Get in touch

Planning a Weekend Group Pilgrimage

Stephen Habron • March 13, 2023

The planning of the St Wilfrid's Way

Stephen Habron

The inspiration

Where from?  From my parish Church in Huddersfield – why not?  

Where to?      St Anne’s Cathedral Leeds.

How far?       23 miles

 

Why not give it a go? Having lived in and around Huddersfield all my life I had the local knowledge which is a huge help when planning any walk – let alone a new dedicated route. So first item to get is an OS Map(s) of the area where you are planning to walk – today people may simply ask Mr Google! His answer 18.6 miles via Dewsbury – all road walking. A camino should if possible be peaceful, quiet and safe; a time to listen to nature and to let the messages on the breeze open your mind and stimulate your inner spirit.

 

Planning

I elected to plan the route with the minimum of main road walking just like the real Camino – canals if available make wonderful walking and have the advantage of being level (well, more or less level). Public bridleways are ideal pathways as they tend to be wider and better maintained that ordinary footpaths – and importantly you have the right to walk on the bridleway – no question. Footpaths can be problematical and sometimes landowners do not make route finding easy – but you can usually find a way to solve the problem.

 

Are there any locally established walking routes, such as the Kirklees Way, Leeds Country Way and Ripon Roundel Walk. When you start to search you maybe pleasantly surprised how much of the planning has been done for you. Having consulted OS Maps and the Kirklees Way and the Leeds Country Way the rudiments of a route began to take shape.

 

Next step is simple – just start and walk your possible route - by the time you have finally completed your booklet you will know the actual route inside out! Don’t despair or be disappointed if it doesn’t work out the first time or the second or even the third, just try again adjusting as required for by now you will have a feel for what is right and comfortable. Also you will by now know the location of the bus stops, railway stations, loos, shops and even the pubs!

 

Writing

Once a route has taken shape - the next step is to write it down in detail. A good hard backed notebook is my chosen method – others may prefer to use more modern technology, either way it is time consuming – but when it comes to writing up the routes you have your own point of reference to consult. A pedometer or fit bit type watch or a walking app on your phone helps you to record how far it is from A to B. Remember to record both distance and time taken to walk either the part or full section.

 

Remember that groups only walk as fast as the slowest walker, so it is important to be able to offer realistic timings for each section of the Camino. When you actually walk the Camino for the first time with a group of pilgrims – most of whom you may have never met – let alone walked with, one of the first questions you will be asked is: “How long will it take to walk the Camino?” If it helps, I have found that a pace of around 2.5 m.p.h. seems to cover most average walkers. Remember to suggest that people who are not regular walkers get some prior practice before joining in or sore feet, delays and disappointment can easily follow.

 

Finish the initial draft and then ask a friend to either walk with you or by themselves following your written instructions, having asked them to note any problems or queries or suggestions for improvement or clarity. On reflection this was a very important step - because you know the way it is all too easy to miss the obvious in terms of writing clear and accurate directions.

 

I also began to realise that the booklets should be easy and clear to follow. It is important to remember that not all pilgrims will be regular or experienced walkers, so I have tried to make the booklets as user friendly as possible. The writing stage can be helped by reading other guidebooks and pamphlets to see how others communicate directions.


Health & Safety

Another important consideration is Health & Safety – if you are walking in an organised group under the auspices of a diocese it is important to have a responsible person who will undertake this role. In practical terms make sure that you highlight obvious dangers – crossing major roads, golf courses, level crossings and fields of cattle! This can be frustrating for the writer – you have walked the route several times during planning no such problem - then when you come to walk on the day with your group you find your favourite field is full of cattle. So, if possible, devise and include an alternative route.

 

Transport

How to get back home? Where is the nearest public transport so that those who walk the way in sections can get safely back home? Try and make sure that you highlight available bus stops and route numbers.

 

Checking

Now follows a period of what seemed for me a time of endless checking and corrections and tweaks. This highlighted the importance of getting your rights and lefts in the correct sequences! When I began writing the thought then occurred to me that I am reasonably fit and a confident walker, especially after walking the Camino Frances to Santiago de Compestela and onto Cape Finisterra in Spring 2013. Other pilgrims may not have the time or energy to walk 18 miles in one day at one stretch! I decided to split the route into smaller, easy sections of 5 - 6 miles, so that pilgrims could walk the Camino over several days or at different times as their timetables allowed. So by creating sections the way became more accessible to a greater number of potential pilgrims, thus allowing them possible access to local churches and transport as and where the route allowed.

 

Publicity

You have spent hours walking and writing and more hours checking and correcting and the next task is how to publicise your efforts. Parish bulletins or word of mouth, but as these caminos are usually a diocesan initiative make a beeline for the diocesan website and hopefully you will find a friendly Communications Officer who will tell the world about the new camino. Make sure you include highlights of the walk, distances, and estimated times or a provisional timetable: the latter is helpful to plan your walks if you are only doing a section, or to arrange pick up times once you have completed the whole way. Once you have set a date – go and share the joys of your efforts with other pilgrims.

 

Spiritual dimension

It is an individual choice for the leader to decide what to add in terms of the spiritual dimension to each days walking, this will be enhanced and influenced by the route and shrines and churches on your camino. If possible, start the first day with Mass, maybe stop to pray the Angelus, walk a section in silence, and maybe say a decade of the rosary in a church and a prayer of thanksgiving at the end of the day. When walking at weekends check what Vigil Masses maybe available at your destination.

 

Further information

For more about St. Wilfrid’s Way including a detailed booklet of the Camino please see www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk/pilgrimages/

 

Stephen Habron

March 2023

By Eddie Gilmore April 1, 2025
While walking the Lycean Way Eddie Gilmore and his wife Yim Soon found they were walking in the footsteps of St Paul.
By Phil McCarthy March 20, 2025
St Matthew's Way The western Pilgrimage of Hope Way from St David's Cathedral in Cardiff to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham and the Shrine of St Chad in Lichfield. Patron: St Melangell (c 7th or 8th Century) Welsh hermit, consecrated virgin and abbess. According to her hagiography, Melangell was a princess who fled an arranged marriage and became a consecrated virgin in the wilderness of Powys. She saved a hare from a prince's hunting dogs and is associated with protection of wildlife. Her feast is celebrated on 27th May. Overview: The Way starts at St David's Cathedral in Cardiff. The route soon joins the Welsh Coast Path to Newport and then Chepstow. Here the Way turns inland following the Offa's Dyke Path through the Wye Valley to Monmouth. The route follows the Wye Valley Walk to Ross-on-Wye where the Way joins the Herefordshire Trail to Ledbury. The Geopark Way and the Three Choirs Way (3CW) are followed over the Malvern Hills. After Malvern the Way continues on the 3CW until the River Severn is crossed and followed to Worcester. The Monarch's Way is followed to Droitwich Spa and then the John Corbett Way to Bromsgrove. Here the Monarch's Way is regained until just before Illey the Way diverts into central Birmingham along the Illey Way. From the Cathedral of St Chad in Birmingham the Way follows the St Chad's Way , at first along canal towpaths. The Way passes through Sutton Coldfield before joining the Heart of England Way to Lichfield. The route joins the Trent & Mersey Canal towpath to Burton upon Trent and then on to Sawley. Here the Way diverts to Long Eaton and then follows the Way of Blessed Cyprian Tansi along the Broxtowe Country Trail and finally the Beeston Canal towpath to central Nottingham and the Cathedral of St Barnabas. Essential facts: Route length: 215.6 miles Ascent: 11,178 ft Peak elevation: 1,378 ft Average walk day length: 14.5 miles Average walk day duration: 6 hours First walking day: Thursday 28th August 2025 Number of walking days: 14.5 Number of rest days: 1.5 End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. See the route below.
By Phil McCarthy March 20, 2025
St Mark's Way The northern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from the Cathedral Church of St Anne in Leeds to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via the St Marie's Cathedral in Sheffield and the Chapel of the Padley Martyrs. Patron: St Hilda of Whitby (c. 614 – 680) abbess and key figure in the Anglo-Saxon Church. Hilda founded and was the first abbess of the monastery at Whitby which was the venue for the Synod of Whitby in 664. She was widely recognised for her wisdom and learning and trained five bishops. Her feast is celebrated on 17th November. Overview: The Way starts at Leeds Cathedral and follows the Transpennine Trail (TPT) SE beside the Aire & Calder Navigation to Mickletown. Here the path veers SW to continue on the TPT along a disused railway line and then the River Calder to Wakefield. The Way follows the TPT again beside the former Barnsley Canal and then along a disused railway to Wombwell. The route turns SW along the Barnsley Boundary Walk to Elscar, and then across farmland to briefly join the Old Salt Rd, beside the A629. The Way soon joins the Sheffield Country Walk and follows this beside the Sheffield Canal to reach St Marie's Cathedral in central Sheffield. From here the Way joins the Padley Martyrs Way , leaving the city through Endcliffe Park and then climbing Houndkirk Moor to arrive at the Chapel of the Padley Martyrs. The path then follows the River Derwent to Matlock. The Way leaves the Derwent at Ambergate and turns E, through Ripley and then along the former Cromford Canal to Eastwood. Here the route joins the Robin Hood Way to Strelley where the Way veers E to Kingsbury and finally reaches St Barnabas' Cathedral, central Nottingham. Essential facts: Route length: 107.6 miles Ascent 3,615 ft: The route is mostly flat with the only significant climb on Day 4 over Houndkirk Moor Peak elevation: 1,388 ft Average walk day length: 13.5 miles Average walk duration: 5-6 hours First walking day Sat 6 September 2025 Number of walking days: 8 Number of rest days: 0 Last walking day: Saturday 13 September: arrival at St Barnabas' Cathedral Nottingham for evening prayer and social celebration Sunday 14 September, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: pilgrims are invited to join the 11.15 Solemn Mass at St Barnabas' Cathedral Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. For a detailed map of the route click the button below.
By Phil McCarthy March 20, 2025
St Luke's Way The eastern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist in Norwich to the Cathedral Church of St Barnabas in Nottingham via the National Shrine of Our Lady at Houghton St Giles and the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham at King's Lynn. Patron : Julian of Norwich (c. 1343 – after 1416) English anchoress, mystic and theologian. Julian's writings, now known as Revelations of Divine Love, are the earliest surviving English-language works attributed to a woman. They are also the only surviving works by an anchoress in English. Her feast is celebrated on 13 th May. Overview The Way starts at the Cathedral and leaves the city along a disused railway line. The route follows the Walsingham Way along lanes to Great Ryborough. The path then follows the Way of the Annunciation to Fakenham and onto the National Shrine to Our Lady at Houghton St Giles and then Walsingham. The Way follows lanes to Dersingham and soon joins the Norfolk Coast Path to King's Lynn. The Way continues to Wisbech, Spalding, Bourne and then crosses farmland to join the Danelaw Way. The route continues along paths and tracks to Grantham. From there the route crosses farmland to Bingham and soon after joins the Trent Valley Way to central Nottingham and finally St Barnabas' Cathedral. Essential facts: Route length: 158.7 miles Ascent: 1,886 ft Peak elevation: 443 ft (the route is generally flat) Average walk day length: 15.8 miles Average walk day duration: 6 hours First walking day: Tuesday 2 September 2025 Number of walking days: 10 Number of rest days: 1 End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. For a detailed map of the route click the button below.
By Phil McCarthy March 20, 2025
St John's Way The southern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from Southwark and Westminster Cathedrals in London to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate & St Thomas of Canterbury in Northampton. Patron : St Anne Line (c. 1563 – 1601): English married lay woman, convert and martyr. After the death of her husband, who had been banished for attending Mass, Anne was active in sheltering clandestine Catholic priests. Finally arrested, she was condemned to death and executed at Tyburn. She was canonised in 1970. Her feasts are: 27th February (individual), 25th October (with the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales), 30th August (with SS Margaret Ward and Margaret Clitherow). Overview The Way starts at the Cathedral of St George in Southwark and crosses the River Thames to reach Westminster Cathedral. It then passes through Royal parks to the Shrine of the Tyburn Martyrs. At Paddington the Grand Union Canal is reached. Apart from optional diversions to churches the Canal arm is followed to Northolt where the Way joins the Dog Rose Ramble and then the Hillingdon Trail. At Bayhurst Woods the Way diverts W to Harefield and soon rejoins the Grand Union Canal. Apart from diversions to Rickmansworth, Abbots Langley (birthplace of Adrian IV, the only English pope), and Leighton Buzzard the Canal is followed to Newport Pagnall. After the town the route follows the Three Shires Way, then the Midshires Way, the Northamptonshire Round and finally the Nene Way to Northampton Cathedral. The path leaves the city and rejoins the Midshires Way to Arthingworth and soon after follows the Brampton Valley Way to Market Harborough. The Way continues N on the Rutland Way and then the Leicestershire Round. Where this bends W the path follows the Jubilee Way to Melton Mowbray. The Way crosses farmland to reach Willoughby-in-the-Wolds where it breifly re-joins the Midshires Way before diverting to Keyworth. The Way heads towards Nottingham, briefly following a disused railway line, to finally reach Nottingham Cathedral. Essential facts: Route length: 173.3 miles Ascent: 4,931 ft - the route is mostly very flat Peak elevation: 656 ft Average walk day length: 14.9 miles Average walk day duration: 6 hours Number of walking days: 11.5 Number of rest days: 1.5 Start date: Monday 1st September at St George's Cathedral, Southwark, London End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. For a detailed map of the route click the button below.
By Thomas Colsy March 15, 2025
Thomas Colsy explains why the annual Latin Mass Society Walsingham walking pilgrimage is such an important experience for him.
By Julie & Garth Butcher March 10, 2025
The CrossWalk initiative mission is to walk in faith together. This Lent we will be praying and walking for peace. Join us in North Wales!
By Eddie Gilmore February 28, 2025
Eddie Gilmore, currently walking the Lycian Way in Turkey, reflects on the difference between an ancient pilgrimage route and a long-distance hike.
By Heather Warfield February 27, 2025
A new podcast exploring the interface between psychology and pilgrimage!
By Kathryn Hurlock February 27, 2025
Pilgrimage is a journey that goes beyond mere travel; it's a profound quest for spiritual growth, self-discovery, and connection. A new book by Kathryn Hurlock explores this theme.
More Posts
Share by: