How to plan and start a pilgrimage in Britain

How to plan your pilgrimage in Britain, from route choice to rituals

Pilgrimage in Britain today is varied, accessible and not limited to traditionally religious sites — in addition to cathedrals, shrines and churches, it includes coastal paths, holy wells, ancient trees, stone circles and urban walks. Some routes take days or weeks; others can be walked in a single day. You can even create your own route. ‍

Bring your own beliefs. It's your journey.

Pilgrimage is less about the "how long", and more about why and how. You can turn any walk into a pilgrimage – set an intention, feel your connection as you move through the land, and give thanks at the end.

1 Choose your pilgrimage route

A pilgrimage doesn’t begin with the first step on the path. It begins with choosing a route, and an intention to begin. Your pilgrimage choice is your own to define in a way that is meaningful to you. You can walk it alone or in company, all at once, or a stretch at a time.  The path keeps no schedule but your own.

Browse routes on the interactive map‍

How to use the online pilgrimage map — search by location, route name or sacred place.

Filter by route type (One-Day, Anglican & Catholic Cathedrals, River, Folklore, Prehistoric, Sanctuary) or browse curated collections such as Cathedral Day Routes, The Old Way, Pilgrim Ways to Canterbury or Walsingham, Camino Inglés in Britain, Northern Saints Trails, St Thomas Way, and English Heritage Routes.

Consider starting with just one day‍

One-day pilgrimages: benefits and planning tips — over 90 one-day routes are available; even a single day can be enough to experience the full depth of pilgrimage.

Try a cathedral day pilgrimage as your first destination

‍Why walk a cathedral day pilgrimage? – Cathedrals are Britain's great pilgrim destinations and usually have good public transport options; arriving on foot transforms them.

Or create your own route to any place of meaning‍

Create your own route – a step-by-step guide to designing your own route. If you feel others could enjoy your route, submit it to us and use this resource to find out how.

Save the route to your profile‍

If you have registered with us as a Pilgrim, you can click the "save" button on the top right of any route page to save the route to your profile, so you don't lose it.

2 Plan your pilgrimage kit and gear

Pack lightly — and embrace it

Travelling light and simply is traditionally part of the practice. It comes easier for some than others, but it can be wonderfully liberating to keep things as simple as possible. FAQ: Planning and walking a pilgrimage and Tips for the Pilgrim Novice answers common questions on footwear, clothing, water, food and what to carry.

Read the novice tips for kit and practice

Tips for the Pilgrim Novice — specific kit recommendations (shoes, water purifier, battery pack, pilgrim staff) and how to read the landscape around you.

Consider getting a pilgrim passport

Consider getting a Pilgrim Passport — a pocket-sized booklet (£6.50, free UK postage) with 156 stamp slots for collecting impressions from churches, cathedrals, hostels and landmarks along the way. Works on any route and doubles as proof of pilgrim status, useful at some fee-paying destinations. Check your chosen route's listing first — some routes have their own dedicated passport scheme. Or you can simply use it to create your own notes along the way.

See also:
Bringing a dog?
Walking with illness or disability?

3 Plan accommodation (for multi-day routes)

Look up the Sanctuary Network

Sanctuary: low-cost places to sleep, recharge and meet the community — community-run overnight stays in churches and village halls, typically ~£15/night. The network is still growing and isn't nationwide yet; the resource shows which routes are better serviced than others. Where Sanctuary isn't available, see below for more options.

Explore all your accommodation options
How to plan accommodation on your pilgrimage — covers Sanctuary, route custodian lists, independent hostels, YHA, Champing in churches and travel companies.

4 Download your pilgrimage route and prepare to navigate

Find your route on your most trusted walking mapping app
The navigation guide explains everything, including how to open it in your mobile phone mapping app of choice (Outdoor Active, OS Maps and similar). Available on every route page on the this website, listed to the right of the route page. We've uploaded many of our routes to those apps to make it easy for you.
If you can't find your app, then you can download GPX files to import to your app of choice.

Download maps offline before you leave home
GPS works without signal, but you must download the base map while on wifi. Do this the night before — don't get caught out. The navigation guide explains more. This means that for those wanting a digital detox, you can navigate whilst on airplane mode without receiving messages or notifications, but still use navigation functionality.

Read the navigation guide
How to navigate a pilgrimage route — step-by-step guide for less experienced navigators covering phone apps, GPX files, offline maps, and how to read the landscape around you.

Pack a battery bank and keep one hand free for a pilgrim staff
Phone batteries drain fast on live mapping, so turn the 'live tracking' feature off if you can do without. A charged Anker-style battery pack is essential. A hazel staff propels you uphill, props you up on the way down, and marks you as a pilgrim like a theatrical prop.

5 Stay safe

Read the personal safety guide, especially if walking solo
Personal safety on a solo pilgrimage — practical, reassuring advice on preparation, confidence on the path, tracking apps (such as Hollie Guard) and staying aware without anxiety.

6 Practices and rituals along the way

Set an intention at the start of your journey
Dedicate your walk to something you want help with, or for which you want to give thanks — silently, or by lighting a candle, picking up a stone, or filling a holy water vial. New to the idea of an intention? What is pilgrimage? explains what an intention is, how to set one, and what pilgrimage means in a modern British context.

Practise in holy places along the route
Tips for the Pilgrim Novice — circumambulate a church before entering, lie down and look at the ceiling, sign the visitors' book, light a candle, and immerse in wild water spots.

Pilgrim rituals and practices guide
A dedicated resource on mini rituals and practices to engage with along the way.

Phone ahead to churches you plan to visit
If a church may not be open and you'd like a pilgrim stamp or visit the church, contact the church warden in advance — they appreciate knowing pilgrims are coming. There may even be a cup of tea waiting! (No promises...)

Further resources

Come on one of our events
British Pilgrimage Trust events — the easiest way to start; join a guided walk and experience pilgrimage with others before going solo.

Read more deeply — our booklist
Our recommended reading for pilgrims — a curated list of books on pilgrimage, sacred landscapes, natural navigation and walking in Britain.

Get the British Pilgrimage Trust book
Britain's Pilgrim Places — the definitive guide to pilgrimage sites and sacred landscapes across Britain.

When you get home, share what you found.
‍Leave a comment on your route page on the British Pilgrimage Trust website (you'll need to log in as a Pilgrim or Giving Pilgrim first). Your experience helps other pilgrims planning the same journey. You can also join our Facebook community to tell us how you got on and connect with fellow pilgrims.