What is pilgrimage?

How this ancient practice finds modern meaning in Britain

As a charity promoting pilgrimage in Britain as cultural heritage for holistic wellbeing, we often reflect on its meaning. Since our founding in 2014, we’ve sought to define pilgrimage as a modern, inclusive practice, asking people to 'bring your own beliefs'. Walking alongside people of all faiths and none we’ve witnessed time and again the transformative power of pilgrimage. 

Here, we explore the essence of pilgrimage and why today it still remains a deeply meaningful experience.

A Pilgrimage is a journey for the soul

Pilgrimage (n.): A transformational journey on foot to holy/wholesome/special places with trust and purpose, but without expectation. Etymologically, the word pilgrimage comes from the Latin peregrinus meaning ‘being away from your own land or home’.

At its heart, pilgrimage is a journey, usually (but not always) on foot, along a path often to a sacred place. On the journey, a pilgrim combines walking with seeking new insights about themselves, others, or the world around them. Pilgrimage invites the pilgrim to step outside their daily life and enter a space of reflection, discovery, and transformation.

We encourage a pilgrim to begin with setting an intention. How?

Reflect on something in your life. Maybe you are seeking clarity on a question or decision you may have. Maybe you are at a significant life transition. Or maybe you are simply wishing to present in the moment. This intention travels with you, even if you do not consciously think about it every step of the way.

The British context: walking in the footsteps of this land’s ancestors

When pilgrimage is mentioned, people often immediately think of the Camino de Santiago, or places such as Lourdes, or the impressive Hajj annual pilgrimages. Yet there is a important story to tell of pilgrimage in Britain, which has been walked by countless pilgrims over millennia.

Beyond the better-known routes like the Pilgrims' Way, and the paths to Canterbury, Walsingham or Lindisfarne, Britain is a land rich with historical and sacred sites. Blessed with over 140,000 miles of public access footpaths, bridleways and byways, Britain offers wonderful variety: from the rolling hills of the North and South Downs, to the ancient paths of the Welsh borders, and from the spiritual centre of Glastonbury to the wild and rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands, Britain's landscapes are imbued with stories of saints, myths, and legends. Destinations or themes for routes can range from cathedrals to river sources and mouths, where your ancestors are buried, and starts and ends of geological ridges like the Ridgeway.

Holy places: connecting with the sacred

The concept of holy places is central to the practice of pilgrimage. 

The word ‘holy’ is a loaded term these days but, coming from the Old English halig, it means anything which makes you feel wholesome, healthy, or holistic.

Holy places are locations that hold a special spiritual, historical, or cultural significance. In Britain, holy places can be ancient stone circles, medieval churches, cathedrals, natural springs, wells, a quiet grove of trees or even a modern farm that uses sustainable and biodiverse practices.

Each place carries a sense of the sacred, offering you a chance to pause, reflect, and feel a connection to the past, and to the divine, however you conceive it.

For instance, the healing waters of Chalice Well in Glastonbury have drawn pilgrims for millennia, seeking both physical and spiritual healing. 

Similarly, places like Iona in Scotland, Lindisfarne in Northumberland, and the shrine of St. David in Wales are steeped in devotional history and offer spaces for reflection and connection.

The British Pilgrimage Trust's guide to holy places invites you to explore these places, not with rigid expectations but with an openness to what each place might offer in terms of personal insight or transformation.

Practices and rituals on the pilgrimage path

There’s joy in stepping away from the busyness of life to walk for oneself, embracing the unexpected—who you meet, what you discover, and how you feel.

On your pilgrimage, we encourage you to travel light, both in terms of societal expectations, expectations of yourself, and the pack on your back. Focus on your surroundings—the sounds, sights, and smells. Bring your spirit of adventure. Embrace joy in the simplicity of walking.

Pilgrimage often incorporates rituals along the way. We have seen pilgrims engage in a variety of activities that deepen their experience: setting an intention, walking in silence, singing, praying or performing acts of gratitude. 

Traditional practices might include lighting a candle in a church, leaving a natural token, tying cloth at a sacred tree, or taking a moment to meditate by a holy well. Some people circumambulate a church or holy place before entering. Others might bring a stone or natural token along on a journey to place at the destination or at a special place along the way. Click to read about more practices.

Many holy places, churches particularly, are managed and cared for by volunteers. Signing the visitor’s book and leaving a donation as a token of your gratitude is always appreciated by local communities.

Rituals need not be elaborate, but when they come from a place of gratitude, sincerity and joy they work best.

Bringing you own beliefs to pilgrimage

While traditional pilgrimages were often undertaken for religious reasons, today's pilgrimages in Britain are open to all, regardless of faith or spiritual background. This inclusivity aligns with the ethos of the British Pilgrimage Trust, which believes that pilgrimage is for everyone, regardless of belief.

While a Christian pilgrim might walk with prayers or reflections on the life of saints, someone with a love for nature might find inspiration in the landscape itself, seeing the divine in the beauty of a sunrise or the sound of a rushing stream. Others might use the time for personal meditation, contemplation of life’s big questions, or simply to find peace and quiet away from the noise of everyday life.

The health and wellbeing benefits of pilgrimage

Beyond the spiritual and personal growth aspects, pilgrimage offers tangible health and wellbeing benefits. Walking, as an integral part of pilgrimage, provides moderate physical exercise which can deepen over longer distances, and this improves cardiovascular health, reduces stress, and boosts overall mood. Spending time outdoors, especially in natural settings, has been shown to lower anxiety levels, enhance creativity, and promote a sense of calm and relaxation.

Pilgrimage nurtures mental and emotional wellbeing. The act of walking, often for extended periods, allows for a meditative state where thoughts can flow freely, leading to new insights and a greater sense of clarity. Pilgrims often report feeling a deep sense of peace, a connection to the land, and a renewed perspective on life after their journey. For some, it can be a healing process, offering time and space to process emotions, grief, or life transitions.

The modern therapeutic industry is fragmented into many specialised and discrete therapies, but fortunately pilgrimage offers a single process or container that ties all our needs together: physical, emotional, mental, environmental, social and spiritual. 

A pilgrimage is your own personal path

While our charity seeks to build a comprehensive library of ancient and new routes and places as inspiration, there is no requirement for a pilgrimage to be along a prescribed path. It’s your path so make it your own.

You might design your own pilgrimage route, either drawing from holy places and sacred landscapes across the country, or to and between places that simply have meaning to you, from your past or from your ancestors’ histories. Use the opportunity of pilgrimage to connect with sites that resonate with your beliefs or curiosities.

You also don’t need to travel far or dedicate weeks of your life to experience the benefits of pilgrimage. A simple daily walk can be transformed into a pilgrimage by setting an intention and being mindful of your surroundings. 

Walking is for the body, pilgrimage for the soul

For us at The British Pilgrimage Trust, the phrase "Walking is for the body, pilgrimage for the soul" resonates.

Whether you’re seeking a new way to explore the natural beauty of Britain, looking for a spiritual or personal journey, or you simply want to step outside of your routine, we see pilgrimage offering an ancient path with modern relevance. It is an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of our shared land’s ancestors, to connect with holy places and, we hope, to discover something profound about yourself and the world around you. 

As you set out on this journey, remember that there is no right or wrong way to make pilgrimage—only your way, guided by your beliefs, your intentions, and the path that your feet follow.

For more reading

We have gathered here some of our favourite books, including those that our pilgrim community has shared with us. (If you have others, please connect with us on social channels to share your suggestions.)

For researching routes and places across Britain, we recommend two books in particular: Britains Pilgrim Places and Magical Britain.

And finally...

Please share what you have learned! Connect with us on our social channels Plus, there's an place for comments on every route and place page on this site. We read all your comments, and fellow pilgrims love to hear what others have found. Thank you.

“There are lots of different types of pilgrimage, there are as many reasons for making pilgrimage as there are pilgrims. Fundamentally, it’s a journey in foot with purpose to holy, wholesome or special places. The world holy just means whole, holistic, healthy from the Old English ‘halig’. We say “bring your own beliefs.” It’s a practice. It’s not really about what you believe. It’s about what you do. It’s walking between these special places. They can be churches, cathedrals, as you’d expect from religious pilgrim. But from the non-religious, nature-based side, it’s ancient trees, holy wells, the prehistoric stone circles, the caves, islands, hilltops, waterfalls. All these places are potentially pilgrim places. You set your destination and intention, and then you walk.”

Dr Guy Hayward speaking to BBC Radio 4, to coincide with the launch of the BBC2 TV series “Pilgrimage” in 2023.