Walk with purpose: 21 modern pilgrimage routes you can plan in OS Maps

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Walk with purpose: 21 modern pilgrimage routes you can plan in OS Maps

Published on April 1, 2026 13 min read

British Pilgrimage Trust routes are now accessible on OS Maps

We are excited to share that British Pilgrimage Trust routes are now accessible to plan with OS Maps. We asked the team at the Trust to choose their top three routes for different pilgrimage experiences. From quiet countryside to dramatic coastal routes, you can explore these paths with confidence using OS Maps on the web and in our app. Many British Pilgrimage Trust route pages already offer digital map files you can import when planning.

Why plan in OS Maps

View rights of way, contour lines and terrain – you can even watch a 3D Flythrough of the route. Save your route for offline use and print a paper map as a backup. Planning in OS Maps helps you shape distance, mark waypoints that matter, and build safe, achievable stages.

What is modern pilgrimage?

Modern pilgrimage is a meaningful walk to a place that matters. With a map as your guide, you move through landscapes, villages and histories at a human pace, not to rush, but to notice.

You bring your own beliefs; the journey does the rest. Pilgrimage in Britain today is varied, accessible and not limited to traditionally religious people or sites. It includes cathedral routes, coastal and river journeys, hilltop sites, holy wells, ancient trees, prehistoric stone circles and barrows, and urban walks. Some routes take days or weeks; others can be walked in a single day.

To read more about modern pilgrimage, read the following practical guides on the British Pilgrimage Trust website:

– What is Pilgrimage?
– How to plan and start your pilgrimage
– Practices and Rituals for the Path

A space that can hold grief, joy, transition and belonging

For me, pilgrimage begins with intentional walking, but becomes a space that can hold grief, joy, transition and belonging. It can be solitary or shared, spiritual or secular. At its fullest, it connects you to what feels sacred and allows you to be changed by what you encounter along the way. Daze Aghaji, Environmental Activist

21 inspiring walking routes in Britain for a modern-day pilgrimage

You don’t need to walk an entire route in one go. You could plan to complete a walk over various weekends throughout the year or choose a single stage that appeals. For each pilgrimage click the links to OS Maps to go straight to the Ordnance Survey route map or click through to the British Pilgrimage Trustwebsite for more detailed information about the route.

Scroll through and see all 21 or click the links below to go direct to the collection

Top 3 pilgrimage routes for coastal scenery
Top 3 pilgrimage routes for wildlife and birdwatching
Top 3 pilgrimage routes for heritage and sacred architecture
Top 3 quiet or mindful pilgrimage routes
Top 3 sunrise and sunset friendly pilgrimage routes
Top 3 most challenging pilgrimage routes
Top 3 pilgrimage routes for hill and mountain hikers

Top 3 pilgrimage routes for coastal scenery

1. North Wales Pilgrims Way (Wales)

Bardsey Island

A long time ago, pilgrims in their thousands were making their way to Bardsey Island, drawn to the place where the sun sets over the watery horizon at what seemed the end of the world. The route stretches along the Llŷn Peninsula, leading to Bardsey Island, known as the “Isle of 20,000 Saints” a major religious destination from the 6th century, featuring abbey ruins and monastic history.

This is coastal walking at its most elemental: wide sea views, quiet lanes, cliff paths and remote churches that have welcomed pilgrims for centuries. The rhythm of tide, wind and open horizon creates space for reflection, with the journey itself as meaningful as the sacred island destination.

Collect Stamps Along the Way!

“We really enjoyed this walk, its dramatic vistas were magnificent. Collecting the stamps along the way in the Pilgrims passport was interesting too and even better was the certificate available at the end of the walk. We undertook an additional section along the coast between Bangor and Pen Y Groes too. But note the mileages indicated are for the walk in total in one go! Access and egress to and from the walk to complete manageable sections will obviously add distance. We managed the majority of the walk using our own vehicle and or public transport walking around 12-15 miles each day. We’re now hope to connect to Holywell from Shrewsbury along St Winefride’s Way.” Brian R (BPT Website Review)

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2. Way of St Hild (NE England)

Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire

A striking coastal pilgrimage linking sacred sites associated with St Hild, the 7th-century abbess of Whitby, and the early Celtic church. Beginning in the Tyne Valley and opening out to the North Sea, the route culminates dramatically at Whitby Abbey, perched above the cliffs.

Expect expansive coastal paths, seabird-filled skies and big skies over open water, a journey shaped by early Christian history and the enduring power of the northern coast.

The natural seascapes at Staithes are overwhelmingly beautiful, and here you get a sense of the natural world that would have inspired Saxon Christians to deep devotion. At Runswick Bay, try to find an ammonite (St Hild’s symbol) for you to keep and carry as a token of good luck to your destination, or back home.

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3. Northern Pilgrims Way (Scotland)

Dunbeath Castle

A remote and powerful journey through the Scottish Highlands, connecting ancient chapels, wells and monastic sites along a wild northern coastline. This route combines rugged coastal stretches with sweeping inland views, where sea lochs, headlands and changing light create a deeply atmospheric experience.

Sparse, elemental and steeped in early Christian heritage, it offers a sense of solitude and continuity with generations of pilgrims who travelled these edges of Britain.

This route has 12th and 13th-century pilgrimage sites at either end and several ancient chapels and holy wells along the way. There is evidence of those earlier travellers in buildings, place names, folklore and written history – if you know where to look.

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Top 3 pilgrimage routes for wildlife and birdwatching

4. Triskelion Way (Isle of Man)

Maughold Lighthouse on the Isle of Man

A circular pilgrimage around the Isle of Man, weaving together coastlines, glens and keeills (semi-ruined 6th to 12th century chapels) as well as carved Celtic and Scandinavian stone crosses. Rich in wildlife, the route offers encounters with seabird cliffs alive with kittiwakes and gulls, choughs along coastal grasslands, and quiet inland valleys where streams and woodland support a gentler chorus of life. The clifftop views are breathtaking as you approach Peel and Maughold. Seals, cormorants and (in summer) basking sharks may make appearances too. The island’s compact scale creates a sense of wholeness, where nature, story and spirit are closely intertwined.

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5. St Magnus Way (Orkney, Scotland)

St Magnus Cathedral

A deeply atmospheric pilgrimage across Orkney, inspired by the life and death of Magnus, Orkney’s patron saint. These landscapes are alive with birdlife and coastal drama. In spring and summer, cliffs and offshore stacks host puffins, fulmars and guillemots, while curlews call across open farmland and skuas patrol the skies. Walking between Egilsay and Kirkwall, pilgrims move through a living tapestry of wildlife and history, culminating at the uniquely decorated St Magnus Cathedral.

An unforgettable experience…

“Walking the St Magnus Way, I felt deeply connected to the Island’s Neolithic, Pictish, Norse and medieval history, and to how those people experienced life in a place shaped by sea and wind. Today, there are still lingering echoes of World War II, which allowed me to explore my own family history. The weather in June was remarkable. Blue skies, white sands, and extraordinary bird life. An unforgettable experience.” Alice Lankester, Trustee, British Pilgrimage Trust

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Your route back to reality

The Official Ordnance Survey App

6. Wexford-Pembrokeshire Way (Wales and Ireland)

Coetan Arthur dolmen, ancient burial site near St Davids Head

A sea-crossing pilgrimage that revives ancient links between Ireland and Wales, the route follows in the footsteps of St Aidan’s sixth-century journey from Ferns in Ireland to meet his teacher and mentor, St David, in Wales. Beginning in County Wexford and continuing along the wildlife-rich Pembrokeshire coast, the route passes cliffs with seabird colonies of razorbills, guillemots and, in season, puffins. Seals and occasional dolphins can be spotted offshore.

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Top 3 pilgrimage routes for heritage and sacred architecture

7. Pilgrims’ Way to Canterbury (North Downs Pilgrims Way)

Winchester Cathedral

One of Britain’s most iconic pilgrimage routes, this ancient track leads to Canterbury Cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop and the shrine of St Thomas Becket. Along the way, pilgrims pass through a rich sequence of churches, gatehouses, and historic towns, where medieval architecture and centuries of devotion remain embedded in the landscape. The approach to Canterbury itself is a powerful culmination, a city shaped by pilgrimage for over 800 years.

Wonderful send off from Winchester Cathedral!

“Amazing walk completed in 11 days. Highly recommended. The route is really enjoyable and there are plenty of places to see on the way. Wonderful send off from Winchester Cathedral, they really do a great job to send you on your way with high spirits.” Dan C (BPT Website Review)

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8. Two Saints Way (North West and Midlands)

Dusk at ancient Stafford Castle

Linking the cathedral cities of Chester and Lichfield, this modern pilgrimage revives ancient paths between the shrines of St Werburgh and St Chad. The route is defined by sacred architecture: from Chester Cathedral’s monastic origins to Lichfield’s three-spired cathedral, the only English mediaeval Cathedral with three spires, known as the “Ladies of the Vale.” Along the way, pilgrims encounter parish churches, ruins and historic crossings that reflect the deep continuity of faith, movement and place across the English Midlands.

This was my first long distance walk and first pilgrimage and I certainty recommend it!

“I undertook the Two Saints Way Pilgrimage (The Way of St Chad) from Chester to Lichfield for Holy Week, arriving in Lichfield on East Sunday morning. I did it in 6 and 1/4 days at an average pace of 2mph. The route was great and starting in Chester meant the first day is completely flat along the canal… I certainly recommend emailing/calling the churches beforehand and arranging visits – I was made to feel most welcome at all the places of worship I visited; with lots of tea and biscuits as well as detailed tours of some churches! This was my first long distance walk and first pilgrimage and I certainly recommend it!” Craig B (BPT Website Review)

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9. St Winefride Pilgrim Trail (North Wales)

St Winefride’s Well in the Welsh town of Holywell one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in Great Britain dated to the 12th century and described as one of the seven wonders of Wales

A historic Welsh pilgrimage centred on St Winefride’s Well at Holywell, one of the oldest continually visited pilgrimage sites in Britain. Winefride (Welsh: “Blessed Stream”) was the daughter of a 7th-century Welsh prince, said to have been martyred on this site, where the spring is believed to have risen. Today, the well is enclosed within a remarkable late medieval stone shrine and remains a place of devotion and healing. The route connects a network of churches, chapels and sacred springs, culminating at this unique meeting of water, architecture and enduring pilgrimage tradition.

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Top 3 quiet or mindful pilgrimage routes

10. St Cuthbert’s Way (Scottish Borders to Lindisfarne)

St Cuthbert’s Cave where it is reputed that the monks of Lindisfarne hid St Cuthbert’s body following Viking raids on the island

A much-loved pilgrimage from Melrose Abbey to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, following in the footsteps of St Cuthbert. Crossing quiet farmland, river valleys and low hills, the route invites a steady, reflective pace, with long stretches of solitude. The final approach across the tidal causeway is both practical and symbolic, a mindful crossing shaped by time, tide and attention.

Such a variety of landscapes…

“I really loved having such a variety of landscapes so that every day offered something new – Eildon Hills, the lovely Tweed valley, the Cheviot moors and then the dramatic conclusion of Holy Island across the great causeway. I also loved all the historical sites en route and especially remember the romantic ruined abbeys of Melrose, Dryburgh and Lindisfarne. It was all woven together with a definite sense that we were connecting across the centuries with St Cuthbert’s memory.” Mark L, Pilgrim

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11. Aeron River Pilgrimage (Wales)

The River Aeron, Aberaeron

A gentle, contemplative journey following the the River Aeron from source to sea, tracing the natural flow of water through pastoral Welsh landscape. This is a pilgrimage in its simplest form: walking beside a river, listening, observing, and moving at the pace of the land. Small churches and quiet stopping places, including the home of Dylan Thomas, punctuate the route, offering moments for rest and reflection.

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12. Whithorn Way (Southwest Scotland)

Isle of Whithorn Waterfront

A peaceful pilgrimage through the rolling landscapes of Dumfries and Galloway to Whithorn, one of Scotland’s earliest Christian sites. The route is inspired by St Ninian, a fourth-century saint, miracle worker and possibly the first Christian missionary to Scotland. It unfolds through farmland, woodland and coastal stretches, with a sense of spaciousness and quiet rarely interrupted. Arriving at Whithorn Priory, pilgrims reach a place of long-standing devotion, where simplicity, history and stillness come together at journey’s end.

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Top 3 sunrise and sunset friendly pilgrimage routes

13. Glastonbury Way Pilgrimage (Somerset)

Glastonbury Tor Sunrise

A compact yet powerful pilgrimage through one of Britain’s most storied sacred landscapes, ideal for walking from first light to sunset, or taking the shorter route to arrive at dawn. Begin in the quiet of early morning, with mist rising from the Levels, and move through Glastonbury’s holy sites, Chalice Well, the Abbey, and up to the Tor, where sunrise and sunset views carry a timeless sense of ritual.

A harmonious weaving of time and place

“Glastonbury’s deepest offer is its weaving of time layers, narrative threads, harmonious balance and powerful sense of place that emanates from the land. The diversity of holy places and inclusivity and unity that are the core ideals of this community flows directly from the land itself and all that has happened, and been dreamed, here. Walking the Glastonbury Way pilgrimage in a day is the way to connect it all together.” Guy Hayward, British Pilgrimage Trust’s Co-founder

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14. The Old Way (Southampton or Winchester to Canterbury along South Downs)

View from South Downs Way marker post near Firle Beacon across to Swanborough Hill in the west, at sunset.

A long-distance pilgrimage designed for flexibility, allowing pilgrims to walk in stages and experience the changing light across southern England. From coastal dawns to golden evening descents from chalk ridges, the route’s 14 stages invite you to shape your journey around sunrise and sunset moments. Ancient trackways, hilltop churches and wide views create a constant dialogue between landscape and sky. You can also book low-cost accommodation in about 20 Sanctuaries along the route – visit the British Pilgrimage trust’s Sanctuary Network Page.

For me, this route has it all!

”For me, this route has it all, with coast, hill, woodland and city, the mix of landscape constantly offers you something new. Whether you go deep into nature or deep into history, the Old Way holds memories you can only experience on foot, and these show you a path deep inside yourself. From neolithic tracks to sacred mounds, Roman roads to Brythonic temples, Saxon saints, and one of the last Tudor pilgrims, this route is as much about pilgrims as it is for pilgrims.“ Dawn Champion, British Pilgrimage Trust’s Naturalist and Head of Community

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15. Dalriada Way (Scotland)

Rocky coast of Cuan Sound, Highland, Scotland

A journey through the ancient kingdom of Dál Riata, linking coast and glen across Scotland’s west. The route offers expansive horizons where sunrise and sunset stretch across sea lochs and rugged hills, often reflected in still water or shifting cloud. During long summer days there is a remarkable sense of spaciousness. This is a pilgrimage where light becomes a companion marking time, direction and the unfolding journey.

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Top 3 most challenging pilgrimage routes

16. The Eleanor Cross Way (Lincolnshire to London)

Historian Alice Loxton in Harby – the site of the death of Queen Eleanor

A demanding long-distance pilgrimage tracing the route of Queen Eleanor’s funeral procession, linking the surviving Eleanor Crosses from Lincolnshire to Westminster. This is a journey of scale and stamina, covering significant mileage across varied terrain, with each historic cross marking both progress and remembrance. The challenge is cumulative — physical, reflective, and deeply rooted in England’s royal and devotional history.

OS Maps app was my guiding light!

“It’s wonderful to see the Archbishop of Canterbury retrace the route from London to Canterbury and bring our medieval past to life. Pilgrimage is a wonderful way to connect with generations past, keep local history and traditions alive, and support heritage sites and routes. With the trials of our modern world, it’s no surprise pilgrimage has undergone a revival in recent years, and brilliant that each year it becomes practically easier to do. I recently walked 200 miles and the OS Maps app was my guiding light! Thank you, OS Maps!” Alice Loxton, aka “@history_alice”

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Walking History: Alice Loxton on the Trail of the Eleanor Crosses

17. Cornish Celtic Way (Cornwall)

Fowey – one of the coastal villages on this Cornish route

A rugged and elemental pilgrimage across Cornwall, linking ancient Celtic Christian sites through a landscape shaped by sea, moor and weather. Expect challenging coastal stretches, exposed paths and remote inland sections where navigation and resilience are key. The reward lies in the raw beauty of the journey and in reaching places that have drawn pilgrims to the far western edge of Britain for centuries. You can also book low-cost accommodation in about 20 Sanctuaries along the route – visit the British Pilgrimage trust’s Sanctuary Network Page.

Thoroughly enjoyed this walk.

“Thoroughly enjoyed this walk. A special thank you to all of the people involved in making the sanctuaries available which makes walking this route extra special.”Nev C (BPT Website Review)

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18. The Becket Way (London to Canterbury)

Aerial drone view of Ey

A substantial and purposeful pilgrimage from the heart of London to Canterbury Cathedral, following the story of St Thomas Becket. Beginning in the urban intensity of the capital and unfolding into countryside, the route demands both physical endurance and mental focus over multiple days. The final approach to Canterbury offers a powerful sense of arrival, earned through distance, persistence and intention.

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Top 3 pilgrimage routes for hill and mountain hikers

19. A Lakeland Pilgrimage (Lake District)

Striding Edge Sunrise

A mountain pilgrimage through the Lake District, linking valleys, passes and sacred sites within one of Britain’s most dramatic landscapes. The route – the result of 20 years of exploration by John Fleetwood – visits seven “natural cathedrals”: great rock formations such as Dove Crag, Great Gable and Pillar Rock that inspire awe in ways that rival built sacred spaces. Expect steep ascents, rugged paths and high-level views, where the physical effort of climbing becomes part of the spiritual rhythm.

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20. St Columba’s Way (Argyll & the Inner Hebrides)

Mouth of the River Noe, Loch Etive

A wild and remote pilgrimage across Scotland’s western seaboard, associated with St Columba’s journeys between Ireland and Iona. The route traverses rugged hills, moorland and coastal paths, often exposed to the elements, with constant shifts between land and sea. This is a challenging, elemental walk where mountain, weather and water shape the experience as much as the story itself.

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21. St Wilfrid’s Way (Hexham to Edinburgh)

Old Manor Bridge over the River Tweed near Peebles in the Scottish Borders of Scotland, UK.

A cross-border pilgrimage that rises through the uplands of northern England into the hills of the Scottish Borders, following the legacy of St Wilfrid. The route combines long-distance walking with demanding hill sections, open moorland and expansive views. Remote stretches and changing terrain require endurance and navigation, rewarding pilgrims with a powerful sense of journey through elevated landscapes and deep time.

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How to get started with OS Maps and BPT routes

Open OS Maps on web or app and search or zoom to any area of the UK. Tap Find routes, filter to partners, and choose British Pilgrimage Trust to see available routes. Premium users can download maps for offline use or print an A4 or A3 map as a back-up.

The OS Maps app must be one of the best used on my phone!

“The Ordnance Survey maps are a vital tool for any pilgrim on these shores. I’ve long used and recommended them, physical and digital. Indeed, the OS Maps app must be one of the best used on my phone. From the screen and out into the world.”

Luke Sherlock, aka @englishpilgrim

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