The Dean of St Asaph Cathedral will be among the first pilgrims to walk the 127 mile route along the new North Wales Pilgrim’s Way in August.
This inaugural pilgrimage begins at Basingwerk Abbey near Holywell on Sunday 7 August and will take in the Cathedrals in St Asaph and Bangor on its way to join the existing pilgrim route to Bardsey Island.
The Bishop of St Asaph, the Right Reverend Dr Gregory K Cameron will start the pilgrims off on their 12 day journey which begins with a 5 mile walk from Basingwerk Abbey to Pantasaph.
The route will take in places of historic religious interest in the region including the stone circles above the Conwy Valley as well as ancient churches and chapels.
The Pilgrim’s Way was devised by a group set up by the Dean, the Very Reverend Chris Potter and his wife Jenny after they were inspired by a pilgrimage to Spain.
Chris and Jenny are taking part in the Pilgrimage and for Chris it’s a chance to take some time out before he begins his new ministry as Archdeacon of St Asaph in September.
Chris said:
“We’re very much looking forward to it. It has come at the right time for us in terms of the transition between one job and another.
“Finally the route has all come together and I think the Pilgrim’s Way has hit a nerve. People are looking for something else in life and this is a way of discovery.”
This first pilgrimage will allow those who have devised the route to check it works and try out the accommodation as well as “waymarking” the route so that anyone can walk along it all year round.
The Pilgrims are due at Bardsey Island on Thursday 18 August.
