Athelstan Pilgrim Way
Southwest England
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The Athelstan Pilgrim Way isa new 100-mile walking and cycling route, linking all 36 historic churches in theNorth Wiltshire Deanery. The route has been developed by the North Wiltshire Mission Area, a Church of England initiative in the Diocese of Bristol. The route takes in some of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the historic churches range from Bremilham, the smallest church in England, to Malmesbury Abbey, a popular visitor attraction.
The route takes its name from the first King of a united England, Athelstan, a Christian ruler who chose Malmesbury as his capital and was buried in Malmesbury Abbey after his death in 939AD. The church communities in the area continue a long tradition of Christian worship, celebrating their heritage and rural roots.
The route comprises a circular trail around each of the six benefices, with connecting links between them. In view of its size, the initiative is being developed in stages, with the first two benefice sections being included in the 30 June launch, and the other four sections following over the next 12 months.
Full details are available on our website: https://athelstanpilgrimway.org/ and we also have a Facebook page, 'Athelstan Pilgrim Way'.
The first two circular sections are 'Malmesbury & Upper Avon' (13 miles) and 'Gauzebrook (19.6 miles). The routes are now publicly available on the Ordnance Survey Maps app as:
· ATHELSTAN PILGRIM WAY: Malmesbury & Upper Avon
· ATHELSTAN PILGRIM WAY: Gauzebrook
The links to the routes on Ordnance Survey are:
Route highlights
Location
Nearby Places
Nearby Sanctuaries
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‘Britain’s Pilgrim Places’: Our Book
This place is one of hundreds featured in our book Britain’s Pilgrim Places, a book that captures the spirit of 2,000 years of history, heritage and wonder.
Proceeds from sale of the book directly support the British Pilgrimage Trust, a non-profit UK charity. Thank you.
Discover holy places, and bring your own beliefs.
Pilgrimage by foot is connected with places and landscape, and how those places make you feel. Read about holy places.
At the British Pilgrimage Trust, we believe a pilgrimage should be made on an individual’s own terms. We are founded on the principle that we can all bring our own beliefs to the journey, accessible and welcoming to all.
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Tom Jones
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Tom Jones
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