The Long Walk 2014-12-10

The book describes Robert Muirhead's 2080km pilgrimage on foot from Canterbury to Rome, along the Via Francigena in three long walks over 2012 to 2014. He endured hardships, but also met inspiring people and gained important insights into his own life. In medieval times the Via Francigena was an important route for pilgrims wishing to visit the sacred sites in Rome, or even to continue on to Jerusalem. In 2004 the Via Francigena was designated a Major Cultural Route by the Council of Europe. This has prompted greater efforts to improve and popularise the Via Francigena to make the journey easier for more than 1200 modern pilgrims who undertake all or part of the journey each year. Robert Muirhead has also walked over 800km on the Via Podensis in France from Le Puy en Velay to St John Pied de Port, and 800km on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela from St John Pied de Port to Santiago, Spain.