Camino Ingles (UK) to Durham Cathedral

[SEB2]

Apologies if any forum member has already posted this but I only came across the information today. Planning to walk it in August.

Durham Cathedral Pilgrimage in a Day - The British Pilgrimage Trust

Cuddy’s Corse – Chester-le-Street to Durham Cathedral – 8 miles, 1 day. The pilgrimage route follows a riverside path from Chester-le-Street, then field edges up to Great Lumley, to the riverside Finchale Priory, home of the great 12-century pilgrim and hermit, St Godric. From Finchale the path...

britishpilgrimage.org

 

[dick bird]

Edited: "Probably won't count towards your compostela" actually, it does - see below, but Durham cathedral is a stunner - a magnificent example of Romanesque in its own right and even more remarkable for being way off the main stream of contemporary architecture. And the setting!

 

[SEB2]

Probably won't count towards your compostela, but Durham cathedral is a stunner - a magnificent example of Romanesque in its own right and even more remarkable for being way off the main stream of contemporary architecture. And the setting!

It is indeed, in my humble opinion it is the finest in the UK. The pilgrimage will be shared with a peregrina I met in Sahagun in 2015. I doubt that it will be possible for me to ever return to the Camino in Spain owing old knees & (not so) genteel poverty but can vicariously enjoy the pilgrimages of other forum members.

 

[stevetay3815]

I’ve always been interested in walking some sort of “Camino” route in England but have been stymied by how to get evening accommodation. Are there any guidebooks?

 

[Caomhin O Fearghaill]

Yes, I was in Durham Cathedral when I was an OU summer School... beautiful. As regards pilgrim paths in England...would any one know if there is an organised pilgrimage to Canterbury and from where? It was a great medieval pilgrimage.

 

[SEB2]

@stevetay3815 and @Caomhin O Fearghaill try searching for oranised pigrimages, routes and information about accommodation at https://britishpilgrimage.org
The organisers of the annual Rye Festival have included an organised pilgrimage as part of their programme of events see this link for a previous year: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/old-way-1-day-pilgrimage-from-icklesham...


In the UK there is often a difficulty in sourcing overnight accommodation. A peregrina friend had planned to walk from Lewes to Canterbury last year, but with few exceptions she was going to have to pay commercial rates for B&B. There were one or two churches who offered overnight stay but that required you get in touch with the relevant vicar (or other designated contact person) prior to arrival. Walking the Whithorn Way appealed to me as it is in my part of the UK but, again, the lack of places to stay was a barrier.

 

[mazzarina]

I’ve always been interested in walking some sort of “Camino” route in England but have been stymied by how to get evening accommodation. Are there any guidebooks?

There are indeed several guidebooks. The British Pilgrimage Trust has produced a book called 'Britain's Pilgrim Places', which is a fantastic resource: lots of locations you could devise your own walk around, and some longer distance routes. The BPT's website is a goldmine of information. The Confraternity of St James has recently published 'Pilgrim Paths to Spain: Where and how to begin your Santiago Camino in Britain', by Andy Bull. It gives a taster of all the routes that have been recognised by the Santiago pilgrims' office as official starters for the Camino Ingles. Finally, I've just done the Augustine Camino (Rochester-Canterbury-Ramsgate) and they have their own guidebook and website. https://britishpilgrimage.org/ https://augustinecamino.co.uk/

 

[mazzarina]

@stevetay3815 and @Caomhin O Fearghaill try searching for oranised pigrimages, routes and information about accommodation at https://britishpilgrimage.org
The organisers of the annual Rye Festival have included an organised pilgrimage as part of their programme of events see this link for a previous year: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/old-way-1-day-pilgrimage-from-icklesham...


In the UK there is often a difficulty in sourcing overnight accommodation. A peregrina friend had planned to walk from Lewes to Canterbury last year, but with few exceptions she was going to have to pay commercial rates for B&B. There were one or two churches who offered overnight stay but that required you get in touch with the relevant vicar (or other designated contact person) prior to arrival. Walking the Whithorn Way appealed to me as it is in my part of the UK but, again, the lack of places to stay was a barrier.

If you're travelling alone, a thing that can work out well is staying in someone's spare room via AirBnB. It usually works out at around £30, which is cheaper than a B&B or pub. And you get to meet interesting people - the last place I stayed, my host was a peregrino who had walked the CF from Le Puy!

 

[thejoker]

There are six very enjoyable pilgrim trails to Durham Cathedral, all passing through sacred and holy places such as Finchale Abbey, Escomb church, St Paul's Monastery, St Hida's....to name just a very few of what there is to experience.

I've walked three of the routes and I can also report that there are some great pubs and craft beer to enjoy with excellent food.

The excellent Northern Saints trails website is: https://www.thisisdurham.com/northernsaints/trails

 

[thejoker]

Probably won't count towards your compostela, but Durham cathedral is a stunner - a magnificent example of Romanesque in its own right and even more remarkable for being way off the main stream of contemporary architecture. And the setting!

I think it will...
https://www.thisisdurham.com/things-to-do/camino-ingles-the-english-way-walking-route-p1038131

 

[basquelady]

If you're travelling alone, a thing that can work out well is staying in someone's spare room via AirBnB. It usually works out at around £30, which is cheaper than a B&B or pub. And you get to meet interesting people - the last place I stayed, my host was a peregrino who had walked the CF from Le Puy!

What a really good idea

 

[gns]

Probably won't count towards your compostela, but Durham cathedral is a stunner - a magnificent example of Romanesque in its own right and even more remarkable for being way off the main stream of contemporary architecture. And the setting!

Durham also has the rare distinction in England of having retained the relics of its saint in situ despite the Reformation. The story is that the commissioners sent by Henry VIII to destroy the shrine and scatter the bones of St Cuthbert were alarmed to find him incorrupt, and sent to the king for further instructions. In the end they left with the booty from the shrine and the saint was quietly reinterred. The Venerable Bede is at the other end of the cathedral having been "translated" from Jarrow by monks from Durham in the middle of the night.

 

[dick bird]

I think it will...
https://www.thisisdurham.com/things-to-do/camino-ingles-the-english-way-walking-route-p1038131

"The walk from Finchale Abbey to Durham Cathedral, and beyond to Escomb Church, south of Bishop Auckland, is now officially recognised as part of the Camino Inglés – the English Way."

Thanks for putting me right there. I am assuming this distance can only be added to the Camino Ingles? Meaning that you could start from the more traditional setting off point of A Coruna and still qualify for a compostela. Don't forget your two stamps though.

 

[Marcus1]

I think it will...
https://www.thisisdurham.com/things-to-do/camino-ingles-the-english-way-walking-route-p1038131

Yes you are correct it does!
My wife and I received our Compostela’s in September 2022 after walking in from A Coruña and the Pilgrim Office staff were very enthusiastic and helpful with no issues!
Buen Camino