Winchester is one of Britain's great pilgrimage centres. Pilgrims have walked from Winchester to London, Canterbury and Southampton (and on to Santiago) for centuries.

Walk with BPT pilgrim Dr Guy Hayward to walk a circuit around Winchester - a fantastically dense 6.5-mile route of pilgrim treasures and holy places. Guy will introduce pilgrimage practices and unlock the mysteries of the landscape.

The route can be discovered here. We will start at Hyde Abbey, the place clouded in mystery where King Alfred is allegedly buried. We will filter water from the Hyde stream nearby whilst singing a song. Then it is to St Lawrence’s Church, built on the site of William the Conqueror’s palace chapel, and then to Winchester Cathedral where we will give some of the water to the crypt, which happened to be flooded when Guy last went, with the evocative Gormley sculpture rising from the water (see header photo). Then to St Swithun-upon-Kingsgate church, where we may hold an extended silence in this holy place. Next, the Hospital of St Cross where we will all take the oldest charitable institution of the Wayfarer’s Dole of bread and ale and had luncheon in the Old Refectory.

Then we can play pooh sticks standing over the River Itchen in the water meadows. Next, St Catherine’s Hill, where we can walk the historic labyrinth called the ‘Mizmaze’ (probably 350 years old, possibly older), where we will be minded to contemplate their journey's intention for the eight minutes or so it takes to walk the labyrinth. Down the hill, along the river towards the oldest parish church in Winchester, St John the Baptist, with Saxon wall paintings, and then finally end at the Cathedral, where we will all bid farewell, hopefully more smiley than when we started.

Start 10:30am. End 5:30pm (with optional 30 min evening service starting at 5.30pm in Winchester Cathedral).

Pilgrimage is a Bring your own Beliefs practice and will include:

- New ways of meeting holy places (bring your own beliefs!)

- Pilgrim songs on the path

- Opportunities for silence

- Rediscovering your place in the British pilgrimage tradition

- Natural beauty and the wild places between the roads

FAQ’s

Who can come? Anyone over 18 (or under 18 with parental guidance, bearing in mind the walking distance).

Is this religious? All and no-faiths are equally welcome. We operate a “Bring Your Own Beliefs” policy. We ask that all participating pilgrims tolerate one another, whatever their beliefs.

Will I be asked to share my feelings with the group? We like to keep things light and breezy, so there will be no group emotional sharing moments, even though people may be coming for emotional reasons. If you want to share your feelings in personal conversation when walking with others that is up to you, but certainly not compulsory.

Are there fitness limitations? Pilgrimage is moderately intense. If you struggle to walk all day, this type of pilgrimage may be an unsuitable activity for you right now. There are always plenty of escape points en route. But we will walk slowly, and start early, giving us time to walk the distance. Unfortunately this pilgrimage is not suited for mobility-impaired people or those requiring wheelchair access.

Can I bring my dog? Sadly not - we can’t accommodate dogs on our guided pilgrimages. However, if you have a registered assistance dog, they are welcome.

What is my ticket price paying for, in addition to admission? The funds raised from this limited space event allow the team at British Pilgrimage Trust (a registered charity) to spend more time making it possible for thousands of pilgrims to make pilgrimage themselves by engaging with our ever-increasing range of free resources. For more details about our charitable activities, please check here.

If you would like to make a donation in addition to a ticket, click here.

We hope to see you on the path.