Walsingham Way project offers Norfolk Day walk along old pilgrims’ route
The walk will take place from Norwich to Walsingham along the old pilgrims' route.Picture: Ian Burt - Credit: Archant
Norwich cathedral have teamed up with the Campaign to Protect Rural England's Norfolk group to offer an early morning walk along part of the old pilgrims' route to Walsingham on Norfolk Day.
The walk will take place from Norwich to Walsingham along the old pilgrims' route.Picture: Ian Burt - Credit: Archant
The walk, which will take place on July 27, is part of the Walsingham Way project, an initiative aiming to revive the full old pilgrimage route from Norwich to Walsingham.
The project, led by Norwich cathedral, includes countryside and nature groups, health-care interests, parish and church communities, heritage bodies, the Walsingham shrines and local landowners.
It is hoped that the Norfolk Day walk will serve as a taster in anticipation for the entire route opening in full, with a spokesperson for the project stating: 'We believe that the pilgrimage has a unique capacity to draw people to enjoy the countryside and architectural and spiritual heritage of Norfolk in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way.
'We hope to provide opportunities not only for economic regeneration and development but also for taking exercise in support of physical and mental wellbeing.'
The initiative is part of a larger European project which aims to show how heritage sites can be protected whilst developing jobs and growth along pilgrim routes.
The project also aims to encourage pilgrims to arrive by greener and more sustainable means and lessen the impact on a fragile natural and historic environment, as oppose to arriving by coach or car as many often do.
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The spokesperson added: 'The revival of the pilgrimage route will create many opportunities for established and new businesses along the route to service the needs of walkers and cyclists.
'The project aims to pioneer a new approach to light imprint tourism in Norfolk so that we can continue to attract new visitors with an interest in our key assets of the heritage, tranquillity, locally sourced and healthy food and the enjoyment of active recreation.'
The walk, which will be conducted at a gentle pace, will start at 6.30am at St. Andrew's Church, Great Ryburgh with walkers arriving at around 8.30 to 9am before heading for breakfast at the Norton Rooms within the Anglican Shrine.
