possessions, companions, using your body, walking through the landscape which here in the UK is Nature first but modified by thousands of years of human work. Not judging, just experiencing, being conscious, in the now, connecting the outer world with the inner. Pilgrimage is your chance to let the spirit come to you. Your chance to be yourself. You may never have had this chance, in fact you almost certainly haven’t, for very few have. This is extraordinary, given the relative wealth and freedom of people today. Nevertheless, understandably accommodation is expensive, for good reason, running a B and B, hotel, camp site, is expensive. The cost of an overnight stay, and also finding it when you are a walker, is a very big restriction on anyone wanting to undertake pilgrimage. This is where the church can step in. Churches are ubiquitous, there is one every three miles or so and they could provide a simple camp space, and indeed, they are beginning to do so. This opens up pilgrimage to everyone.

A church is a wonderful destination. As anyone who has had the privilege of being alone in a church knows how special it is.

You will need to take a sleeping bag, bed roll and very basic necessities. What you take is up to you, but my advice is to keep it to a minimum. Buy food on the way, don’t bother with cooking (you will be too tired), you probably won't read either, or listen to the radio or any of that. At night you will sleep and contemplate. In the day you will walk, talk to people sometimes, eat when you find a shop or pub or cafe of whatever type. Do take blister packs and maps, either hard copy or on your phone, and wet gear. Remember, you are in the UK, you can get whatever you need as you go. Let go of your fears.