Peak Pilgrimage

Peak Pilgrimage, Peak District – 39 miles – 4 days – Ilam to Eyam

‍Find soul-healing in the heart of England walking from Ilam to Eyam through the beautiful Peak District National Park, with its clean wildness. Experience peaks, dells and national nature reserves, the twelve churches along the way, and culminate in a celebration of the heroism of the people of Eyam who, as a united village, isolated themselves during the 1665 plague, which meant many more died in the village but the spread of the disease was halted.

The start, Ilam, has been a place of pilgrimage since the days of the Saxon St Bertram, whose gripping life story ended up with him living as a hermit in Ilam.

From his tomb you walk through the breathtaking Dovedale, meeting the primitive, tiny Milldale Methodist Chapel, on to Alstonefield and its excellent pub The George, and then down the dramatic Gipsy Bank, on to Hartington through Wolfscote Dale up the valley of the Dove. Hartington Hall Youth Hostel is a good place to rest.

Then it’s along the old railway track ‘Tissington Trail’ to the picturesque village of Monyash, and the pristine and wildlife-rich Lathkil Dale, a secluded piece of old wild England.

Next, the only town on the route, Bakewell, home of the tart and much more, before heading over the Calton Pasture, with a view over Capability Brown’s Chatsworth House landscape, before arriving at Edensor Church, the family church of the Devonshires, then through the grounds of Chatsworth to the lively village of Baslow.

Then it’s a choice of going up river, gently, or up to the magnificent stone-lined ridge of Curbar and Froggatt Edge.

St Martin’s Church at Stoney Middleton is in the shape of an octagon, then the path becomes steep up to Eyam via the boundary stone associated with the Eyam plague of 1665 until you arrive at your destination, St Lawrence’s Church, which commemorates the love shown by their sacrifice.

Highlights

• ‍A route inspired by the folk example of sacrifice for the common good
• Immensely beautiful Peak District for the whole route
• Fairytale landscapes of Dovedale and Lathkil Dale
• Plentiful dining and accommodation given the remoteness

The story of Eyam and the plague

Every last Sunday in August, the village of Eyam in Derbyshire commemorates Plague Sunday. In 1665, when the plague arrived from far-away London, Eyam’s vicar William Mompesson encouraged the village to isolate itself to save neighbouring villages. 260 lives were lost in Eyam — a village of 350 people.

Families could not have funerals, but instead buried their own dead near their homes. But the plague did not spread. At nearby Riley, Mrs Hancock buried her husband and six children in the space of 8 days. The Riley graves, as they are known, can still be seen.

On every last Sunday in August since 1905, the village of Eyam commemorates the plague victims with a very special service. To learn more: https://www.eyam-museum.org.uk/eyam

Holy Places along route listed in our book Britain’s Pilgrim Places: Eyam; Bakewell; Ilam.

Low-cost hostels along route

‍Ilam YHA, Alstonefield Barn, Alstonefield YHA, Hartington YHA, Sheen, Hurdlow, Haddon Grove, Great Longstone, Eyam YHA, Bretton, Great Hucklow and others nearby; and across region.

See the official guidebook for the Peak Pilgrimage

See a map of independent hostels along the Peak Pilgrimage route.