[NOTE: Please take note of our event times for this weekend so nobody is disappointed]
All 12 churches of Barnard Castle Deanery are inviting walkers to join to become pilgrims as we walk the inaugural Teesdale Riverside Pilgrimage - two half days of walking with clergy attending as well as a qualified guide to help provide context to the beautiful scenery.
We begin the walking weekend at 9:30am on SATURDAY 10th from St Mary's, BARNARD CASTLE and talk past the stunning Egglestone Abbey, bringing together reflections from our clergy in attendance with knowledge as to the history of the route and to the area. Continuing onwards past beauty spot Meeting of the Waters, again where we pause for a spiritual reflection, we continue to meet at Whorlton to end day 1 where pilgrims can have their lunch and join a short service at St Mary's, WHORLTON - before a minibus takes them back to the start point for the day.
If Pilgrims choose to either join both days, or just on SUNDAY 11th - they begin the day at St Mary's, WHORLTON at 1PM and will be walking along the beautiful riverbanks as they proceed, pauses and reflections intermittently allowing our pilgrims to be reflective, as they proceed to the stunning nationally recognised small pilgrim church of St Andrew's, Winston (and have a tea stop!) before continuing alongside the River Tees as it winds past the storied Gainford Spa - a Victorian tourist attractions - as the route slowly winds its way to the historic and reverent site of St Mary's Well where the bearers of St Cuthbert's body were said to rest.
Following on from the pilgrimage concluding at St Mary's, GAINFORD around 4pm - after our reflections and pilgrimage pauses - we are running a celebratory service from 5:30pm to join the end of the Teesdale Riverside Pilgrimage weekend with the pilgrims in attendance who are to be departing on the Lindisfarne Gospels Pilgrimage on the Monday (this is also on BPT).
Please do come along and join either day, it's important you bring good footwear and a waterproof since the terrain has some challenges in places with stiles and some muddy crossings, but nothing a moderately fit walker won't handle with ease!
For our Event Weekend we are providing a minibus which is to return walkers at the end of each day (Barnard Castle to Whorlton on DAY 1, Whorlton to Gainford on DAY2 - the minibus returns you to the start point).
The route is to be split across two days to include services and reflection points from the clergy in attendance. The bus will be free but we are taking donations to cover some of our costs for providing this.
When walking the route at other times of the year - train journeys to the nearby town of Darlington are a short bus ride from Barnard Castle if you are utilising public transport.
There is a regular bus which runs from Barnard Castle and includes Winston and Gainford which are on our Pilgrimage Walk and allows you an easy return to your start position.
What To Bring
Suitable footwear for a rugged countryside walk given the conditions of the day
Lunch for Day 1 and some snacks for Day 2
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