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North Wales Pilgrim's Way

May 09, 2024

The North Wales Pilgrim's Way (Welsh: Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru) is a long-distance walking route in North Wales, running from near Holywell in the east to Bardsey Island (Welsh: Ynys Enlli) in the west. The first half of the trail takes an inland route, with the second half (from Abergwyngregyn onwards) following the north coast of the Llŷn Peninsula. It measures 133.9 miles (215 km) in length,[1] and was officially launched at Porth y Swnt, Aberdaron on 10 July 2014.[2]

The route of the North Wales Pilgrim's Way
Waymarker disc on the North Wales Pilgrim's Way

Development of the trail started in 2011, and its official opening followed a number of alterations to the original route to suit local concerns.[3]

The route, which is marked by waymarker disks, makes use of existing public rights of way, including sections of the Wales Coast Path, and along the way it visits many small stone churches, many dedicated to key Celtic Saints, which can provide shelter and rest along the trail. Whilst, historically, pilgrims would have made their way across North Wales to Bardsey Island, known as the legendary 'Island of 20,000 Saints', the trail is a modern interpretation, and does not necessarily follow old routes.[4]

The Trail is a part of the 'Our Heritage' project, a part of Cadw’s Heritage Tourism Project; this is partially funded by the European Regional Development Fund via the Welsh Government.[2]

Dr. Rowan Williams, a Welsh Anglican bishop, theologian and poet, and former archbishop of Canterbury, is patron of the route.[5]

An annual pilgrimage is organised along the full length of the route for a fortnight every May/June,[6][7] and in 2018 the North Wales Pilgrim's Way Ultra - a 3-day race - saw runners competing for the North Wales Pilgrims Way Brass Shield.[8]

Historical basis edit

Since the 7th Century pilgrims in North Wales have visited four main sites – Holywell, Gwytherin, Clynnog Fawr and Bardsey Island. The first three have associations with two Welsh Saints, namely Saint Winifred and Saint Beuno; the North Wales Pilgrim's Way links many of the locations associated with them.

Saint Winifred (or Winefride) (Welsh: Gwenffrewi) was a 7th-century Welsh Christian woman, around whom many historical legends have formed. A healing spring at the traditional site of her decapitation and restoration is now a shrine and pilgrimage site called St Winefride's Well in Holywell, and known as the Lourdes of Wales.

Saint Beuno (sometimes anglicized as 'Bono') was a 7th-century Welsh abbot, confessor, and saint.

Bardsey Island has been an important religious site since Saint Cadfan built a monastery there in 516, and in medieval times it was a major centre of pilgrimage.[9]

The route edit

The trail runs from east to west, starting at Basingwerk Abbey (Welsh: Abaty Dinas Basing), a Grade I listed ruined abbey near Holywell, Flintshire, and ends at Aberdaron on the western tip of the Llŷn Peninsula (Welsh: Penrhyn Llŷn) in Gwynedd. From here, a final part of the route, regarded as optional, is the boat trip (weather permitting) from Aberdaron to Bardsey Island; the boat sails from Porth Meudwy, which is 1.2 miles (1.8 km) from Aberdaron by the Coastal Path footpath.

 
Basingwerk Abbey, the start of the Trail
 
Aberdaron, the end of the Trail. Y Gegin Fawr (the white building), built in the 13th century for pilgrims, now serves as a tearoom.
 
The remains of St Mary's Abbey on Bardsey Island

For marketing purposes the Trail is divided into 25 short sections:[10]

  • 1 - Basingwerk Abbey to Pantasaph (3 miles / 4.6 km)
  • 2 - Pantasaph to Maen Achwyfan (Whitford) (3.3 miles / 5.3 km)
  • 3 - Maen Achwgfan to Llanasa (2.7 miles / 4.3 km)
  • 4 - Llanasa to Trelawnyd (2.4 miles / 3.8 km)
  • 5 - Trelawnyd to Tremeirchion (6 miles / 9.6 km)
  • 6 - Tremeirchion to St Asaph (3.5 miles /5.6 km)
  • 7 - St Asaph to Llannefydd (6.3 miles /10.1 km)
  • 8 - Llannefydd to Llansannan (4.5 miles / 7.2 km)
  • 9 - Llansannan to Gwytherin (7.0 miles / 11.3 km)
  • 10 - Gwytherin to Pandy Tudur (3.4 miles / 5.5 km)
  • 11 - Pandy Tudur to Llangernyw (2.5 miles / 4 km)
  • 12 - Llangernyw to Eglwysbach (7.5 miles / 12 km)
  • 13 - Eglwysbach to Rowen (3.5 miles / 6 km)
  • 14 - Rowen to Penmaenmawr Stone Circles (4.4 miles / 7.0 km)
  • 15 - Penmaenmawr Stone Circles to Abergwyngregyn (6.6 miles / 10.6 km)
  • 16 - Abergwyngregyn to Bangor (12.33m / 19.84 km)
  • 17 - Bangor to Llanberis (10.6m / 17.1 km)
  • 18 - Llanberis to Waunfawr (4.5 miles / 7.3 km)
  • 19 - Waunfawr to Penygroes (7.1 miles / 11.5 km)
  • 20 - Penygroes to Clynnog Fawr (6.3 miles / 10.5 km)
  • 21 - Clynnog Fawr to Trefor (4 miles / 6 km)
  • 22 - Trefor to Nefyn (6.3 miles / 9.6 km)
  • 23 - Nefyn to Towyn (Tudweiliog) (6.8 miles / 11 km)
  • 24 - Towyn (Tudweiliog) to Porth Oer (Whistling Sands) (8 miles / 13 km)
  • 25 - Porth Oer to Aberdaron (3.3 miles / 5.4 km)
  • (26 - Boat trip to Bardsey Island)

Pilgrim passport stamps edit

A 'Pilgrim Passport' (a souvenir leaflet) can be obtained from the Greenfield Valley Heritage Park Visitor Centre at the start of the route at Basingwerk Abbey, or from other churches visited along the route. A total of 23 churches and other locations passed have available a passport stamp,[11] enabling the walker to 'stamp their passport' as they visit the sites along the way. Each stamp is different, and has been designed by primary school children from schools along the route to reflect the ancient landmarks, sites and legends encountered on the trail. Artist Ruth Thomas worked with Flintshire and Denbighshire schoolchildren to achieve this, whilst artist Eleri Jones worked with schools in Conwy and Gwynedd.[12]

Sacred Doorways Trail edit

Marketed alongside the Pilgrim's Way in the counties of Conwy, Denbighshire and Flintshire is the 'Sacred Doorways' project (Welsh: Drysau Cysegredig) which features churches and chapels of interest.

The churches involved in the project are:[13]

 
The front cover of the Sacred Doorways Pilgrim's Passport

In the Conwy Valley a Sacred Doorways Trail - a tourism initiative funded through Conwy's Rural Development plan - links together some of the most interesting churches and chapels in that area.[14] These churches also have a Pilgrim's Way passport stamp - and there is space on the passport for them - although they are not strictly on the Pilgrim's Way Trail.

The Pilgrims Passport claims:

From saints to sinners, princes to pilgrims, and bards to bandits, the Sacred Doorways church and chapel trails guide you through thousands of years of our fascinating history.

The four trails in Conwy are packaged into clusters, and can be undertaken on foot, using public footpaths, or in a car.[15]

The trails comprise:[16]

The four trails can be linked together by walking an additional 10 miles / 16 km.

(Note - there is a similarly named 'Sacred Door Trail' - a 200-mile interfaith pilgrimage trail - in south-western Montana).[17]

Maps and guides edit

Route maps of the Pilgrim's Way can be downloaded from the main website, and the committee has approved a guide book[18] - The Pilgrim's Way / Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru by Mike Stevens, published by local publishers Kittiwake Books.

Chris Potter has produced an up-to-date guide book on behalf of the North Wales Pilgrim's Way Committee. It is titled 'North Wales Pilgrim's Way - The Official Guide to the Welsh Camino'. It is available through the website https://pilgrims-way-north-wales.org/

Route maps of the Sacred Doorways trails are available on a downloadable leaflet.[16]

Access edit

Some churches and chapels on the trail rely on the generosity of volunteers to open and close them daily. Furthermore, churches may not be open during the winter months. If the building is not open, details of where to obtain the key will be available near the church or chapel entrance.[15]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru ~ North Wales Pilgrim's Way". www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b "The North Wales Pilgrim's Way is officially launched". cadw.gov.wales. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  3. ^ www.jameskirby.me.uk, MKH Computer Services Ltd. - www.mkh-computer-services.co.uk / James Kirby -. "North Wales Pilgrims Way - Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru - LDWA Long Distance Paths". www.ldwa.org.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru ~ North Wales Pilgrim's Way". www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru ~ North Wales Pilgrim's Way". www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru ~ North Wales Pilgrim's Way". www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Links & Resources from the Small Pilgrim Places Network - breathing spaces on the pilgrim journey". www.smallpilgrimplaces.org. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  8. ^ "North Wales Pilgrims Way Ultra 2018 - Ultrarunning World". 13 May 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru ~ North Wales Pilgrim's Way". www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  10. ^ "Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru ~ North Wales Pilgrim's Way". www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  11. ^ "Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru ~ North Wales Pilgrim's Way". www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru ~ North Wales Pilgrim's Way". www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  13. ^ "History Points - Sacred Doorways". www.mochdrenews.co.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  14. ^ "Rural Conwy Sacred Doorways Trail - Visit Llandudno & Conwy". www.visitllandudno.org.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Sacred Trails - Visit Llandudno & Conwy". www.visitllandudno.org.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  16. ^ a b [1] Rural Conwy Sacred Trails Leaflet
  17. ^ "Home". The Sacred Door Trail. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru ~ North Wales Pilgrim's Way". www.pilgrims-way-north-wales.org. Retrieved 9 June 2017.

External links edit

  • Pilgrims Way North Wales website
  • History Points - North Wales Pilgrims Way
  • [2] Rural Conwy Sacred Trails Leaflet (pdf)]
  • Our Heritage (Visit Wales) website
  • Long Distance Walkers Association - The North Wales Pilgrims Trail
  • The Daily Post - The Pilgrim's Way from Holywell to Bardsey Island

53°17′12″N 3°13′00″W / 53.2867°N 3.2167°W / 53.2867; -3.2167

May 09, 2024
north, wales, pilgrim, welsh, taith, pererin, gogledd, cymru, long, distance, walking, route, north, wales, running, from, near, holywell, east, bardsey, island, welsh, ynys, enlli, west, first, half, trail, takes, inland, route, with, second, half, from, aber. The North Wales Pilgrim s Way Welsh Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru is a long distance walking route in North Wales running from near Holywell in the east to Bardsey Island Welsh Ynys Enlli in the west The first half of the trail takes an inland route with the second half from Abergwyngregyn onwards following the north coast of the Llŷn Peninsula It measures 133 9 miles 215 km in length 1 and was officially launched at Porth y Swnt Aberdaron on 10 July 2014 2 The route of the North Wales Pilgrim s Way Waymarker disc on the North Wales Pilgrim s Way Development of the trail started in 2011 and its official opening followed a number of alterations to the original route to suit local concerns 3 The route which is marked by waymarker disks makes use of existing public rights of way including sections of the Wales Coast Path and along the way it visits many small stone churches many dedicated to key Celtic Saints which can provide shelter and rest along the trail Whilst historically pilgrims would have made their way across North Wales to Bardsey Island known as the legendary Island of 20 000 Saints the trail is a modern interpretation and does not necessarily follow old routes 4 The Trail is a part of the Our Heritage project a part of Cadw s Heritage Tourism Project this is partially funded by the European Regional Development Fund via the Welsh Government 2 Dr Rowan Williams a Welsh Anglican bishop theologian and poet and former archbishop of Canterbury is patron of the route 5 An annual pilgrimage is organised along the full length of the route for a fortnight every May June 6 7 and in 2018 the North Wales Pilgrim s Way Ultra a 3 day race saw runners competing for the North Wales Pilgrims Way Brass Shield 8 Contents 1 Historical basis 2 The route 3 Pilgrim passport stamps 4 Sacred Doorways Trail 5 Maps and guides 6 Access 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksHistorical basis editSince the 7th Century pilgrims in North Wales have visited four main sites Holywell Gwytherin Clynnog Fawr and Bardsey Island The first three have associations with two Welsh Saints namely Saint Winifred and Saint Beuno the North Wales Pilgrim s Way links many of the locations associated with them Saint Winifred or Winefride Welsh Gwenffrewi was a 7th century Welsh Christian woman around whom many historical legends have formed A healing spring at the traditional site of her decapitation and restoration is now a shrine and pilgrimage site called St Winefride s Well in Holywell and known as the Lourdes of Wales Saint Beuno sometimes anglicized as Bono was a 7th century Welsh abbot confessor and saint Bardsey Island has been an important religious site since Saint Cadfan built a monastery there in 516 and in medieval times it was a major centre of pilgrimage 9 The route editThe trail runs from east to west starting at Basingwerk Abbey Welsh Abaty Dinas Basing a Grade I listed ruined abbey near Holywell Flintshire and ends at Aberdaron on the western tip of the Llŷn Peninsula Welsh Penrhyn Llŷn in Gwynedd From here a final part of the route regarded as optional is the boat trip weather permitting from Aberdaron to Bardsey Island the boat sails from Porth Meudwy which is 1 2 miles 1 8 km from Aberdaron by the Coastal Path footpath nbsp Basingwerk Abbey the start of the Trail nbsp Aberdaron the end of the Trail Y Gegin Fawr the white building built in the 13th century for pilgrims now serves as a tearoom nbsp The remains of St Mary s Abbey on Bardsey Island For marketing purposes the Trail is divided into 25 short sections 10 1 Basingwerk Abbey to Pantasaph 3 miles 4 6 km 2 Pantasaph to Maen Achwyfan Whitford 3 3 miles 5 3 km 3 Maen Achwgfan to Llanasa 2 7 miles 4 3 km 4 Llanasa to Trelawnyd 2 4 miles 3 8 km 5 Trelawnyd to Tremeirchion 6 miles 9 6 km 6 Tremeirchion to St Asaph 3 5 miles 5 6 km 7 St Asaph to Llannefydd 6 3 miles 10 1 km 8 Llannefydd to Llansannan 4 5 miles 7 2 km 9 Llansannan to Gwytherin 7 0 miles 11 3 km 10 Gwytherin to Pandy Tudur 3 4 miles 5 5 km 11 Pandy Tudur to Llangernyw 2 5 miles 4 km 12 Llangernyw to Eglwysbach 7 5 miles 12 km 13 Eglwysbach to Rowen 3 5 miles 6 km 14 Rowen to Penmaenmawr Stone Circles 4 4 miles 7 0 km 15 Penmaenmawr Stone Circles to Abergwyngregyn 6 6 miles 10 6 km 16 Abergwyngregyn to Bangor 12 33m 19 84 km 17 Bangor to Llanberis 10 6m 17 1 km 18 Llanberis to Waunfawr 4 5 miles 7 3 km 19 Waunfawr to Penygroes 7 1 miles 11 5 km 20 Penygroes to Clynnog Fawr 6 3 miles 10 5 km 21 Clynnog Fawr to Trefor 4 miles 6 km 22 Trefor to Nefyn 6 3 miles 9 6 km 23 Nefyn to Towyn Tudweiliog 6 8 miles 11 km 24 Towyn Tudweiliog to Porth Oer Whistling Sands 8 miles 13 km 25 Porth Oer to Aberdaron 3 3 miles 5 4 km 26 Boat trip to Bardsey Island Pilgrim passport stamps editA Pilgrim Passport a souvenir leaflet can be obtained from the Greenfield Valley Heritage Park Visitor Centre at the start of the route at Basingwerk Abbey or from other churches visited along the route A total of 23 churches and other locations passed have available a passport stamp 11 enabling the walker to stamp their passport as they visit the sites along the way Each stamp is different and has been designed by primary school children from schools along the route to reflect the ancient landmarks sites and legends encountered on the trail Artist Ruth Thomas worked with Flintshire and Denbighshire schoolchildren to achieve this whilst artist Eleri Jones worked with schools in Conwy and Gwynedd 12 Sacred Doorways Trail editMarketed alongside the Pilgrim s Way in the counties of Conwy Denbighshire and Flintshire is the Sacred Doorways project Welsh Drysau Cysegredig which features churches and chapels of interest The churches involved in the project are 13 Conwy cluster St Michael s Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr St Mary Magdalene s Cerrigydrudion St John s Ysbyty Ifan St Tudclud s Penmachno St Gwyddelan s Dolwyddelan St Michael s Betws y coed St Mary s Betws y coed St Julitta s Capel Curig St Rhychwyn s Llanrhychwyn St Mary s Trefriw St Peter s Llanbedr y Cennin St Mary s Caerhun St Celynnin s Llangelynnin Zion Chapel Rowen St Grwst s Llanrwst Seion Chapel Llanrwst St Doged s Llanddoged St Martin s Eglwysbach St Digain s Llangernyw St Mary s Llanfair Talhaiarn St Sannan s Llansannan Denbighshire cluster Ss Mael amp Sulien Corwen St Trillo s Llandrillo St Elidan s Llanelidan St Bridget s Carrog St Tysilio s Bryneglwys Corpus Christi Tremeirchion nbsp The Sacred Doorways sign outside St Michael s church Betws y coed Flintshire cluster Ss Beuno amp Mary Whitford St Michael s Caerwys Ss Asaph amp Cyndeyrn Llanasa St Mary Magdalene s Gwaenysgor Trelawnyd St James Holywell Ss Mael amp Sulien Cwm nbsp The front cover of the Sacred Doorways Pilgrim s Passport In the Conwy Valley a Sacred Doorways Trail a tourism initiative funded through Conwy s Rural Development plan links together some of the most interesting churches and chapels in that area 14 These churches also have a Pilgrim s Way passport stamp and there is space on the passport for them although they are not strictly on the Pilgrim s Way Trail The Pilgrims Passport claims From saints to sinners princes to pilgrims and bards to bandits the Sacred Doorways church and chapel trails guide you through thousands of years of our fascinating history The four trails in Conwy are packaged into clusters and can be undertaken on foot using public footpaths or in a car 15 The trails comprise 16 Sacred Hiraethog visiting St Michael s Church at Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr St Mary Magdalene s Church at Cerrigydrudion the Parish Church at Pentrefoelas St John s Church at Ysbyty Ifan and St Tudclud s Church at Penmachno a total of 17 miles 27 km Sacred Snowdonia visiting St Gwyddelan s Church at Dolwyddelan St Mary s and St Michael s Churches at Betws y coed and St Julitta s Church at Capel Curig a total of 16 miles 25 km Sacred Kingdom visiting St Grwst s Church and Gwydir Chapel at Llanrwst St Doged s Church at Llanddoged Gwydir Uchaf near Llanrwst St Rhychwyn s Church at Llanrhychwyn and St Mary s Church at Trefriw a total of 9 miles 14 km Sacred Landscapes visiting St Peter s Church at Llanbedr y cennin St Mary s Church at Caerhun Zion Chapel at Rowen and St Celynnin s Church at Llangelynnin a total of 7 5 miles 12 km The four trails can be linked together by walking an additional 10 miles 16 km Note there is a similarly named Sacred Door Trail a 200 mile interfaith pilgrimage trail in south western Montana 17 Maps and guides editRoute maps of the Pilgrim s Way can be downloaded from the main website and the committee has approved a guide book 18 The Pilgrim s Way Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru by Mike Stevens published by local publishers Kittiwake Books Chris Potter has produced an up to date guide book on behalf of the North Wales Pilgrim s Way Committee It is titled North Wales Pilgrim s Way The Official Guide to the Welsh Camino It is available through the website https pilgrims way north wales org Route maps of the Sacred Doorways trails are available on a downloadable leaflet 16 Access editSome churches and chapels on the trail rely on the generosity of volunteers to open and close them daily Furthermore churches may not be open during the winter months If the building is not open details of where to obtain the key will be available near the church or chapel entrance 15 See also editLlŷn Coastal Path Wales Coast Path The Pilgrims Way in Southern England Long distance footpaths in Wales Long distance footpaths in the United KingdomReferences edit Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru North Wales Pilgrim s Way www pilgrims way north wales org Retrieved 7 June 2017 a b The North Wales Pilgrim s Way is officially launched cadw gov wales Retrieved 8 June 2017 www jameskirby me uk MKH Computer Services Ltd www mkh computer services co uk James Kirby North Wales Pilgrims Way Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru LDWA Long Distance Paths www ldwa org uk Retrieved 8 June 2017 Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru North Wales Pilgrim s Way www pilgrims way north wales org Retrieved 8 June 2017 Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru North Wales Pilgrim s Way www pilgrims way north wales org Retrieved 7 June 2017 Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru North Wales Pilgrim s Way www pilgrims way north wales org Retrieved 9 June 2017 Links amp Resources from the Small Pilgrim Places Network breathing spaces on the pilgrim journey www smallpilgrimplaces org Retrieved 9 June 2017 North Wales Pilgrims Way Ultra 2018 Ultrarunning World 13 May 2017 Retrieved 9 June 2017 Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru North Wales Pilgrim s Way www pilgrims way north wales org Retrieved 9 June 2017 Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru North Wales Pilgrim s Way www pilgrims way north wales org Retrieved 8 June 2017 Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru North Wales Pilgrim s Way www pilgrims way north wales org Retrieved 9 June 2017 Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru North Wales Pilgrim s Way www pilgrims way north wales org Retrieved 7 June 2017 History Points Sacred Doorways www mochdrenews co uk Retrieved 10 June 2017 Rural Conwy Sacred Doorways Trail Visit Llandudno amp Conwy www visitllandudno org uk Retrieved 7 June 2017 a b Sacred Trails Visit Llandudno amp Conwy www visitllandudno org uk Retrieved 7 June 2017 a b 1 Rural Conwy Sacred Trails Leaflet Home The Sacred Door Trail Retrieved 8 June 2017 Taith Pererin Gogledd Cymru North Wales Pilgrim s Way www pilgrims way north wales org Retrieved 9 June 2017 External links editPilgrims Way North Wales website History Points North Wales Pilgrims Way 2 Rural Conwy Sacred Trails Leaflet pdf Our Heritage Visit Wales website Long Distance Walkers Association The North Wales Pilgrims Trail The Daily Post The Pilgrim s Way from Holywell to Bardsey Island 53 17 12 N 3 13 00 W 53 2867 N 3 2167 W 53 2867 3 2167 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title North Wales Pilgrim 27s Way amp oldid 1208971864, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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