Golden Valley Pilgrim Way: August 15 to 21 2021

Day1: Sunday 15 August: Cathedral to Tyberton 8.4approx miles 1pm start Visit Eaton Bishop [4pm approx.] and Madley Churches [5pm approx.] Provisions Londis Madley Supper: Self Catering: Compline: 8pm Overnight Accommodation: St Mary’s Tyberton

Day 2: Monday 16 August: Tyberton 9.00am to Dorstone 10 approx. miles Breakfast: Tyberton Self catering Morning Prayer 8.30am Visit: Moccas [12noon approx.] and Bredwardine [2pm approx.] Churches Lunch: Self packed lunch at Moccas Supper: Self Catering: Dorstone Church Compline 8pm Overnight Accommodation: Dorstone Church with use of Village Hall toilet facilities.

Day 3: Tuesday 17 August: Dorstone 9am to Michaelchurch Escley 9.4 miles Breakfast: Dorstone Church Self Catering Morning Prayer 8.30am Visit: Hub @ St Peters Café, Peterchurch St Peters Well. Provisions: Peterchurch Stores Lunch: Self packed lunch at St Peters Well Supper: Self Catering: Michaelchurch Escley Church Compline 8pm Overnight Accommodation: Michaelchurch Escley Church.

Day 4: Wednesday 18 August: Michaelchurch Escley 9am to 12 miles Breakfast: Michaelchurch Escley self-catering Morning Prayer 8.30am Visit [12noon approx.] and [3pm approx.] churches. Longtown Castle, St Clydogs Well. Provisions Shop at Farm Campsite; Hopes of Longtown Lunch: Self packed lunch at Craswall Supper: Self-Catering: Clodock Church Compline 8pm Overnight Accommodation: Clodock Church

Day 5: Thursday 19 August: Clodock 9am to 7 miles approx. Breakfast: Clodock Church Visit ,[11am approx.] Llancillo [1pm approx.] Rowlestone[3pm approx.] Rowlestone Ice Creams Provisions Ewyas Harold Stores, Lunch: Self packed lunch at Llancillo Supper: Self Catering: Ewyas Harold Eat Out: The Temple, Ewyas Harold Overnight Accommodation: Ewyas Harold Parish Hall

Day 6 Friday 20 August: Ewyas Harold 9am to Kingstone 7 miles approx. Breakfast: Ewyas Harold Parish Hall Morning Prayer 8.30am Ewyas Harold Church Visit Abbeydore [11am approx.] Provisions Ewyas Harold Stores, Kingstone Stores Lunch: Self packed lunch at Abbeydore Supper: Self Catering: Kingstone church Compline 8pm Overnight Accommodation: Kingstone Church

Day 7 Saturday 21 August : Kingstone 9am to Cathedral 7 miles Breakfast: Kingstone Church Morning Prayer: 8.30am Visit Clehonger Church [11am approx.] Arrive Cathedral [12.30pm approx.]

Notes

First of all, it would be lovely if people from our Deanery wanted to join for the whole week- long experience. Done with real intention, a pilgrimage such as this can be a place of transformation, even transfiguration where real soul work is done. Of course, this will also be true if you are able to join us for half a day or two or three or four; and that’s the real reason for setting this week up not just to raise awareness of the GVPW but to include as many people as we can in this ancient spiritual practice.

The easiest legs of this journey in terms of gradient are Day 1; Day 2, from Tyberton to Bredwardine only; Day 3, from Dorstone to Peterchurch only; Day 4, from Llanveynoe to Clodock only; Day 5, from Rowlestone to Ewyas Harold only; Day 6, from Abbeydore to Kingstone only and Day 7. Day 1 and 7 are the easiest by far [as long as you can tackle going over stiles] in that they are predominantly flat.

I hope as many of us who are able to can join in so if you wanted for example to join us at lunch and then finish in the evening on any particular day, please do, bearing in mind arrival times for lunch are very approximate. The best thing however would be to join for morning prayer and walk the route for that day as far as you would like bearing in mind you would have to organise cars and lifts back to the start point yourself.

I would hope we could keep to the proposed start times at the beginning of each day; however, lunch-stops will be approximate depending on the pace and needs of each walker. I hope to eat frugally by buying simple provisions along the way at various shops and stores as outlined in the itinerary. I would encourage others to do the same in order to experience pilgrimage as a form of simplifying life and appreciating that food and diet is often a fragile element for so many in this world. However, if anyone wanted to take an overnight stay in any of the churches; each village we stay in does have a pub and after a long walk some need to eat substantially and may not want to carry provisions. There is an exception to the one church one pub rule which is Tyberton and The Pandy in Dorstone does not open on a Monday. I would leave booking of evening meals to each individual.

To include those who would like to eat more frugally there are shops along the way to stock up with provisions for lunch, for a light pilgrim’s supper and then a light breakfast with snacks for the following day’s journey. Each church/parish hall in which we stay the night will have tea and coffee making facilities.

For the Hereford Walking Festival we advertised the walk as a ‘bring your own beliefs or none’ style of pilgrimage as follows:

This walk is a form of wayfaring for people of any faith or none giving the opportunity to enhance wellbeing at the level of mind, body and soul. To walk a pilgrimage is a uniquely personal undertaking whether done solo or as part of a community of pilgrims. Our guides will be sensitive to each individual’s pace, needs and goals. For some, a pilgrimage is a way of letting go of digital fatigue in order to re-wild the soul or reconnect with the earth. For others, it is a way to find or re-awaken the true self and for a many it is a way to encounter the Divine. Quite apart from seeking peace and enlightenment in wild places, a pilgrimage is also great fun and there will be opportunities to talk with likeminded wayfarers and to eat well [or frugally if you prefer] and visit local hostelries. Our pilgrimage will traverse dramatic and gentle landscapes and we will come across ancient sacred sites and mysterious stories. There is the potential for some wild swimming and to experience collective, silent walking. During each day there will be the option for those who would like, to share a meditative practice within nature. Many are wishing to re-evaluate their lives for a post pandemic world so why not start an inner journey of self-discovery with this outer journey and return home with a better idea of what you and your community can give to one another.

Over the five and half days of this pilgrimage experience, we will follow the Golden Valley Pilgrim Way [GVPW] in the south west of on the border of beginning at Hereford Cathedral on Sunday 20th June. The GVPW is being launched for the first time at this year’s Herefordshire Walking Festival.

The idea behind GVPW is to develop a circular route in the Golden Valley part of the Herefordshire Diocese for people in search of a spiritual element to walking, using the landscape, churches and other sacred sites as foci for reflection and rest.

This innovative walk works in partnership with churches along the route allowing pilgrims to stay overnight for one night at each church.

The route follows river paths, footpaths, bridle ways, with minimal use of some minor roads.

On this occasion contemplative practice and worship will be of a Christ centered, Christian nature where we can pray for each of our communities and for Gods blessing on this project which I hope will become an opportunity for people to explore faith, deepen spirituality and practice any necessary soul work. I also hope that this will provide an income stream for some of our churches over the years to come; something else to pray for.

Simon