Grounded Pilgrim Retreat – Vivobarefoot x British Pilgrimage Trust

Grounded Pilgrim Retreat — Find New Meaning in Ancient British Wisdom

Book Tickets for Grounded Pilgrim Retreat - 1-6 May

Thu 1 May, 4PM - Tue 6 May, 2PM at Broughton Sanctuary in the Yorkshire Dales

You are invited to the second “VivoBarefoot Grounded Pilgrim Retreat” at the one-of-a-kind Broughton Sanctuary – ancient stately home meets luxury hotel meets 3,000 acre cosmic nature retreat with a cutting edge biophilic state-of-the-art wellbeing centre, ‘Avalon’ (2024 Top 30 “cool” destinations in the world by Nat Geo Traveller).

Each day we will venture out on daily pilgrim routes through the energetic landscape of the Yorkshire Dales, including Pendle Hill (the birthplace of Quakerism). The retreat will also include woodland dining, wild saunas and ice baths, morning yoga, natural celestial star navigations, and talks and song from world-leading grounding, fungi, nature connection and pilgrim experts.

Walking tours are for the body, pilgrimages are for the soul, and these are some of the most sacred lands in Britain.

Retreat Schedule:
Thursday 1st May – Broughton Sanctuary - Arrive, settle into your bedrooms and dine before setting your intention at the Door of Transformation, followed by a welcome and gathering at the Fire Temple.

Friday 2nd May – Malham Cove, 7 miles (map); After breakfast and transfer, we start our first day's waterfalls pilgrimage at Scaleber Force Waterfall before walking the ancient Stockdale Lane, a picturesque section of the St Alkelda's Way. Then we turn off to meet the stone Nappa cross, with far views of Malham Tarn lake. We then dive into the geologically dramatic Ing Scar, before cresting the limestone pavement of Malham Cove.
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After descending to the huge curving amphitheatre of rock below created by a glacial waterfall (painted by Turner), we progress to the quaint village of Malham and then through wild garlic filled fairy woods to the folklore-drenched waterfall of Janet’s Foss (perhaps taking a quick dip and head-refreshing torrent too). Then in the adjacent gorge we encounter an elemental crashing waterfall in the dramatic Gordale Scar. From here we will visit Kirkby Malham, the Cathedral of the Dales on the way back to Broughton.

Then dinner back at Utopia, Broughton Sanctuary's walled garden bistro, followed by lessons on grounding from Zach Bush, and songs from Guy Hayward in the Fire Temple.

Saturday 3rd May – Pendle Hill, 5 miles (map);



After morning yoga and a delicious breakfast, we will transfer to Downham to ascend the summit at Pendle Hill, where George Fox had a vision that inspired the founding of the Quaker movement (a spiritual path of simplicity, frugality and adventure that in turn inspired the Clark family cobblers that led to Vivobarefoot). Drink here from the deliciously refreshing holy wellspring from which Fox drank. Walk across the long ridge of this majestic hill. Then descend the valley of Boar Clough, where silence reigns and the nature spirits are in full force. Pass through woodland and dale before ending at Newchurch-in-Pendle, with which the Pendle Witches were associated.

After getting back in early afternoon, you may opt for the ice bathing, woodland sauna and hot tub experience, or relax and unwind in Avalon pool suite, with its clear swimming pool, hydro-massage pool, organic shaped sauna and steam rooms or book a treatment or a massage.
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Then a conversation with Jeff Krasno, dinner, a poetry and song moment in the Chapel, then chill time to be with new friends.

Sunday 4th May – River Wharfe 5 miles (map); Starting with morning yoga, we then transfer to Grassington Market Square, and visit an old traditional cobblers shop, before approaching the majestic Linton Church of Archangel Michael and its waterfalls in the immaculate Wharfedale valley, cross a walkers' suspension bridge and (optional) stepping stones, and tread the gentle Dales Way down the River Wharfe to the Saxon church of Burnsall. Then we will transfer to experience the sweetness of the inner space of medieval Bolton Abbey attached to majestic ruins, and will offer up in gratitude all that we have learnt.

At the end of all the walking, we will return to Avalon at Broughton and hear Rupert Sheldrake speak on morphic resonance before participating in a constellation with Jill Purce to help us ground ourselves better.

In the evening we will dine in the Cosmic Woodland at Broughton Sanctuary and then have a bit of a party.

Monday 5th May – Ancestor’s Pilgrimage, 2 miles (map): This early morning half-day pilgrimage will weave all the elements together. From the Fire Temple, walk silently through the enchanted Cosmic Wood to the Ancestors’ portal with our burning torches. Ascend the Ancestors’ 33 Generations Hill, and walk the spiral of stones, each stone representing one of your ancestors to end at the fire in the centre. We then rest in the afternoon before our final night odyssey to hear the song of the Curlew, accompanied by musician [XXX].

OPTIONAL Tuesday 6th May – Final Closing Ceremony, Mingle and Depart.

If you want to stay only four nights until Monday, please check that option in the form when buying your ticket. For the option of staying an extra night contact Joanne Barratt at Broughton Sanctuary.

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The Pilgrimage Experiences
We are a charity and our mission is to promote pilgrimage in Britain by helping to develop and publicise new and old paths as well as the practice of pilgrimage itself. We also suggest to pilgrims to ‘bring your own beliefs’.

Zach Bush MD is a physician specializing in internal medicine, endocrinology and hospice care. He is an internationally recognized educator and thought leader on the microbiome as it relates to health, disease, and food systems. Dr Zach founded *Seraphic Group and the nonprofit Farmer’s
Footprint to develop root-cause solutions for human and ecological health. His passion for education reaches across many disciplines, including topics such as the role of soil and water ecosystems in human genomics, immunity, and gut/brain health. His education has highlighted the need for a radical departure from chemical farming and pharmacy, and his ongoing efforts are providing a path for consumers, farmers, and  mega industries to work together for a healthy future for people and planet.

Rupert Sheldrake, PhD, is a biologist and author best known for his hypothesis of morphic resonance. At Cambridge University he worked in developmental biology as a Fellow of Clare College. He was Principal Plant Physiologist at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in Hyderabad, India. From 2005 to 2010 he was Director of the Perrott-Warrick project for research on unexplained human and animal abilities, funded by Trinity College, Cambridge.

Jill Purce is a British voice teacher, Family Constellations therapist, and author. In the 1970s Purce developed a new way of working with the voice, introducing the teaching of group overtone chanting, producing a single note whilst amplifying the vocal harmonics. She is a former fellow of King's College London, Biophysics Department and has produced over 30 books as General Editor of the Thames and Hudson Art and Imagination series. Between 1971 and 1974 she lived and worked in Germany with the composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. Since the early 1970s she has taught internationally-diverse forms of contemplative chant, particularly overtone chanting. For over twenty years she has been leading Family Constellations combined with chant. She is the author of The Mystic Spiral: Journey of the Soul a book about the spiral in sacred traditions, art and psychology, as well as numerous articles.

Jeff Krasno co-founded Commune Media, an online learning platform for personal and societal well-being and hosts the Commune podcast, interviewing a wide variety of luminaries from Deepak Chopra and Marianne Williamson to Matthew McConaughey. Jeff pens a weekly essay exploring spirituality, culture and politics that is distributed to over one million people.  In 2008, Jeff co-created the concept forWanderlust, a series of large-scale events combining yoga & wellness with the arts. Wanderlust became the world’s most recognized wellness events brand with 65 events in 20 countries. In 2016, he was selected by Oprah Winfrey to be part of the SuperSoul100 as one of the nation’s leading entrepreneurs. In 1995, Jeff married Schuyler Grant, his college sweetheart. Schuyler, a yoga teacher and director of Kula Yoga Project, served as the inspiration for Wanderlust. Jeff & Schuyler have three beautiful daughters, Phoebe, Lolli and Micah and live in Los Angeles, California.

One of your pilgrim guides, Dr Guy Hayward, is the Director of the British Pilgrimage Trust, which he co-founded in 2014 to promote the practice of 'bring your own beliefs' pilgrimage in Britain. He has been leading guided pilgrimages since 2016 and co-authored the book Britain’s Pilgrim Places. Hayward has been interviewed about modern pilgrimage for TV, Netflix, Radio 4 and he writes for the national media. Hayward completed a PhD at Cambridge on how singing forms community, co-founded the Choral Evensong Trust with Rupert Sheldrake to promote Britain's sacred choral tradition, and is half of comedy singing double act Bounder & Cad.

Fellow BPT team pilgrim Dawn Champion is a historian and keen naturalist with a deep love of the British landscape. Dawn studied history, archaeology and architecture before working for English Heritage and then the Wildlife Trusts. She volunteers for several charities that promote connection with the magic of nature.

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Grounding the Retreat
We are proud to announce a partnership with Vivobarefoot to promote the health benefits of barefoot grounded shoes.

This is a 'Bring your own Beliefs' pilgrimage, and will include: - New ways of meeting old pilgrim places (bring your own beliefs...) - songs on the
path - foraging - wild swimming - drinking of filtered wild water - opportunities for silence and musical rapture - engaging history and mythology.

During the retreat you will experience:

Avalon Pool Suite

• Swim in a 20m clear swimming pool looking out onto the adjacent woodland
• Nourish and relax the body in a Hydro-Massage Pool
• Cleanse the body in an Organic Shaped Sauna and Steam Room
• Allow peace and tranquillity to infuse your being in the Floatation Tank

Woodland Sauna, Ice Bathing and Wild Swimming Experience

• Enjoy a rejuvenating experience in the wood fired sauna, set amongst the trees in a magical woodland
• The heat will slow your mind, gently washing away stress and toxins.
• Combined with ice bathing in converted barrels and wild swimming, this is a most invigorating experience to soothe mind, body and soul.
• Connect with nature, nourish creativity, and have some great fun!

Fire Temple Celebration

• Set within a picturesque woodland, this sheltered wooden structure is perfect for an evening of sharing and celebration!‍

Bedrooms
Photos can be viewed here.
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‍FAQ’s

What does the ticket price include? All food, accommodation, the wild wellness experiences and guiding on pilgrimage are included, as well as a free pair of Vivobarefoot Grounded shoes.

Can I camp instead of staying in a room? If you would like to camp, there is an option but it is roughly the same price as a room, so we would recommend that.

What do I bring? Appropriate clothes and shoes; Swimwear; Waterproofs or Umbrella; Waterbottle.

How do I get to the start? Skipton train station is 10 mins taxi away. Car parking at Broughton Sanctuary.

Who can come? Anyone over 18 (or under 18 with parental guidance, bearing in mind the walking distance).

Is this religious? All and no-faiths are equally welcome. We operate a “Bring Your Own Beliefs” policy. We ask that all participating pilgrims tolerate one another, whatever their beliefs.

Will I be asked to share my feelings with the group? We like to keep things light and breezy, so there will be no group emotional sharing moments. If you want to share your feelings in personal conversation when walking with others that is up to you, but certainly not compulsory.

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. There are always plenty of escape points en route. But we will walk slowly, and start early, and 6-10 miles a day are manageable distances for the majority of people, and the terrain can be rocky in places but is not too steep. 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.

What does my money go towards?The British Pilgrimage Trust is a charity, and profits raised from this limited space event will enable the team at British Pilgrimage Trust to make it possible for everyone, of all means, to make pilgrimage themselves. For more details about our charitable activities, please click here. We will also distribute some of the profits to local organisations from whom we have benefitted along the path.

If you would like to make an additional donation to support British Pilgrimage Trust’s work, click here.

We hope to see you on the path.

Book Tickets for Grounded Pilgrim Retreat - 1-6 May