Mary Michael Pilgrims Way

Cornwall, Devon, Somerset

A new (2011) pilgrimage route in development across England, from Cornwall to the Norfolk to be walked as a whole or in sections, by people of any faith or none

The proposed route will extend from the cliff tops of West Cornwall at Carn Les Boel near Land's End to Hopton on the Norfolk Coast. The pilgrimage will be an integrated whole that can also be walked in sections with all the infrastructure and support necessary to make it accessible for people who might otherwise lack the confidence to undertake such a journey. It is intended to appeal to people of any faith or none.

The pilot project of 140 miles was completed in 2011 with waymarking and a guidebook for this section of route from Brentor to Glastonbury. This has since been complimented with a guidebook for the Cornish section from the start at Carn Les Boel which links up with the existing route at Brentor. You can download a copy of these two guidebooks or join one of the guided group pilgrimages, for which information is on the route's website, or contact the organisers. The third leg of the pilgrimage from Glastonbury to Avebury takes the walker almost midway across the country and a new guidebook including the route from Brentor to Avebury was published in 2015.

Places visited on route in Cornwall include the ancient stone circles of Boscawen-un and the Hurlers; peaceful holy wells such as Alsia and St Neot and intimate parish churches like that at Germoe. There is also the famous landmark of St Michael's Mount. These and many other sacred sites are set within the context of beautiful scenery: including stretches of coastal footpath; secluded river valleys and the wild expanse of Bodmin Moor. A rich feast which we hope will inspire and nourish the spirit as pilgrims walk right up through the Cornish peninsula and cross the river Tamar into Devon, before connecting with our pilot project start point at Brentor.

The Brentor to Glastonbury section has a nice symmetry from Tor to Tor, connecting the wild beauty of Dartmoor with the mythical Isle of Avalon. Along the way are numerous sites to inspire or nourish the spirit, including churches and holy wells, wayside crosses and standing stones, burial mounds and hill forts. The landscape of the pilgrimage ranges from some of the highest points in southern England, to the unique wetlands of the Somerset Levels. Between it passes through the rolling hills of Devon's heartland, along river and canalside paths and through historic market towns such as Crediton and Tiverton.

The route makes use of open access moorland, footpaths and by-ways where possible, with walking on lanes only where necessary. None of the route is on main roads. Route galleries are on the route website.

The Earth Energy currents identified by Hamish Miller and Paul Broadhurst and described in their book The Sun and The Serpent are being followed in developing this project. They give a coherence to the route connecting many sites associated with pre-Christian earth based spirituality such as Avebury Stone Circle, as well as centres of Christian pilgrimage including St Michael's Mount and Glastonbury, which was known as the second Rome because of its prominence as a destination for pilgrims in the Middle Ages. Cooperation from The Dartmoor National Park Authority and Devon and Somerset County Councils has enabled some way markers along the way at strategic points.

Mary Michael Pilgrim's Way is a not for profit organisation, supported by voluntary effort and funded by personal donations and grants from the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund, Cooperative Community Fund and Elmgrant Trust.

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Details:

Path Type:	Other Paths
Waymark:	Plaque with project logo on oak plaques (strategic points on Brentnor-Glastonbury part only))
Attributes:	Average Gradients Pilgrimage
Start:	SW357232 - Carn Les Boel, near Land's End, Cornwall
Finish:	SU102699 - Avebury, Somerset
Open Date:	2011
Web Sites:	Mary Michael Pilgrims Way Independent Hostels UK - Land's End Trail and Mary Michael Pilgrims Way Accommodation Dartmoor firing times

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

External download	Mary Michael Pilgrims Way - Cornwall Section  (Mary Michael Pilgrims Way  - 2012 )
External download	Mary Michael Pilgrims Way - Brentor to Avebury  (Mary Michael Pilgrims Way  - 2015 )

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