Three walking routes in England for the aspiring pilgrim
From a walk through neolithic “horizon architecture” to a trek to the Isle of Avalon. Jasper Spires reports.


The ancient route from Great Malvern Priory to Worcester Cathedral
From the awe-inspiring stained-glass windows of the Great Malvern Priory to the booming hall of Worcester Cathedral, this journey along the River Severn should inspire any modern-day pilgrim. “I feel the ghosts of the distant past stirring in my pilgrim bones,” says Pamela Goodman in the Financial Times, recalling her own trip between the holy sites. Trekking between the chapels, through the idyllic apple orchards and fields of Worcestershire, can itself be a form of tranquil meditation upon the journeys of pilgrims past, and would make a perfect getaway after a long lockdown.
Stay at the Eckington Manor hotel (eckingtonmanor.co.uk, £158), says Harriet O’Brien in The Daily Telegraph, “an epicurean haven on the fringes of the Cotswolds”. Feast on the hay-smoked lamb and enjoy your well-earned rest.
Hiking Up Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor, a conical hill topped with a ruined church tower in the Somerset town of Glastonbury, has long been a site of pilgrimage for Christians, pagans and other mystics across the UK. “It’s as mysterious as Atlantis,” says Delilah Khomo in Tatler magazine – the town has rich historical and mythical ties to the legends of King Arthur, the Holy Grail and Avalon. If you’re looking for a path to inner peace, a long climb up the Tor is sure to set you on your way.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Stay in the nearby Durslade Farmhouse (dursladefarmhouse.co.uk), which costs from £350 to £1,500 a night. The Dursdale has a rustic, traditional aesthetic, but that’s been paired nicely with mind-expanding experimental art and a video installation by Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist. The local Osip restaurant is headed by the appropriately named Michelin-starred chef Merlin Labron-Johnson.
The Old Stones Way in the Peak District
From the summit of Higger Tor on the Pennine moorlands southwest of Sheffield, you can see your destination 25 miles south: the neolithic burial site of Minninglow. Pilgrims on this trail will see various old stones and prehistoric sites dotted along the way, creating a mysterious landscape design of “horizon architecture”, says Guy Hayward in The Guardian. “There is a joy in engaging with this sight-line technology and feeling the awe our ancestors must have felt.”
The Cavendish Hotel (devonshirehotels.co.uk, £170) provides the perfect place to put your feet up at the end of the day’s walk. It’s “the swishest” hotel in the area, says Jane Knight in The Mail on Sunday. And if you still have energy after a day on the moor, the Cavendish can arrange tours of the 105 acres of gardens at nearby Chatsworth House.
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
Jasper is a former writer for the MoneyWeek and he wrote on an array of topics including travel, investing in crypto and bitcoin, as well as cars. Previous to that he freelanced at The Art Newspaper, PORT Magazine and The Spectator. Jasper is currently a freelance writer at FAD magazine and he has an English literature degree from the University of Exeter, and a Master's degree from UCL.
-
Warning as Brits face €6,900 fine if they fail to follow new Spanish travel insurance rule
Tourists are being warned of new rules in Spain that mean you must have fully comprehensive health cover in your travel insurance
-
Rachel Reeves to announce permanent 95% mortgage guarantee scheme
Mortgages offered through the scheme will mean first-time buyers and home movers can buy a home with a deposit of just 5%
-
Review: Trisara, Phuket – a feast for the senses in Thailand
Travel Stay at Trisara resort on Phuket island in Thailand for the top-notch food and spa
-
Review: The Hut, Little Jumby – fun and sun off Antigua
Travel The Hut, Little Jumby, located a short boat hop from the island of Antigua in the Caribbean, is an exclusive private-island beach club
-
Review: Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu – a walk on the wild side
Travel Vaishali Varu connects with nature with a stay at Shangri-La Rasa Ria on the island of Borneo
-
Review: Huvafen Fushi – be reborn in the Maldives
Travel You will leave the luxury resort of Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives feeling refreshed and rejuvenated
-
Review: Gilpin Hotel & Lake House – a luxury stay in the Lake District
Travel Gilpin Hotel & Lake House near Windermere is a treat for the senses, says Matthew Partridge
-
Review: Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes – the grande dame of Cannes
Travel The stars may have arrived for the Cannes Film Festival, but Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes is the true star of the show
-
Review: Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel – Ibiza, but not as you know it
Travel The Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel is a sanctuary on the Balearic island, says Dan McEvoy
-
Review: Buckland Manor – a quiet stay in the Cotswolds
Travel Buckland Manor is a true gem in the Cotswolds, hidden away from the crowds, says Matthew Partridge