Pilgrim Ways to Walsingham - Cley-next-the-Sea to Walsingham

Pilgrim Ways to Walsingham: Cley-next-the-Sea to Walsingham – 16 miles, 1 day (Google Map Red Line)

(Alternative start from Morston, 11 miles.)

Cley/Blakeney Harbour was the most used port on the Norfolk coast in the medieval era, and therefore many pilgrims would have stepped off boats here onto land in order to walk the final stage of their journey to Walsingham.

This route starts at the great church of St Margaret’s in Cley, a popular harbour next to Blakeney, and then next its the ruined hermitage of Blakeney at the threshold point of the sea shore, turns inland at the Freshes, where the River Stiffkey meets the sea, then it’s through the magical landscape of Cockthorpe Common, then a land of disused WWII airstrips before meeting Binham Priory, a ruined Benedictine monastery that would have given hospitality to passing pilgrims just before they arrived at Walsingham.

Then make your way to the destination, the marked spot on the ground where Richeldis de Faverches had her vision of the Holy House of Nazareth, in Walsingham Abbey Gardens.

To start, nearest train station is Sheringham, then catch Coasthopper bus to Cley/Blakeney.