THE CORNISH PILGRIMAGE
Founded in Honour of Cornwall Hospice Care.
Originated in 2010, the Pilgrimage is largely perceived as an Ancient and Modern Discovery Trail aimed at delving deep into the Cornish culture. Participating in the Pilgrimage each year also enables ‘we locals’ to raise awareness and funds for Cornwall Hospice Care. Throughout the entirety of the journey, there are CHC collections jars in place at most of our stopovers/hostelries where patrons are happy to support this worthy cause. Local support is invaluable but it’s also good to know that the pilgrimage invites the wider public to come along and offer a help in hand too. To the bold adventurer opportunities are boundless.
The pilgrimage offers a chance to discover an iconic region while at the same time test one’s ability to walk long distance.
It may also prove rewarding to know that your efforts may even make a positive impact on a local charity. Justgiving is one effective way of achieving this goal and it takes little effort to set up a fundraising page. The charity needs 8 million pounds per year to provide palliative care: every penny matters - so please come along and help us!
Using the booklet guide available on the EBOOKS Section of this website and the information below, will help provide an interesting journey of discovery of this intriguing Celtic Kingdom. We also hope to launch a 2-hour video of the entire Cornish Pilgrimage from this website in the near future.
PREPARATION
SAFETY
To undergo a pilgrimage, whatever the distance, requires commitment and planning. Most of this pilgrimage follows way-marked trails, old tramways and public footpaths which exist in their own right. But as with all modern day treks, the journey inevitably traverses some busy roads, especially near towns. Speeding vehicles along minor roads is another concern, and I feel new legislation will soon be required to reduce speed limits when driving along waymarked routes/cycle trails (often they are used as shortcuts!). Please research this pilgrimage thoroughly and take care when encountering all roads in Cornwall! I can’t emphasise this enough as even the slim winding lanes along the Saints Way are found to be busy in this modern age. I have also encountered some hazardous sections along the Cornish Way National Cycle Route too, though thankfully not on this pilgrimage. Nonetheless, we have recently improved the pilgrim routes between Langdon Cross and Launceston (phase 1); Tregadillet to Altarnun, (phase 2), hence avoiding the A30 and all other main roads. The greater journey along established and well-maintained trails offers a quieter, fulfilling experience adorned with ancient landmarks that are uniquely symbolic of Cornish life.
PASSPORT: ‘Passports to walk’ can be downloaded from this website. Stamps/signatures for this document may be obtained at some churches and tourist offices. Authentication may also be officiated at any facilities that you have visited or stayed at during the course of the journey. A signature will do!
EQUIPMENT: Always take water and some food as towns are few and far between. It is essential to have good boots for terrain and waterproofs for the ‘UK Summer Season’.
A light tent offers greater flexibility when choosing a night stopover and will considerably cut down the cost of accommodation. Please note that Cornish B&B rates are more expensive between May and September!
