Britain's most popular pilgrimage routes in 2025

Not only King Charles’s enthusiasm but also new route data shows a growing interest in pilgrimage in Britain, offering an alternative to travelling abroad

We hope you were as excited as we were to hear King Charles' focus on pilgrimage in his Christmas Day speech this year!

Pilgrimage is a word less used today, but it is of particular significance for our modern world and especially at Christmas. It is about journeying forward into the future while also journeying to remember the past and learn from its lessons.
King Charles III

Pilgrimage is an ancient practice, but its renewed appeal today reflects contemporary pressures such as the pace of modern life and constant connectivity. Setting out on foot along routes shaped by centuries of use offers a deliberate contrast, creating space for reflection and attentiveness to landscape and history.

For many, the appeal of pilgrimage lies not simply in the act of walking, but in walking towards the unknown in search of something meaningful. Across Britain, people continue to journey to places long held as significant, including holy wells and springs, ancient trees, caves and hilltops, chalk figures, boundary stones, churches, abbeys and cathedrals. These are places shaped by people over centuries.

At a time when many people feel divided from one another, pilgrimage can offer something quietly radical: common ground. By walking alongside others, sometimes alone, sometimes in silence and sometimes in conversation, people often find it easier to listen and connect.

Britain’s most popular pilgrimage routes in 2025

Today, we're sharing our list of the most popular pilgrimage routes across England, Wales and Scotland, as chosen by pilgrims visiting our site in 2025. Since our charity began in 2014, we've been privileged to have our resources visited, shared, and used by tens of thousands of pilgrims every month. We talk to the pilgrims using our resources as much as we are able. We receive emails, feedback, and comments on our social channels, and the feedback we receive informs the work we do every day.

For many people, pilgrimage is often associated with routes such as the Camino de Santiago and other global traditions. We hope that by sharing this list, we can point to the growing rediscovery of Britain’s own ancient pilgrimage routes, which offer deep historical and spiritual significance without the need to travel overseas.

Across the three nations, the most popular routes include shorter pilgrimages such as St Michael’s Way in Cornwall, alongside longer journeys including St James’ Way, the Pilgrims’ Way to Canterbury, the revived Old Way, the North Wales Pilgrims’ Way, and St Columba’s Way in Scotland.

While these routes are historically rooted in religious practice, they are walked today for many reasons. For many people, their significance lies not only in their beliefs but also in what they carry as cultural inheritance. They trace stories passed down through generations and offer a way to move through the landscape with intention.

Top 10 pilgrimage routes in England

1 St James' Way, Reading to Southampton

‍The official start of the Camino de Santiago in Britain. The route passes through the rolling countryside and open downs at the heart of the kingdom of Wessex.

2 The Pilgrims Way – Winchester to Canterbury North Downs Pilgrims Way

‍Perhaps the most well-known pilgrimage route in Britain, first walked in 1172AD from Winchester to Canterbury where Thomas Becket was buried after he was martyred two years earlier. But walking this path reveals evidence of the pathways being well-used for thousands of years before that date.

3 St Michael's Way / Forth Sen Myghal — St Michael's Mount, Cornwall

‍A coast-to-coast micro-pilgrimage in the Westernmost reaches of Cornwall. The pilgrimage offers diverse holy places, from ancient Irish Saints at its start, to Giants on hilltops and their stones, to flowing holy water.

4 Golden Valley Pilgrim Way — Herefordshire and Wales

‍A circular route along stunning ancient paths, beginning and ending at Hereford Cathedral. Pilgrims can sleep every night in a Sanctuary church along the way.

5 Old Way Itineraries - from Southampton to Canterbury

‍The Old Way was once trod by European and British pilgrims who sought Thomas Becket’s shrine in Canterbury. It was rediscovered from Britain's oldest road map, The Gough Map, which dates from 1360. There was a red line on the map which, once explored, was found to run through breathtaking nature dotted with holy shrines and pilgrim places, from the pre-Christian to the modern, and the wild to the urban.

6 Cornish Saints' Way — Padstow to Fowey

‍Part of the longer Cornish Celtic Way, this route goes across Cornwall from North to South, following the probable route of early Christian travellers making their way from Ireland and Wales to Brittany and the European mainland.

7 St Alban's Way — London to St Albans‍

Alban was Britain’s first saint and martyr and the destination of his shrine has an awesome feeling, having had almost two millennia of devotion paid to it. The route begins at St Paul's Cathedral and ends along the river path to Holywell Hill, before reaching St Albans Cathedral.

8 The Archangel's Way — Dartmoor‍

The route reveals how nature runs its course through deep gorges and valleys, waterfalls and rivers, and dramatic tors such as Brat Tor and Black-a-Tor taking centre stage. It reveals on its way how humanity has left its mark on ancient lands.

9 Finchale Camino Inglés to Finchale Priory, via Durham Cathedral

‍A recognised English section of the Camino de Santiago. The route ends at Finchale Priory where St Godric - the first recorded British pilgrim to walk the Camino - set out on his own Camino pilgrimage before settling as a hermit in Finchale in the late 12th century.1

10 Augustine Camino — Rochester to Ramsgate via Canterbury‍

Kent was the first English Kingdom in the British Isles to convert to Christianity, with the baptism of King Ethelbert. The route features living monasteries, village churches, cathedrals and shrines of four of England’s greatest saints as well as the final resting place of the head of Thomas More.

Top 10 pilgrimage routes in Wales

1 North Wales Pilgrims Way — Holywell to Bardsey Island ‍

Pilgrims have been drawn to Bardsey Island for hundreds of years. This route includes an extraordinary holy water swimming pool, prehistoric stone circles, ancient churches, thousand year old stone crosses, sacred springs and waterfalls.

2 Lleyn Pilgrims Trail — Aberdesach to Porthmadog‍

Based on an ancient pilgrimage path, this route runs along remote coast paths and unspoilt land and offers great views of the Irish coast, Snowdonia, Anglesey and Bardsey Island. It is a route that reflects deep Welsh history and traditions.

3 Anglesey Saints Way / Llwybr Cybi & Seiriol — Penmon to Anglesey‍

A route that follows the path taken by two great friends - St Cybi and St Seiriol - who walked to meet each other every day at the well of Clorach. The route includes Holyhead Mountain — considered one of the most sacred Druidic sites in all Europe.

4 Southern & Northern Way of St David — Pembrokeshire path to St Davids Cathedral‍

In 1123 when pilgrims could no longer travel to Jerusalem because of the Crusades, the Pope suggested two other destinations instead – Santiago in Spain and St Davids in Wales. A beautiful coastal path that has been the inspiration of poets for generations.

5 St Winefride's Pilgrim Trail — Shrewsbury to Holywell, Flintshire‍

People have walked this route since the 12th century to honour this daughter of a Welsh prince, who lost her head when she rejected the advances of a nobleman. The well that sprang up where her head lay was honoured in a poem by Gerald Manley Hopkins.

6 Brecon Cathedral Pilgrimage in a Day‍

A beautiful and interesting pilgrimage, all within a half day walk from Brecon Cathedral. The route runs along the River Honddu, which cuts through the Black Mountains.

7 St Melangell Way — Oswestry to Pennant Melangell‍

The Pennant Valley is mysteriously magical, and nestled within it lies the 6th century shrine to Melangell, and a grove of ancient yew trees in an area that was also once a Bronze Age burial site. A beautiful area that includes the Tanat Valley and waterfalls.

8 The Celtic Way — Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire to St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall‍

Long ago, Neolithic peoples gathered blue stones from the Preseli Mountains in Wales, and brought them to Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain. Centuries later, the peoples of Wales and “West Wales” (Devon and Cornwall) were united by a common Christian faith and a common language that stood quite apart from the pagan English. This route connect the ancient stones and sacred waters of Pembrokeshire, Stonehenge, Glastonbury and St Michael’s Mount.

9 Gower Pilgrimage — Penclawdd to St Teilo’s‍

The Gower Peninsula was the first place in Britain to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This route links all 17 historic churches of Gower, with their roots going back to Celtic Welsh history. There is also a cycling version of the route.

10 Teifi River Pilgrimage — Llyn Teifi to Poppit Sands‍

Afon Teifi is one of the longest rivers in Wales. This route goes from the source of the river in the rugged landscape of the Cambrian Mountains above the ruins of the 12th-century Cistercian monastery of Strata Florida, to the sea at Poppit Sands.

Top 10 pilgrimage routes in Scotland

1 St Columba's Way — Iona to St Andrews‍

Traversing the whole width of Scotland, this route starts on the historic isle of Iona, burial grounds of the Kings of Scotland, and takes in wild glens, lochs and the mountain territories of Munro.

2 Edinburgh Cathedral Pilgrimage in a Day‍

Perhaps one of the most famous churches in Scotland is the mysteriously powerful Rosslyn Chapel where this route starts. Take in the unique iconography and legends surrounding this special place, as you make your way towards the heart of Scotland’s capital.

3 St Conan's Pilgrims Way — Dalmally to Iona

‍A route connecting two special places — Iona, where St Columba brought Christianity to Scotland, and Dalmally, where Columba's follower St Conan founded his community in the 7th century. A healing well devoted to Conan is in the village nearby.

4 Fife Pilgrim Way — Culross to St Andrews‍

Get to know the ancient kingdom of Fife, peaceful landscapes and rich wildlife. Pilgrims walked in their thousands between the Northern and Southern kingdom of Fife on their way to the great cathedral of St Andrews. The route is good for those who prefer not to go too far "off road" and is well waymarked.

5 Whithorn Way — Glasgow to Whithorn‍

Visit the wild places around St Ninian's cave overlooking the Irish Sea, and experience layers of Scottish heritage with a combination of hill-walking and coastal paths.

6 Forth to Farne Way — North Berwick to Lindisfarne‍

Mediaeval pilgrims walked this coastal route between St Andrews and Lindisfarne. The path visits sites from the earliest days of Christianity in Scotland and links beautiful places of human and natural creation, showcasing some of the most glorious coastal scenery that Northern Britain has to offer.

7 St Margaret's Way — Edinburgh to St Andrew's‍

Honouring Margaret, the Queen and Saint, this route shows evidence of Scotland's fiery past — volcanos and giant lava flows from millions of years ago. Holy Islands rise from the sea, such as Incholm, known as the 'Iona of the East.'

8 St Magnus' Way — Egilsey to St Magnus’ Cathedral‍

A pilgrimage inspired by St Magnus, Orkney's Patron Saint. It follows the path of his body after his mother pleaded for it to be returned from Egilsay to Birsay. Today the path ends at Kirkwall Cathedral, with its unique Viking inspired artwork.

9 Dalriada Way — Tarbert to Lismore‍

A route taking in thousands of years of Scottish history, from St Columba's Cave to iron age hill forts, castles, lochs and cairns down the west coast of Argyll & Bute.

10 St Wilfrid's Way — Hexham to Edinburgh‍

This route whisks you from the majestic Hexham Abbey to walk for two weeks along Hadrian's Wall, then down over the border through Rosslyn to Edinburgh. A remote pilgrimage that means you might walk for miles without seeing anyone or any signs of human activity.

King Charles' Christmas Day Broadcast, 2025

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