Pilgrims ways

[Patrickpioneer]

Not all that long ago I read Bettina Selby's book about when she rode the Camino way. I did a google on other pilgrims ways and there are loads, even here in North Wales there is a pilgrims way. makes a lot of sense there are so many when you think about it.
So have you ever been a pilgrim on your bike and where?
BTW this also got me thinking about drovers roads which is another interesting thing to read about.
take care
Pat

[gaz]

Short thread, may be of interest.

Edit: Another here.

[Cunobelin]

A regret?

Maybe...

My wife and I set a project to cycle the UK and have completed the English Borders, several forays into Scotland, Wales and multiple cross Country routes


There was something satisfying sat in a pub in Inverness and realising that you had cycled there from Portsmouth along both East and West coasts We have also cycled (or walked) many Pilgrims ways in the uK

However over the last ten years cycling has been limited by disability for both of us (my wife is now in a wheelchair, and my new hip is an improvement, but t'other one is still. al limiting factor)

We have maintained our adventure by other means. We are now limited to Public Transport, Flights, Cruises and Tours. We have achieved 78 degrees North and Rome as our furthest South

However...

In many places we have come across the ways. Recently the Campino de Santiago on several occasions

Were I 30 years younger, then I would seriously have considered these routes.... but to be honest I have loved the trips that I have done, and given the choice I am not sure that I would change things

[Patrickpioneer]

<snip>
both of you have built up a store of memories for rainy days and there is no amount of money that can buy that.
Reading about pilgrims ways and drover roads also lead me to reading about Roman roads where I live and that too was interesting but comparing the maps it seems we in north Wales built all our A roads over them!

so much too read, so much too see and so little time.
take care
Pat

[Patrickpioneer]

Short thread, may be of interest.

Edit: Another here.

Thanks Gaz old chap I shall take a gander
Pat

[dodger]

I set out merrily on the Santiago route back in 2015, intending to travel from home in Cornwall to Santiago, about 1000 miles.
The first week was a bit damp, but travelling with no.1 son was great. I was a bit lonely when he peeled off at Nantes, but spent the next week pushing on southwards, aiming for St Jean de Monts, before joining the Camino.
Sad to say I obviously don't have the true pilgrim spirit, because the weather (in May) became colder and wetter and the wind steadily increased. After a particularly horrendous thunderstorm, and with a lousy forecast for crossing the Pyrenees, I beat a tactical retreat at Bayonne.
Keep meaning to take up from there and complete it, but when I read about the sheer number of pilgrims taking part, I think I'll find somewhere a bit quieter!

[iandriver]

Well, I've booked a flight to Pisa and back a week later from Rome. Plan to pick this up and follow it https://www.viafrancigena.bike/en/ I believe the original route starts at Canterbury Cathedral and was an ancient pilgrim route. It doesn't look like too many have cycled it, judging by the lack of reviews on crazy guy on a bike etc.

I'm sure I've picked up a pilgrim route before near Walsingham in Norfolk, was a while ago. If you like to chase history on a bike, don't think you can go too wrong on this type of route.

[Ben@Forest]

In a town called Pissos (really) l met a Belgian couple on bikes who rode from Belgium to Santiago de Compostela every year. I guess they really were doing it for the true pilgrims' reasons.

[Patrickpioneer]

This is the one in North Wales
http://www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org/maps.html

[Cyril Haearn]

When Saint Beuno died there was a dispute about where he should be buried
The monasteries at Bardsey, Beddgelert and Clynnog all wanted to keep the remains of the holyperson, there were awful arguments, emails in Latin whizzed back and forth
The procession carrying the coffin stopped overnight at Clynnog Fawr, the coffin was left in the churchyard
In the morning there were three coffins outside, the Lord had worked a miracle and all three monasteries could open candle shops and hostels for the faithful

[mjr]

Well, I've booked a flight to Pisa and back a week later from Rome. Plan to pick this up and follow it https://www.viafrancigena.bike/en/ I believe the original route starts at Canterbury Cathedral and was an ancient pilgrim route. It doesn't look like too many have cycled it, judging by the lack of reviews on crazy guy on a bike etc.

I've seen (but not ridden) parts of it on my travels over the years: it's not particularly direct and some parts look quite challenging for cycling. It's definitely a leisure route rather than transport-style because I'd end up walking and possibly sometimes carrying the bike.

I'm sure I've picked up a pilgrim route before near Walsingham in Norfolk, was a while ago. If you like to chase history on a bike, don't think you can go too wrong on this type of route.

Oddly, this is one of the few times that the National Cycle Network (Route 1) keeps to a fairly busy minor road instead of diverting onto a path. 95+% of the time, the pilgrim's way would be fine, but I have made the mistake of cycling it against a flow of nuns and monks! Very slow, but awfully polite!

I just plotted https://cycle.travel/map/journey/88808 which is as close as I'd go to the route from the West mentioned on https://www.walsinghamvillage.org/about ... ilgrimage/ and even then, it includes a mile on the busy A148 past Harpley Dams. I also plotted the end of the southern (Brandon/Swaffham) route in on https://cycle.travel/map/journey/88811 which is much more straightforward but maybe not as easy to reach by train.

[iandriver]

Well, I've booked a flight to Pisa and back a week later from Rome. Plan to pick this up and follow it https://www.viafrancigena.bike/en/ I believe the original route starts at Canterbury Cathedral and was an ancient pilgrim route. It doesn't look like too many have cycled it, judging by the lack of reviews on crazy guy on a bike etc.

I've seen (but not ridden) parts of it on my travels over the years: it's not particularly direct and some parts look quite challenging for cycling. It's definitely a leisure route rather than transport-style because I'd end up walking and possibly sometimes carrying the bike.

Thanks for the tip. I think the cycle version avoids the worst of the un-cyclable parts, and I won't stick to the pilgrimage religiously. I'll be on an off road capable bike, with super low gearing, and am a mountain biker at heart, so I'm hoping it will be a challenge in places.