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Pilgrims’ trail, Hampshire, UK

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Distance: 29.1 miles Start: Winchester Cathedral Maps: OS Explorer 3, 29, 32 Walking the Pilgrims’ Trail This long-distance walk begins at Winchester Cathedral and follows one of southern England’s most quietly fascinating routes: the Pilgrims’ Trail, also known as the Hampshire Millennium Pilgrims Trail. It forms part of a wider network of historic pilgrimage paths known as Les Chemins du Mont-Saint-Michel, linking Winchester with the famous tidal island in Normandy. For centuries, pilgrims travelled along these paths to reach Winchester Cathedral, coming from across Britain and mainland Europe to visit the shrine of St Swithun. A former tutor to the young Alfred the Great, his cult helped turn Winchester into one of medieval England’s most important destinations. Leaving the city behind, the route follows the line of an ancient Roman road towards Bishop’s Waltham before slipping into quieter countryside via Kingsmead and the Forest of Bere. Woodland tracks, open farmland, and ...

Cornish Celtic Way and the Two Cornish Caminos

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  Distance:  125 miles Start:   St Germans Priory Maps:  OS Explorer 1 02, 104, 106, 107, 108, 109 Cornish celtic way: The Cornish Celtic Way is a 125-mile pilgrimage route that crosses the breadth of Cornwall, running from St Germans in the east to St Michael’s Mount in the west. Along the way, it incorporates more than 60 miles of the South West Coast Path and links two established pilgrimage routes: the Saints’ Way and St Michael’s Way. Although the Cornish Celtic Way is not a camino in its own right and is not formally waymarked throughout; It connects with routes that are clearly signed and easy to follow. Pilgrims can also take part in a dedicated passport scheme, collecting stamps at churches, along the journey. The cornish saints' way: One of the key routes linked by the Cornish Celtic Way is the Saints’ Way, a coast-to-coast walk of around 30 miles. It begins at Padstow Harbour on the north coast and heads south through Little Petherick, across St Breock Dow...