Walking the Pilgrim Ways

Through the ages, kings and paupers alike have travelled Britain's ancient pilgrimage routes to special, holy places such as the magical isles of Iona and Lindisfarne, the grand cathedral of Canterbury and St David's shrine, Pembrokeshire. Today's walkers, guided by this book, can follow in the pilgrims' footsteps along stretches of rugged Celtic coastline, Roman roads and prehistoric chalk ridgeways, and discover the many sites that have changed little over the centuries. Detailed maps and directions are provided to help walkers, cyclists and even motorists to trace the old routes and visit the places of interest along the way - from Iron Age hillforts to hospices and chapels. Colour illustrations are included with the intention of bringing the routes to life and recreating the spirit of each pilgrimage. The reader can see Romans casting votive offerings into the steaming spring of Aquae Sulis, Bath; a king's funeral cortege crossing the Sound of Iona; and the shrine of Thomas Becket as it would have appeared in 1250.