The world's most inspiring pilgrimages

The dictionary defines pilgrimage as “a journey to a place associated with someone or something well known or respected”. Historically that meant holy sites, with the practice reaching peak popularity in the Middle Ages.

Over the past few decades, the idea of pilgrimage has seen a renaissance. Last year, the Camino de Santiago alone was completed by almost 350,000 peregrinos.

However, it’s not only the religious who choose to make such trips these days. A pilgrim just needs a sense of purpose, whatever that might be. The reasons can be as varied as the pilgrims. You may still be driven by a desire to follow your faith – perhaps up Croagh Patrick, around Mount Kailash or along a route championed by the British Pilgrimage Trust (britishpilgrimage.org).

Or you may want to worship at the spiritual home of your particular passion. You might be a Beatles lover determined to be photographed crossing Abbey Road, a football fan making a beeline for the Bernabéu in Madrid, a golfer dreaming of a round at St Andrews, even a DCI Barnaby devotee sleuthing out locations in the Thames Valley’s “Midsomer” county…

So, when the time is right – and when the coronavirus restrictions allow – pick your own pilgrimage. It might be faith-filled, it might be fun, but make it yours.

1. Altruistic amble

Wiltshire, England

Dip a toe into pilgrimaging next year by joining a Covid-19-compliant fundraising weekend, walking 42 miles along the Celtic Way.

From the starting point in Glastonbury Abbey Park, follow the route used to transport Stonehenge’s bluestones from the Preseli Mountains in Wales to Salisbury Plain, passing an array of Christian, pagan and prehistoric sites, and finishing with a tour of the circle itself.

A two-day Glastonbury-Stonehenge Pilgrimage costs £299pp plus fundraising; April 24 2021 (01590 646410; dream-challenges.com).

2. Cut-short Camino

Northern Spain

The 485-mile Camino Francés to Santiago de Compostela is the classic European pilgrimage – but it takes more than a month to hike, so many time-poor travellers focus on the final 62 miles.

To increase the drama and diversity of the route, start on the French border in the Basque Pyrenees and use strategic road transfers to walk the best 62 miles instead – giving yourself time to rest midway through with a day exploring the provincial capital of Burgos.

An 11-day self-guided Camino Inn to Inn walking trip costs from £2,885pp excluding flights (01273 676712; pura-aventura.com).

3. Tolkien tour

New Zealand

Mad about Middle Earth? Then (when you can) head for New Zealand, where an odyssey around filming locations from The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings also showcases the country’s most magnificent scenery.

Drive between the Shire (aka rural Waikato), Mordor (Tongariro plateau), Rohan (Canterbury’s plains) and the Misty Mountains (Southern Alps), plus gain insight into the Kiwi film industry at Wellywood.

Taking a 16-day Middle Earth ­self-drive tour costs from £3,295pp, including flights (01636 813544; silverfernholidays.com).

4. Sacred seaside

Pembrokeshire, Wales

The relics of St David have been an important pilgrimage destination since the sixth century, and the journey to see them traces one of the country’s most spectacular shores.

Hike along the Pembrokeshire coast, guided by a local poet, admiring coves, cliffs, birdlife and beaches before reaching Britain’s smallest city and St David’s freshly restored shrine.

A six-night guided Way of St David trip costs from £790pp; monthly departures April-September 2021 (07904 042976; journeying.co.uk).

5. Car crusade

Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Not only is the region around Bologna fabulous for a foodie pilgrimage, it suits petrolheads, too. Stay in the city to visit nearby Modena, birthplace of Enzo Ferrari and now home to a Ferrari museum. Then take a spin down “motor valley”, where the factories for De Tomaso, Lamborghini, Pagani and Maserati can all be found.

A three-night tailor-made Modena and Bologna trip costs from £592pp including flights (020 7593 2283; kirkerholidays.com).

6. Paddle pilgrimage

Galicia, Spain

It’s said the remains of the Apostle St James first reached northern Spain by boat. So do likewise, kayaking the sacred 48-mile-long route these relics allegedly took between San Vicente do Grove and Padrón, camping, fishing and snorkelling along the way, before making the final 16-mile push from Padrón to Santiago on foot.

An eight-day guided Kayak the Camino trip costs from £760pp excluding flights; 2021 dates TBC (01273 823700; responsibletravel.com).

7. Musical motherland, USA

Home of country, blues, jazz and rock’n’roll, the Deep South is THE place for a musical mission. Visit Sun Studios in Memphis, take a VIP tour of Graceland, go behind the curtain at the Grand Ole Opry, see Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and finish in New Orleans for live gigs and a bourbon or two.

A 16-day Luxury Deep South self-drive costs from £6,390pp including flights (01993 838864; audleytravel.com).

8. Spiritual cycling

Italy

The recently revived Via Francigena is an ancient epic linking Canterbury and Rome. If that sounds too much, focus on the 80-mile section between Lucca and Siena, wending amid Tuscany’s rolling hills, medieval towns, vineyards, chestnut woods and olive groves. It can be walked or cycled, fast or slow – choose your own pilgrimage pace.

A seven-night self-guided Tuscany Via Francigena trip costs from €715pp (£637) excluding flights (00353 1 525 2886; caminoways.com).

9. J-Pop jaunt, Japan

Love Japanese kitsch? Combine temple visits and scenery selfies with brightly coloured J-Pop fun. Explore Akihabara (Tokyo’s geek heaven), get animated at the Studio Ghibli Museum, be served by fembots at the Robot Restaurant, play dress-up at Toei Movie Park, learn how to handle a samurai sword and sleep in a capsule hotel.

A 10-night HyperJapan small-group trip costs from £2,725pp excluding flights; February-September 2021 (0117 244 3380; insidejapantours.com). 

10. Travel Nirvana, Northern India

Seek spiritual sustenance on a journey in the footsteps of Buddha. Pay your respects at his birthplace in Lumbini, the site of his enlightenment in Bodhgaya, his monastic home in Sravasti and where he attained Nirvana at Kushinagar. Balance the holy temples and shrines with an unmissable visit to the Taj Mahal and stays at elegant hotels.

A 15-day tailor-made Buddha’s Footsteps trip costs from £3,720pp including flights (07947 761237; transindus.co.uk).