A Book Exploring Britain’s Pilgrim Paths

Walking pilgrimages often retrace steps of the saints, helping to feel closer to God. If you can’t make it this year, take an armchair one instead!

When out walking in nature, always follow the Countryside Code, to keep all creatures safe.

Wayfarer is a highly-reviewed book, from a young woman who quit her dream job, ended a long-term relationship and headed home to North Wales, before deciding to walk the most famous pilgrimage in the world – Camino de Santiago in northern Spain.

She then almost by accident found herself walking some of Britain’s oldest pilgrim paths, ending up confronting pasta traumas, that she thought she had laid to rest.

Not a religious book, it shows how a walking pilgrimage had Phoebe revisit the feelings of losing her mother as a teenager to surviving toxic relationships, an eating disorder and depression.

She reveals how nature and walking helped to heal past wounds, offering a path that she did not existed.

About the Author

Phoebie is co-founder of WeTwo Foundation, which leads nature expeditions for underprivileged youth. Growing up in an area that the media labelled ‘Costa Del Dole’, she was told that she could not aspire to a life of adventure.

So she worked in pubs to save enough to travel to Australia, a trip that changed her life as she discovered the joys of wild camping. She has since travelled solo to Everest Base Camp, the Bavarian Alps and Svalbard (last stop before the North Pole).

Great Pilgrim Routes of Britain & Europe looks at 10 pilgrim routes on the continent. The cathedral at Santiago de Compostela now records 200,000 visitors a year, on the famed pilgrim route through France and Spain. This book visits the classic route, along with nine others.

From England’s own St Cuthbert’s Way (which winds through the holy island of Lindisfarne and across the Scottish borders) to an historic route in Germany and Via Francigena (from Italy to Switzerland).

The Camino de Santiago, or Way of St James, started as a medieval pilgrimage. The aim was to reach the tomb of St James in Santiago de Compostela.

While many think of the Camino Francés, there are actually many recognised routes. The Francés runs from the French border, crossing northern Spain.

There’s also the Camino Portugués from Lisbon or Porto, and the Camino del Norte which hugs the coast. Whether you want mountains, farmland or towns, there’s a route to suit your taste.