Old Way Mini Pilgrimage to Lewes (YHA Walking Festival)

Join the British Pilgrimage Trust’s own historian and naturalist Dawn Champion, on a guided mini-pilgrimage to Lewes for the YHA Festival of Walking. This is a Bring Your Own Beliefs journey, encouraging everyone to walk with purpose. Explore local cultural heritage, connect with nature, and enrich your mind and heart.

Our route will meander through Beddingham, Glynde and Lewes, following some of the Old Way, an ancient route from Southampton to Canterbury. We will discover new ways of meeting old churches, wildflower folklore, experience barefoot grounding, opportunities for silence, natural beauty and the wild places between the roads.

Bring your own beliefs. This pilgrimage is for anyone who wishes to find their own meaning and connect with the landscape, for all faiths and no faith.

We'll meet at YHA South Downs before setting our own intentions for the journey, ascending the Downs at an easy pace. We'll discover St Andrews at Beddingham, where a Saxon royal minster gives us cause to consider ancient stories of the Anglo Saxons. Crossing farmland to St Mary's Church at Glynde, we'll pause in a unique place for its architecture and wild churchyard. Then it is time to encounter Mount Caburn, the highest point on the Downs, contemplate the ancient landscape, discovering more about the wildlife we find on the way.  We'll then make our way through the lively town of Lewes and through to Lewes Priory, to walk in the footsteps of 11th century Cluniac monks. From there, we'll head to the train station for a short hop back to the YHA for a well-earned free cuppa and cake.

A journey guaranteed to make you re-encounter Britain in new and ancient ways.

This Pilgrimage will include:

- New ways of meeting old Churches (bring your own beliefs...)

- Wildflower folklore

- Occasional barefoot walking

- Opportunities for silence

- Discovering your place in the British pilgrimage tradition

- Natural beauty and the wild places between the roads

- Holy and historic sites of all kinds

Travel

The YHA are offeringa 20% discount to anyone wishing to stay the night. Please see their website for details

What to bring

A packed lunch; Trusty walking footwear; Waterproofs (if applicable); water bottle. A walking stick or staff is the universal symbol of the pilgrim; they are not essential, but you may find it helpful for climbing up and down the hills.

Fundraising

All donations fund the work of the British Pilgrimage Trust, a charity which seeks to open up Britain's pilgrimage tradition in newly inclusive and exciting ways. With your help we can make pilgrimage open to everyone.

FAQ’s

Who can come?

Anyone over 18 (or under 18 with parent/guardian supervision, bearing in mind the walking distance).

Is this religious?

We operate a “Bring Your Own Beliefs” policy. We ask that all participating pilgrims respect one another, whatever their beliefs. We often welcome just as many people without faith as from a mix of different traditional faiths, and those consider themselves spiritual but not religious.

Are there fitness limitations?

Pilgrimage is moderately intense. If you struggle to walk all day, this type of pilgrimage may be an unsuitable activity for you right now. You will be required to go up and down some steep hills, but we will take these slowly, and move at a moderate pace the rest of time.

Due to the stiles and off-road access along much of this route, unfortunately this pilgrimage is not suited for mobility-impaired people or those requiring wheelchair access.

Can I bring my dog?

Sadly not - we can’t accommodate dogs on our guided pilgrimages. However, if you have a registered assistance dog, they are welcome.

Will you cancel/postpone if it rains?

We'll only postpone the event if the conditions are too hazardous, but we usually continue if it is just showers. If we postpone the event we will transfer your ticket to a new date in the future, or give you credit for an alternative if you have offered a donation.

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We hope to see you on the path.

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