10 walks via historical past: historical UK pathways in gorgeous countryside | Strolling holidays

Begin/end Harbour Home, Newcastle
Distance 3-7¾ miles
Established by the St Patrick’s Centre in Downpatrick as a guided providing (nonetheless out there as a day journey for £45 a individual) this Irish camino takes within the city the place CS Lewis holidayed as a toddler and little doubt heard the legends of the adjoining mountain of Slieve Donard – stated to carry a hermit’s cell for Saint Donart, as properly as, in Irish mythology, a tomb of legendary figures and a doorway to the otherworld.

Wandering in a loop from city (a case of following your nostril, or a map, from the centre) the aim is the Narnia-esque Tollymore Forest Park, the place a alternative of footpaths can create a round stroll via big redwoods and rocky outcrops, and over stepping stones and 16 bridges throughout the Shimna River – an space of particular scientific curiosity owing to its uncommon mosses, inhabitants of Atlantic salmon and geology. Proof of prehistoric man has additionally been found right here.

John Bunyan Path, Bedfordshire

Begin/end Sundon Hills Nation Park
Distance 2½ miles

Printed in 1678, The Pilgrim’s Progress has been translated into greater than 200 languages, has by no means been out of print and influenced writers corresponding to CS Lewis, Charlotte Brontë and Enid Blyton. This path is known as after its creator, who was incarcerated for preaching. In 1995 the Bedfordshire Ramblers group created a memorial strolling route that transposes locations from his e-book on to the true places on which the author primarily based his tome. This part begins the place considered one of Bunyan’s persecutors lived and meanders the chalky panorama to the summit of Sharpenhoe Clappers (reduce out Streatley for this shorter route) – a spur of tree-covered floor that rises dramatically from the flat arable land surrounding it.

Cuckmere Pilgrim Path, E Sussex

Begin/end Berwick station
Distance 1-11¼ miles
In 2014, Will Parsons and Man Hayward seen an historical path on the 14th-century Gough map (one of many oldest maps of Britain) that linked church buildings and holy locations collectively. They used it to attempt to resurrect what they referred to as the Previous Method, linking Southampton to Canterbury – an act that kickstarted a renewed curiosity in strolling historical trails. Impressed by their work, in 2018 an East Sussex native, the Rev Peter Blee, determined to create this round route (damaged down into six additional shortened choices) that touches on many factors of it, and contains seven rural church buildings. However what makes it stand out is the possibility to wander amid the clay and chalk of the South Downs, Low Weald and the archaeologically wealthy Cuckmere Valley, taking in a wizened 1,600-year-old yew tree, fowl hides to identify migrant and nesting birds, and the Lengthy Man of Wilmington, a 72-metre determine carved into the chalk hillside within the sixteenth or seventeenth century.

Peak District Previous Stones Method

Begin Rowsley
Finish Youlgreave
Distance 8 miles (shorten to 1¾ miles beginning at Birchover and strolling there and again, both to Hermit’s Cave and Robin Hood’s Stride or the 9 Girls)

Your complete size of this neolithic stroll is a bit of over 37 miles, however this prime slice takes in some actual highlights, ending at a useful YHA youth hostel in Youlgreave that’s housed in a former village Co-op just a few miles exterior Bakewell. There aren’t any Christian saints right here; as a substitute, it’s affected by prehistoric chieftains’ cairns, or standing stones. These embody the circle of stones referred to as the 9 Girls (stated in native lore to be girls who danced on a Sunday and have been turned to millstone); an enormous tor often called Hermit’s Cave the place there may be a Thirteenth-century carved cross; and a lovely rock formation referred to as Robin Hood’s Stride – good for scrambling and feeling the cool limestone beneath your fingers, and which film buffs could recognise from the 1987 movie The Princess Bride – all gazing out in the direction of distant Minninglow, a chambered tomb relationship again hundreds of years to pre-Christianity and barrow bowls topped with a crown of beech bushes.

Avebury Day Pilgrimage

Begin/end Avebury Nationwide Belief automobile park
Distance 11 miles

Most individuals who’ve visited Stonehenge have nipped over to Avebury for its unfenced prehistoric stone circle. However few have taken a full day to linger and actually get a really feel of the depth of historical past on this panorama. Utilising one of many oldest footpaths within the space, the Ridgeway, first, take within the historical oval Sanctuary – as soon as demarked by timber posts regarded as a gathering place and entryway to Avebury’s stones. From there, pay respects at West Kennet Lengthy Barrow, the location for 50 burials going again almost 6,000 years. Cross the supply of the River Kennet – the place overhanging bushes are sometimes coated with “clouties”, or strips of ribbon, and the 4,500-year-old Silbury Hill, earlier than visiting the Longstones, that are aligned with the winter solstice. Finish by the bushes which can be stated to have impressed Tolkien to create his tree-like creatures, the Ents, in Lord of the Rings. Going with children? Wandering round Avebury is a pilgrimage in and of itself.

North Wales Pilgrims Method

Begin Tŷ Coch Inn, Morfa Nefyn
End Y Gegin Fawr, Aberdaron
Distance 15½ miles (begin at Porthor to shorten)

Formally launched in 2015, the North Wales Pilgrims Method follows the route taken by medieval pilgrims again within the sixth century. Their aim was Bardsey Island, AKA the isle of 20,000 saints (these buried there have been nearly assured their ascension to sainthood), although stays have been discovered that predate Christianity by 700 years. Climate typically prevents the journey there from the Llŷn peninsula, however this part, from a hostelry reached solely on foot to the Massive Kitchen – as soon as utilized by pilgrims and nonetheless serving espresso as we speak – makes for an ideal outing. It’s a heady mixture of rugged sandy seashores, tiny hamlets, crumbling cliffs and the whistling sands at Porthor (which squeak when you stroll over them due to the molecular make-up of the grains), earlier than crossing farmland and rivers, and at last gaining the view of the island.

Brecon Cathedral Pilgrimage, Powys

Begin/end Brecon Cathedral
Distance 4½ miles (two route choices)

As this begins and ends at a cathedral cafe (appropriately named Pilgrims Tearooms), you’d be forgiven for pondering this can be a stroll just for folks of religion. But the 2 routes created within the final 12 months as a part of the Go to Wales Yr of Trails absorb way more than non secular hotspots. The lower-level Llanddew loop primarily follows water from an historical properly and alongside the River Honddu to a market city. The higher-level Pen y Crug takes in the River Usk and the iron age hillfort on the high of the hill from which it will get its title – from there, spirit-soaring views of the Bannau Brycheiniog (previously often called the Brecon Beacons) and the Black Mountains reward a pilgrim’s efforts.

St Ninian’s Cave Pilgrimage, Dumfries and Galloway

Begin St Ninian’s Chapel, Isle of Whithorn
End St Ninian’s Cave
Distance 5½ miles (a technique); cave solely from Kisdale, 2 miles

Isle of Whithorn village is residence to the ruins of the chapel of the fourth-century Saint Ninian, stated to have transformed many Celts and southern Picts to Christianity. In the Twelfth century, pilgrims would arrive by water and relaxation, earlier than persevering with on to Whithorn and its priory, in honour of the eponymous saint. Inexperienced indicators marked “Core path 356” (a coastal community arrange by the native council) lead you alongside sea cliffs to the cave the place the saint would search solitude. Names on the map are foreboding – Rock of Windfall, Satan’s Footsteps – and this shoreline can also be the place the notorious closing burning-effigy scene of the 1973 basic The Wicker Man was shot. Look out for birds, particularly cormorants, perched above the turquoise water and spy a number of caves as soon as utilized by smugglers till you attain Port Fortress Bay and St Ninian’s Cave, the place 18 medieval stone crosses have been found.

Iona of the East, Fife

Begin North Queensferry station
End Aberdour station
Distance 8 miles (2½ miles if utilizing prepare at Inverkeithing)

Waymarked because the longer Fife Coastal Path, this stroll passes via part of Scotland that again within the top of ecclesiastical journeys would have been teeming with pilgrims. A lot in order that within the eleventh century Queen Margaret, later canonised as a saint, established a ferry there to assist convey folks throughout the water (therefore the title Queensferry) so they might attain the well-known St Andrews additional up the coast. The stroll takes within the many bays and coves, in addition to tree-lined tracks and the fishing village of Aberdour with its Thirteenth‑century fort (regarded as considered one of Scotland’s oldest standing specimens), and affords views over to Inchcolm, AKA Iona of the East, the place the ruins of a Twelfth-century abbey can be spied. Maybe much more spectacular, although, is the proliferation of seashores en route for a restorative open-water swim surrounded by fulmars and seals.

Phoebe Smith’s new e-book Wayfarer: Love, Loss and Life on Britain’s Historic Paths (HarperNorth) is out now. To purchase a replica for £14.95 go to guardianbookshop.com