Finchale Camino Inglés to Finchale Priory, via Durham Cathedral

Camino Inglés to Finchale Priory

Finchale Priory (via Durham Cathedral) to Escomb Saxon Church – 2-3 days, 22 miles

‍This route is a recognised English section of the Camino de Santiago, starting at the port city of A Coruna, where medieval pilgrims arrived from England.

The Spanish section of the Camino Inglés begins at the port city of A Coruna where, historically, medieval pilgrims arrived from England. Your two-day pilgrimage ends at Finchale Priory, where St Godric, who was the first recorded British pilgrim to Santiago, set out from.

But first, you begin your journey at the Saxon church of Escomb in Northern England, the oldest complete Saxon church in England, with a circular graveyard (possibly denoting Bronze Age origins), also home to the oldest Sundial in Britain still in its original position and a magical Tree of Life carved into the church wall next to the altar.

Following the flow of the River Wear, you approach Bishop Auckland: a market town and civil parish in County Durham. Within the town is Auckland Castle, once the home to the Prince Bishops of Durham, who were more like Kings (with armies) rather than holy men. The castle houses 12 out of 13 of Francisco de Zurbarán’s “Jacob and his twelve sons” paintings, a series of life-size portraits he painted between 1641 and 1658. The Bishop Auckland restoration (recently powered by Jonathan Ruffer) is a sight to behold in this coal mining district, with the Tower and Miners' Gallery in addition to the new and fabulous art gallery. You collect your Camino Ingles pilgrim stamp at the Tower, and continue on your journey, walking through the Weardale valley alongside Binchester Roman Fort, through Bellburn Wood, now full of bluebells, onward to Durham Cathedral.

Along the way in Byers Green was born Thomas Wright, an 18th-century astronomer who was the first to describe the Milky Way. Next in Whitworth, Bobby Shafto of folk song fame was born and buried in Whitworth. The local family was Shafto. Then, maybe (if you ask permission) spend the night in Sunderland Bridge, sleeping in the church. At Mount Joy, after climbing the 224 'Steps of Doom' you first set eyes on your destination.

Arriving at the breathtaking cathedral, you are hit not only by its beauty and looming position, but its history and story creation too. Holding no less than three copies of the Magna Carta, Durham Cathedral is also the home of the Shrine of St Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede.

Cuthbert lived as a monk, bishop, and then hermit, on Holy Island, Lindisfarne, and became a saint in 698. He is the North of England’s best-loved saint and was loved by animals too. Fleeing Lindisfarne after a Viking invasion in 793, the monks transported his incorruptible body and extraordinary relics for years, finally settling in Durham because his coffin got stuck in the mud, and a monk had a dream, which were both considered signs. (Read more about St Cuthbert on the Durham Cathedral Pilgrimage in a Day route.)

From Durham, you walk the Weardale Way past a maximum security prison for the most serious criminals, to the spectacular ruins of Finchale Priory, where the 12th-century pirate-turned-hermit Godric lived for 60 years, praying in the River Wear and rescuing stags. He also channelled songs composed by the Virgin Mary in his dreams!

Hear BPT’s Guy singing his 'Sainte Marie' song during a BPT guided pilgrimage at Finchale Priory. This is the oldest song in England where words and music are next to each other.

Finchale Priory is where Godric made one of the earliest recorded pilgrimages from England to Santiago in Northern Spain and is where your journey ends on this pilgrimage. Perhaps get in the River and wash off the journey, remembering the intention with which you started your pilgrimage.

See below for advice on logistics, and read info boxes on Google Map (below) waypoints for more info.

For a one-day route

For a one-day route, start at St Mary's & St Cuthbert's Church in Chester-Le-Steet, and walk to Durham Cathedral. This is about 8 miles, and takes in Finchale Priory.

You can also use the Durham Cathedral Pilgrimage in a Day route.

Friends of Finchale Camino

A route description is available by emailing the Friends of Finchale Camino.

Visit the Association of English Cathedrals for more information.

This route from Escomb to Durham was created by David Pott, who also created the Two Saints Way, and the section from Durham to Finchale is managed by the Friends of Finchale Camino.

Route Outline

• Day 1 – Short walk from Escomb to Bishop Auckland and visiting Auckland Castle, Spanish Art Galley, Mining Art Gallery etc. Currently only the Mining Art Gallery is open to visitors. Castle and Spanish Gallery to open later in 2019.
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• Day 2 – Walk from Bishop Auckland to Durham.
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• Day 3 – Cathedral, Open Treasure Museum, Castle and other Durham places in morning, and afternoon walk to Finchale Priory.

Distances (in miles)

• Escomb – 0
• Bishop Auckland – 2.2
• Bellburn Wood – 2.3
• Whitworth – 3.2
• Tudhoe – 2.3
• Sunderland Bridge – 2
• St Oswald’s – 3.6
• Durham Cathedral – 0.8
• Finchale – c. 4 miles

Logistics - Travel

Start: Train to Bishop Auckland station, then taxi to Escomb Church start, or No 86 bus, hourly, from Bishop Auckland. Buses do not run on Sundays. If Escomb church is locked, you can retrieve the key which hangs on the wall at No. 28, Saxon Green, north of the church.

End: Taxi from Finchale Priory (just across the river), or bus 62 from HMP Frankland (a short walk from Finchale Priory, but not on Sundays) to Durham (where there’s a train station).

Stamps

Pilgrim Passport available from Keith Taylor of the Friends of Finchale Camino. Stamps available in Auckland Tower, Durham Cathedral and Finchale Priory. If walking the 75km Camino Inglés from A Coruna to Santiago, and you get all three stamps in County Durham, you can use these officially-recognised stamps towards obtaining your Santiago Compostela certificate, as they prove you have walked 25km in UK, to total the 100km needed.

Accommodation

• ‍‍First night – Bishop Auckland, Binchester, Byers Green, Whitworth.
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• Second night – Durham.
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• *(Sunderland Bridge is possible first night stop if doing 2-day version of route).
  

Terrain

Footpaths, fields and small sections of road. Click for guidance by Ramblers and UK Government on how to walk on roads.

Songs

If you would like to sing/listen to medieval chants dedicated to St Cuthbert and written by St Godric of Finchale. Please contact us via the Contact form to receive scores.

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