Pilgrimage – a different approach to going for a walk?
I was watching Simon Reeves, the television travel presenter, beginning his new series on pilgrimage this week. His first episode began and ended in the UK, and looked like an interesting project, but surely too much like hard work to add to the things to do in retirement list?
Yet according to the British Pilgrimage Trust, pilgrimage is open to everyone, regardless of age or physical capabilities, The Trust argues that it’s the quality of attention and presence of mind that enrich the experience of pilgrimage, rather than the number of miles covered.
Statistically, it says, there’s not a significant difference between the distances travelled by those walking in their 20s and those in their 60s – and the Trust has welcomed pilgrims in their 70s and 80s who cover 10 miles a day (an average day’s walking for a pilgrim) with ease. It suggests that for many, making pilgrimage is a low-impact and low-risk physical activity that can be enjoyed at virtually any age. It is also a practice that facilitates openness and conversation between the generations.
But is it all about faith?
We do tend to think of pilgrimage as a religious activity, and it certainly has its roots here, but it can offer much to the secular world. The Trust says climate consciousness, a desire to be more connected to nature, and the mental health therapeutic benefits of walking all contribute to the desire to follow the pilgrim routes. It’s a community activity, where walkers can meet many others taking the same paths, and spend time walking with friends and family without the distractions of modern life.
Now the Trust has released a list of its most downloaded pilgrimage routes across England, Scotland and Wales in 2025. These include shorter pilgrimages such as St Michael’s Way in Cornwall, alongside longer journeys such as St James’ Way, the Pilgrims’ Way to Canterbury, the revived Old Way, the North Wales Pilgrims’ Way, and St Columba’s Way in Scotland.
Find out if pilgrimage would work for you
You can sign up for a mailing list, download routes and be part of the community at the British Pilgrimage Trust.
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Photo: Getty Images on Unsplash+