This should really come before the post below, as I was in Cornwall from September 2-8 and in Cumbria from September 16-20. However, I am only just getting round to blogging it.
This “new 125 mile route” is a composite of parts of three established paths: the South-West Coast Path and two cross-country routes, the Saints Way and St Michael’s Way, with detours to places of particular Celtic interest. It has been developed by Revd Nigel Marns, and the guidebook was a family production. Nigel and his wife Penny led the walks and worship, so we heard much about the process of making the way and some of the people he met.
We stayed at Epiphany House in Truro, and were transported by minibus to and from our five walks, sometimes more than an hour’s drive away. A previous group had walked continuously, sleeping on church floors, and Nigel and Penny are looking for more overnight possibilities for individual walkers and groups.
We usually walked about 6 miles, visiting hospitable local churches and Celtic crosses. The first walk ended at St Michael’s Mount – perhaps this should have come last, but the tides dictated otherwise – and the last at the ruins of St Pirin’s Oratory, surrounded by concrete walls to preserve it from the sands. The latter is not open to the public, but Nigel had the code for the padlock. As we were singing about St Pirin’s four-legged friends, several dogs took advantage of the open gate to come and run round inside.
Another place of interest, also on the last day, was a holy well surrounded by a golf course.
The guide book is beautifully presented, and so is the little booklet which functions as a pilgrim passport, with wildlife line drawings on the background of each page.
We also visited Truro Cathedral to look at the painting of the Saints of Cornwall.
emeritablog: life after work 