Frequently Asked Questions

Here you will find some key questions founder Faye has often been asked during media interviews and some practical questions pilgrims commonly wish to check when booking.

How does a pilgrimage differ from a walk?

Deliberately visiting powerful sites is a practise which pre-dates recorded history and is seen throughout all major world religions.

We see it as a devotional practise of prolonged journey on foot or horseback (now including cycling in modern times) to a destination of sacred significance with a set intention of personal transformation. It is a transient and holistic experience which removes us from our home and identity for a period in which mind, body and spirit blend.

Modern day pilgrims are often looking to step away from our busy, pressured and sometimes overwhelming lives to reflect, restore and connect deeply with themselves, others and the natural world for a day or more.

What does ‘setting an intention’ mean?

From earliest times, pilgrims would have set out on their journey for four key reasons I find helpful to remember through the acrostic ‘ACTS’.

Adoration- from before Christ our ancestors journeyed to places such as shrines of gods or other sacred places to worship their deities and make offerings to please them.

Confession (sorry)- no one gets through life without making mistakes. Some weigh us down and we can find it hard to forgive ourselves or others. In the Middle Ages, Penitential Pilgrimages were often imposed by courts upon those who had committed serious crimes, who were willing to express contrition through personal penitence public reconciliation to achieve God’s forgiveness and avoid damnation. The journeys themselves were hard and carried the ever-present risk of death. Some pilgrims were required to carry crosses, walk barefoot or wear specific garments such as irritating hair shirts to show remorse.

Thanksgiving- our ancestors made pilgrimage to give thanks for every aspect of their lives: victory in battle, safe births, fruitful harvests, good weather. They would lay tokens of such blessings at shrines along the way and on the altars to ‘ensure’ the gods would continue to look kindly on them.

Supplication (please)- before modern medicine, maternity care, even anaesthetic, sick people travelled to spiritually significant places to ask for healing and miracles. Pilgrims journeyed to find solutions for problems they faced, to ask for blessing of all kinds: victory, safety, harvest, fertility, love… again often laying tokens almost as a reciprocal bargain to ensure the favour of the saint or divinity.

Do I need to be Christian or religious to attend a pilgrimage?

Hope Walking Pilgrimages are fully inclusive and welcome people of any and no faith. Every pilgrim can bring their own beliefs and are requested to adopt a respectful attitude towards those of everyone participating.

Founder Faye profoundly believes in the value of pilgrimage as a devotional, holistic practise which she discovered for the first time during her own journey back to physical and mental health after multiple tragic bereavements culminated in a breakdown.

Your pilgrimage guide, Faye describes herself as an inclusive, progressive follower of Jesus, who has moved towards Celtic Christianity, away from the orthodox evangelical church structures in which she grew up, until her breakdown caused her to start a process of deconstructing those belief systems. Faye has been out of church for seven years, but has now found a kind, inclusive, welcoming community at St John’s Tideswell, from which Hope Walking’s signature Mills & Martyrs Pilgrimage departs. If you are on a similar journey of questioning long-held beliefs, perhaps have experienced the pain of Spiritual Abuse, your questions and losses are held and welcome on pilgrimage.

Most of our pilgrimages start and end at churches. You can expect some Christian practises along the way, such as blessings, prayers and songs, along with other practises such as circling the yew tree. You are welcome to participate or not as you feel comfortable.

Please let us know if you are concerned about anything which you may find triggering.

Does Hope Walking offer pilgrimages all over the UK?

We occasionally offer pilgrimages in the south around the Pilgrim Way to Canterbury, and the midlands ending at Peterborough Cathedral. In the north, we specialise in pilgrimages around the beautiful Peak District National Park, where Hope Walking is based, and are creating new routes around the areas historic and sacred sites regularly. You may also wish to stay at Hope Walking’s cosy Victorian Hope Cottage in historic Georgian Bakewell with Faye, before and after your pilgrimage. Unless stipulated, such as our Peak Wesley Way Pilgrimage, we do not organise accommodation, but there are many different options and prices to suit every budget, from character youth hostels to Michelin-starred hotels around Derbyshire. Most are listed on easy to navigate sites like Airbnb, Booking.com and Visit Peak District.

Can Hope Walking offer a customised pilgrimage?

Since we need to operate on minimum numbers, usually ten pilgrims, if you have a team, family or group which wishes to commission a pilgrimage on one of our existing routes, please get in touch to enquire about dates, numbers and focus.

Do you have any free pilgrimages?

We usually offer one voluntary donation-only pilgrimage a year so anyone can experience the value of a pilgrimage in community, either during the Jo Cox Great Summer or Winter Get Togethers in January and July.

Do you have any pilgrimages specifically for bereaved people or women?

We also offer at least one bereavement, grief and loss pilgrimage a year. All losses are important: your loss may be relational, financial, mental or physical health, career, empty nest, peace… or perhaps you are facing a moment of profound transition? As someone who has experienced the death of a child and husband, Faye is a trained bereavement befriender with national bereavement support charity Care for the Family. Your grief is honoured and held on our pilgrimage. Some years I offer pilgrimages for women only, often as pilgrim guide for global travel company Walking Women. We do not yet have an identified pilgrim route suitable for pilgrims with disabilities, but do contact our Southern friends at Wild with Wheels, who do.

Can I bring my dog on a pilgrimage?

Not normally, though assistance dogs are welcome. All Tideswell churches and vicar are dog friendly! We have therefore created a dog-friendly version of the Mills and Martyrs route at around 6 miles with no stiles. There are rarely cows, though we cannot guarantee it, so your dog must be kept on a short lead.

Do I need to be fit to attend a pilgrimage?

Each pilgrimage clearly states the length, pace and difficulty involved. For the enjoyment and safety of all pilgrims, please be sure you can walk the minimum pace and distance, usually two miles per hour with regular stops. If you have any specific medical requirements, please check with Faye in advance. We can arrange transport from early leaving points on many of our pilgrimages. Please read our terms for fuller details.

What happens if the weather is bad?

This is Britain, we walk rain or shine. Should a severe weather warning be issued or your pilgrim guide be incapacitated for any reason, we will let you know as soon as practicable and issue full refunds. You may wish to have travel insurance which covers such eventualities. Please read our terms for more details.

What do I need to bring?

Well worn-in footwear suitable for the terrain and weather is essential, plus layers and a waterproof in line with the forecast. Your day sack should also include a drink and food for lunch (unless a winter indoor lunch is stipulated) and snacks to share if you wish. Bring money for any refreshments at cafes or donations you may wish to make to churches along the way, plus a personal first aid kit. Please note, it is essential you bring any necessary medication without which we are unable to guide you under the terms of our insurance.  Please read our terms for fuller details.

Will there be toilets on the pilgrimage?

We always aim to offer public toilets at the beginning, middle and end of our day pilgrimages and details are specified on each walk itinerary. There will be options for ‘wild wees’ in nature on most routes so please bring tissues with a bag or a reusable cloth. We aim to leave nothing but footprints.

How do I book my place?

Use the booking button at the end of each pilgrimage details or the contact us form and add any health issues we should be aware of, allergies or queries you may have. Please make sure you include your mobile number as we must have a note of it for our insurance policy. We will send you our bank details and once paid for, your place is confirmed. The sooner you book, the sooner we can confirm the pilgrimage will go ahead with minimum numbers reached. Should the minimum numbers not be reached, we will alert you by email and offer you any alternative pilgrimages or a full refund. Please read our terms for more details.