St Aelred's Pilgrim Trail

St Aelred's Pilgrim Trail - 41 miles, 3-4 days

Also in 7 stages of 1.5 - 7 miles each

Aelred of Hexham (also known as Aelred of Rievaulx), was and English Cistercian monk and writer who was Abbot of Rievaulx from 1147 until his death. He wrote several influential books of history (including his life of Edward the Confessor) and spirituality, with his book on spiritual friendship considered to be greatest work. Aelred was born in Hexham, Northumbria and lived and died at Rievaulx.

This is a pilgrimage accessible to walkers, cyclists and horse riders, linking the churches of Upper Ryedale and Helmsley with Rievaulx Abbey. The team creating and wayfinding the route have built a comprehensive website here which breaks the pilgrimage up into 9 stages of 1.5 - 7 miles each.

The pilgrim trail links five historic rural churches of Upper Ryedale (Bilsdale, Hawnby, Old Byland, Scawton and Cold Kirby) with the Church of All Saints Helmsley and the 19th century Methodist Church, together with the historic hamlet churches of St Mary Magdalene, East Moors, the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, and Rievaulx.

You can find the walking trail stages of the route on the official Saint Aelreds Pilgrim Trail website here. The website there is full of detailed information and photographs. The website also offers riding and cycling trails.