Hope Walking

23/09/2024

Day 16: Matosinho. 13 km. First leg of my journey out of Porto at last. Sleeping here one last night before 10 days of pilgrim dorms in hostels.

So let's throw in a few more numbers so you know where I'm at.

Lisbon to Porto Camino is 367 km. I have now covered 363 km by walking back and forward on the route from Porto to add to my 241 km before the fires broke out. Job done.

Porto to Santiago Coastal route (green coastline- hugging dots below), favoured by 37% of Camino Peregrinos apparently, is another 271km or 167 miles. I am scheduled to walk that in a challenging 13 days, so around 21km per day. Grateful it's about a third less than my first 10 day total. That last 10k in the heat was THE KILLER for me and my feet. And another 10 days of relentless walking before I get a rest day.

Grand total at Santiago will be 638 km/ 397 miles (without detours, finding auberges or food foraging!).

Back to today. Started cool and misty (an unwelcome foretaste of the four days of rain forecast, starting heavy tomorrow) but ended well in 21 degree sunshine and my first swim.
I passed an amazing man as I followed the pilgrim path out of the city. He had dozens of birds on his one man band contraption. All happy, safe, looked after, sticking with him for love. They could have flown away but no need in such a relationship. No coercion, no ties, no control. I pondered that a lot about men and religious structures as I walked.

Walking out along the beautiful Douro River, I chatted to two retired women from California and Delaware on a second camino, several years in the planning after the Frances. Enjoyed the craic with five hilariously buoyant women from Belfast who were completing the route two years running... this week and the second half next year.

Then I fell into step with two pilgrim pals from the Netherlands who had befriended a young German woman that morning who had felt the sudden urge to walk the camino and come with no preparation. Bless... they were downloading sage advice from Marijke's SEVEN previous caminos. I was all ears to learn from a master too!

Lauren from Stuttgart told me she just needed to get away, sort out her head, improve her mental health and make a plan for her life. You sound like me, I told her!

We shared stories of loss, agreed there was never need to compare. Pain is pain. We cried, hugged... and she bought me a cuppa because in the magic of the Camino, she had been fretting about having accidentally brought her hostel keys with her.

I was returning to Porto, so I agreed I would walk them round to her hostel on the way to stocking up on Compeed and snacks needed for tomorrow's 26km. She was so relieved.

Early start in the morning and a tough distance, so buen camino everyone 🥰

22/09/2024

Day 15: Porto prep. 19 days since I landed in Lisbon. Well it's certainly been a varied day today.
Awake early knowing I had agreed to talk on Radio Sheffield's Sunday Morning show about the terrible fires on the Camino route here in Portugal, how it had affected the atmosphere and the pilgrimage.
🎙📻 *Head to to 2hrs 15m into the show link below if you'd like to listen to my ten minute summary of the journey so far*

Then set myself a last stretching task here before heading back onto the pilgrim path tomorrow.
I felt big, bold and brave walking 40 mins to the huge travel interchange and successfully getting myself on a bus to explore a riverside town an hour away... and back! Just wanted to prove to myself I could freestyle solo... ready for future adventures!

Checked out of last night's 8 bed mixed dorm hostel, checked into what should have been my two nights rest day single room accomodation after the planned 125km 5 days into Porto.

Using the delightful space to spread out: unpack and repack my backpack, charge all my electricals, wash all my dirty clothes, check my route and count my kilometres! More on that tomorrow after my first Coastal Camino leg.

I have decided to split day 1... 37 km in one day after a rest with heavy pack and just-healing feet is waaay too much for anyone. So I am walking the first 11k tomorrow, getting the bus back for my last night accom in Porto, then bussing back to do a challenging but more manageable 26k on Tuesday.

Bit nervous about tackling these big distances again while my blisters are still healing, but the weather has turned a more Autumnal low twenties and... typical...first 'proper' rain is forecast for three days after tomorrow.
Hoping I can get my feet back into my Hoka trainers without more damage. Won't be much fun sloshing about in my fetching sock n sandal 🧦👟combo and friction can be so damaging on the skin as I already know to my cost. Maybe my walking trousers will finally get an airing?👖😆

Thought for the day. As I grumbled to myself handwashing my clothes in the small basin as best I could without a plug 😬or washing liquid (using body wash again🙄 Everything has to double up on the camino) and worried about whether my rather grey gear would dry overnight, let alone the utter privilege of accessing a washing machine or dryer like I can at home- I thought about the Lesotho women I meet.

They have to walk- miles sometimes- for water to drink, wash themselves and their clothes... and of course transport back for cooking. I know a fist hand now how heavy carrying just 2.5 litres is on one's back. No wonder saving 80% of the water needed to cook is such a massive boon to the women we seek to support.🥰

And our eco cookbags never need washing. The dark coloured pot wrapping cloth we provide with each bag- all made from ethical fully biodegradable cotton- can be scrubbed as much as needed to preserve the bag. Clever, eh? Ken Dunn and his Sheffield Hallam friends have thought of every aspect of sustainable design. If you can support, I still have £100 to go to reach my target! THANKS XX

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0jnfht1

21/09/2024

Day 14. Another night here... just arrived at my third hostel due to a heaving Porto. Amazingly my Portuguese check in host spent 11 years living in Sheffield with her dad!

She is excited that I have been invited live from the hostel garden at 8.15am to talk about the interrupted pilgrim journey while forest fires rage with BBC Sheffield Sarah Major... providing the signal holds.
If you're up then, do listen in.

Meantime... more exploring Douro Valley today.

20/09/2024

Day 13. Still Porto.
Crunched some numbers over my usual Mini Precio yog and banana breakfast today.

From 5 to 15 September when us pilgrims were forced to flee 37 degrees heat and smoke in Coimbra, I had walked 241km.

If I'd been able to carry on walking the five stages to Porto, I'd have done another 125 km before my rest day here.

And switching to the Coastal route for my next leg gives me 271km to go. So I'm more than half way now.

I have already walked 69 of those missing km to keep mobile exploring this beautiful city on foot, doing every free walking tour going, so I may have done the 125 before Ieave Porto. The slower, cooler, lighter pace has done my feet good for sure.. just concerned about hoisting the pack again on Tuesday after the break.

Today my giant heel blisters finally burst, so healing on its way there. The relief is utter joy.
Shoulder muscles recovered. Scratches due to missed arrow argument with hawthorn hedge in farmer's field healing. All good.

Less good today was discovering I have to move hostels for the third time tomorrow and dropping my spare debit card in the park this afternon. Retraced my steps like my sunglasses, but no sign. Froze it immediately, but both things increase one's sense of vulnerability. I'm learning A LOT about that on this journey.

This morning I was up early and headed out in the smoke- clearing, temperature- dropping rain to the suburbs on one of the beautiful old wooden electric trams. I passed literally dozens of pilgrims setting out from Porto to Santiago and wished I was among them. I walked back into the city greeting them and asking where they had come from as I went. Germany, Rhode Island, Netherlands... all keen to converse and connect... such joy.

And my special moment today... I stopped for my morning pot of Cha Preto, a delicious almond cookie and ready for picnic lunch, one of the pizza-like local specials you see pictured here at the cafe behind the tram (all for under four euros... incredible value).

A homeless man was begging around the tables and again, people turned away. But five minutes later, I saw my waiter bring out a bag of goodies and a coffee in a takeaway cup for him, they beamed at each other and the waiter clapped him on the back and wished him well. Such a beautiful gesture from this local cafe. I thanked him as I left. He just shrugged... no big deal. But it gave humanity to the beggar.

And within a hundred yards, who should I see but my pilgrim pals Ash and Gabby who got out of Coimbra the same day. Gabby had blisters in exactly the same places as me, and rolling onto the edges of her feet had given her tendonitis, but determindley with two freshly purchased hiking poles and an ankle brace, she was pushing on to Santiago. We hugged another goodbye.

Three more days, and it will be me striding out on my next 27km to Povea.

Bom camino everyone.

19/09/2024

Day 0.4. Enforced rest in Porto. Again.
Spent the morning changing hostels (felt sad after everyone left our dorm today onto their next adventure, especially my pilgrim pal Maia who resumed her camino before 6am) and trying to get through to booking.com to appeal about my accomodation refusing a refund. Nothing doing so far.
The brilliant and super helpful Debbie Dent at Travel Counsellors has checked my insurance... this situation isn't covered, sadly. My camino coach Sam Wild Camino is on the case, suggesting trying to re-sell my room on Facebook so I can at least do the next leg along the river and spend a couple of days at the coast. No buyers so far.

So by lunchtime with the horrendous smoke starting to lift and clearer air, thank the Lord, I booked on a second walking tour to keep my legs moving. Results of the hidden old town tour below. And a work of art ice cream to cheer myself up, missing my pilgrim pals so much already.

So with another solo dinner done, I am heading back to an early night at the hostel, another new bunch of folk to meet in the (all female tonight) dorm, and gearing up for the first rainstorm tomorrow and FIVE more nights here before I can start cracking those kilometres again.

I bought a yoghurt for breakfast in a small park, and found my attention drawn to a barefoot homeless man enjoying sharing crumbs with the pigeons, dancing with joy as they swooped around him in a world that I watched turn away from his plight. His joy in giving to his fellow creatures who were only too happy to be in his presence was today's best lesson.

So I am trying not to feel sad my plans are blown so much off course and make the most of my time here, releasing myself and my friends to new companions...

Buen camino, everyone.

17/09/2024

Day 10: Porto- unexpectedly. This stage was supposed to be day 15. Well it's all been a weird old scramble today. Breakfasted with my camino family then we said our au revoirs.

Instead of five nights walking between hostels, three of us jumped on a still- running train to a post apocalyptic- looking Porto and two of us found a hostel together. Official Pilgrim auberge was already full of fire-fleeing peregrinos.

I would love to start walking away from the smoke tomorrow, but as all accomodation has filled fast, have to stick to the programme.

So we made the most of the evening with a dash to Porto Se Cathedral to get a second passport (almost filled my first from Lisbon), then street food by the river, listening to some outstanding Oasis and Coldplay covers. Smoke and ash everywhere. So very sorry for those poor souls desperately affected..

My dear pilgrim pal Maya continues without me after tomorrow, but we shall see what comes on the journey...

Buen camino everyone.

16/09/2024

Day 0.3. Rest day 1.
Enjoyed a slower day exploring Coimbra, the old capital of Portugal today after phsrmacy foot attention and replacing sunglasses.

Despite two goes on the cute tourist train and finishing my one book- so that's a few more grams less to carry- I've still clocked up 14000 😯.

Big news is the wild fires breaking out to the right and most importantly, between Coimbra and Porto. I have four more 20- 25km legs between me and safety, but roads are closed, public transport is reduced or stopped and no pilgrims I met today are chancing getting trapped in the remote rural areas the camino takes us through.

So result of a 4 way conflab between Notting Hill James, Slovenian Maya and Canberra Sue- my current camino family, plus extensive Internet research this evening, means we need to get the train out tomorrow- if it's still running.

My issue is that I am the only one with accomodation pre booked along the route because of the crowds from Porto. Messing with that schedule could result in struggling to find a bed. And four nights new accomodation to find from tomorrow night.

Tricky. Like life. Our plans so easily unravel. A diagnosis, a bereavement, an extreme weather event, and we realise how vulnerable we really are and how little control we actually have. Surrendering to the journey.

Let's see where tomorrow takes us. Buen camino.

15/09/2024

Day 9: 240/607 km. Not used to a late night or a sangria. Found a glass of wine does not help cover 32km in over 30 degrees with blisters... so a rare luxury as I now collapse into bed in my OWN ROOM 2 hours after pilgrim bedtime, 8pm in hostels to set out before dawn.

Thankfully tomorrow is my first planned rest day in this beautiful city before heading quietly further central to Porto where I have been told to prepare for hordes of pilgrims attempting the final 200km. My feet wish I'd just set my sights on that distance, too!

Took time to view Portugal's best preserved, most extensive Roman remains this morning before a reduced walk on my ruined feet. Felt like the contestants in Race Across The World, who stop to wonder at the sights once in a while instead of always watching the clock...

For the first time since I arrived I sat in a cafe with my book for an hour this afternoon drinking Cha Verde and licking a gelato limon. Bliss.

On arrival, I was sorry to say goodbye at Coimbra Cathedral to the delightful Gabby (Zach's age) and her partner Ash. They made great pilgrim company the past three days as we shared dorms and trekked along, but they leave for Porto to continue the Coastal Route after their rest day tomorrow, so unlikely I will see them again on The Way. We parted with hugs and bom caminos at the Cathedral.

Having limped around the beautiful Unesco Botanical Gardens here, I realised I had left my sunglasses on my bench, dragged myself back to find them gone, then I'd left my phone charger in my rucksack and as my phone died realised I had no Google maps or the key code to my hotel.

Doing a bit of guesstimate navigation, I was searching for a phone shop to persuade for a 5 minute charge, when there in front of me appeared my miraculous angel... pilgrim Maya I had last seen 2 days before, who had a full charger AND a compatible cable. We agreed it was the Camino Magic.

Buen camino until next time...

14/09/2024

Day 8: 223/697km. Toughest day today. Not the length. The pain in my feet. On the cobbles. On the stones. Uphill pressure on my heel blisters. Downhill pressure on the toe blisters. A few loose wild dogs we had been warned can bite. Hard to focus on nature today and few pilgrims to distract me as the sesring sun beat down.

But some beautiful moments. The stunning sky at dawn this morning as the sun rose behind the wind turbines' stately spin, the dragonfly which followed me 100 metres, two men walking to Fatima... one all the way from Germany, who stopped to wish me bom camino; chatting to a trio of californians who last year walked the French route after watching The Way, back this year for more! The elderly man who stopped harvesting olives to help me draw water from the spring to refill my dwindling supply, sharing my extra bits of food with hungry 28 year old pilgrim Gabi from Norwich... Gabi would have approved.

And finally our auberge host, delightful Noo Noo who took one look at my golf ball blister and drove me to the pharmacy and waited for inspection. Result: keep on with the triple Compeed, two socks, only wear sandals, grin and bear it.

Having to take it easier tomorrow and then a longed-for rest day. Two nights in the same bed... bliss.

Buen camino everyone.

13/09/2024

Day 7: 204/ 607. A third of the way!

Today I met only one pilgrim until I arrived at my auberge in over 11 HOURS walking. That's how few people I am reminded attempt the entire Lisbon to Santiago Camino.

And he was going the other way to Fatima, a shorter pilgrimage in it's own right and now far in my rear view mirror!

For those who would like to see what my pilgrimagelooks like, it's worth checking out BBC iplayer Pilgrimage to Fatima. Or for my original inspiration, watch The Way with real life father and son Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez a few times🥰

I start each day setting an 'intention'. It's what sets a pilrimage apart from just a walk. And the spiritual significance of the places travelled between to you.

Healing is one reason people went on pilgrimages and I'm so grateful for the prayers for my feet. They were definitely less painful and I managed.

Today I was looking for signs about future direction. Laughed out loud to meet a South African woman randomly at lunch. Only two of us outside the cafe once the teenagers left. What are the odds that Anna Maria was also widowed young and lived in Lesotho with her late husband? Or that the supermarket I passed 100 metres away was called Ken Bazaar! Or that another half mile away was a giant sewing machine sculpture?

Pondering over all this could mean with rising joy and gratitude all day today. Butterflies, lizards, ants, chestnuts, sweet sweet grapes, succulent figs all by the roadside... what a day indeed.


Bom Camino!

12/09/2024

Day 6: 174/ 607k. Quarter of The Way walked.
Today I needed to join my fellow pilgrims with some invaluable rest. Most were staying two days to recover for the next leg and tomorrow's fourth 30 km day.

Tomar is a stunning city. Cathedral where I lit a candle for those I have loved and lost. The Portuguese castle capital of the Knights Templar who protected pilgrim routes towering over us... built 10 years before Becket was martyred in Canterbury Cathedral and pilgrimage exploded all over Europe.

And behind a stunning convent to explore. So instead of another painful 6am start 25k route march to finish me off, I reminded myself I have already done all the km required, and gave myself the beautiful gift of a day of awe and wonder to fill my eyes and soul. The highlight was this wonderful baroque musician who when I stopped to donate and engage about his wonderfully heart rending music, played Strawberry Fair especially for me (you can hear a snippet below).

On my way out, we sang the song together and I explained I was crying because the words reminded me of my daughter Gabi who will always be 'a true love of mine'. This lovely man teared up too as he explained his mother had died last week. We hugged and parted. Truly these magic moments across races, ages, genders, cultures and countries on Camino are priceless.

Thankfully much less walking today and a taxi on to my pre-booked accomodation to gain some vital recovery time. The ball of my right foot is agony to put weight on despite three compeeds deep now it has burst, and I can only walk at all thanks to my Teva walking sandals around the walnut sized blisters on my heels. The biggest I have ever had.

And if you want to see what farmhouse dorms look like, here is mine tonight. No sheets or towels. Plastic pillow and matress covered by my silk sleeping bag new out of its wrapper. Apparently they are warm, light and bedbug resistant. Time will tell... until tomorrow Pelegrinos!

11/09/2024

Day 5: 148/607km. I have shredded my feet and have two blisters the size of horse chestnuts... nicely symmetrical, one on each heel from the weight of my pack. On 30 km a day to get to my accomodation (the price of last minute booking and more remote rural areas), I feel like Eddie Izzard running his back-to-back marathons for Comic Relief!

In better news, my shoulders and back are starting to recover after sending about 2 kilos of things I can do without home. Which is a great lesson for life. We believe we need so much, when actually simplicity is very freeing (although alternating two walking outfits, I am hand washing everything I wear every day and trying to get it dry uand rest stops.

All my Dutch, German and London pals have a rest day booked here in our hostel tomorrow, but I have 4 more days before I can take a break. Perils of booking in advance to sticking with my fledgling camino family, but the Portuguese Coastal camino is now the second most popular and pilgrims are struggling to find anywhere to sleep. That was a trust bridge too far for me solo...

Today has been beautiful peaceful olive groves, eucalyptus forests, deserted horse ranch and a long road and railway- side slog that was hard, hard going for the final 12m. I didn't see a soul until our usual breakfast break 12km in, and a Dutch guy sponsored an eco cookbag having asked why I was doing the camino🙌

Most importantly to me, the sending back of weighty surplus gear seems to have created a spiritual and emotional shift, which allowed me to externalise and jettison a load of old grief and pain today into the silent forest... what a blessed relief. We all carry far too much around with us.
Buen Camino everyone and thanks for all the support. MUCH appreciated. x

10/09/2024

Day 4: 119/607km conquered. Another 30k day tomorrow and 3 hills.

Today caught local post office about to close and posted every single thing on the packing list I could live without back to Bakewell. Twenty euros well spent! Hopefully that covers my 2 kilos water weight o my shoukders and feet causing blisters, coz it's rising from 28 degrees tomorrow 🌞 Several people I walked with have already turned back, skipped whole stretches or taken taxis. It's that tough a challenge.

Really sad today when a recently widowed retired French professor had some great convos with got a train further along The Way. We met yesterday and set out together to see the sun rise this morning. 7 ish starts coz it's cooler to walk then. Breakfast after first 10km down. But give him credit, he already completed the French camino in June... back for more healing walking through loss.

Psycotherapist Paula from Melbourne shared her safety pins with me to dry my merino socks on my rucksack as we walked the second leg together. Funny how our stories had so many similarities...

Such moments of beauty in nature. White egrets, tiny lizards, crazy clusters of snails, squabbling sparrows... Enjoying seeing so much produce we eat back home being harvested in the fields: tomatoes, peppers, cream yesterday. Today butternut squash and figs. But boy those paths between endless fields have no shade...

More soon. Really appreciate the encouraging comments.x

09/09/2024

Day 3: 87/607k down. The longest walk I have EVER done in one day. And I'm carrying 9.5 kilos including the weight of 2 litres of essential water.
Heat exhausting. Feet killing. Shoulders agony. Blister on the ball of my right foot is making walking difficult despite double Compeeds and I've got another 32.4k to do tomorrow ending in an 8 bed mixed dorm. 😬
The Camino is- like many say- definitely testing me in every way. No wonder only 10% of pilgrims who walk the Portuguese way start in Lisbon. It is so hard...

On plus side felt the Camino start to work its magic yesterday. Had astonishing conversations with teen mum Gwen, widowed Guy, let-down Barry and enlightened Sabrina along The Way.

Buen Camino everyone! Thanks for your support though this mega challenge x

08/09/2024

Day 2. 53/607km. 6 itchy bites.1 large blister. Could have slumped onto those abandoned chairs around 2pm in the heat, especially after the mile between the sewage works and the railway 😳. Dropped my lunch in the street and ate it anyway. Met a man supporting his blind friend walk the camino wearing both rucksacks. Had amazing pilgrim drinks with two Canadian sisters and a guy from Hackney. It is an experience like no other...

07/09/2024

Day 1. 38/607 km and my shoulders, hips and feet know all about it. Beautiful start, surprised by flocks of flamingos, but could have done without 8k by the choking N6. Only met 2 other pelegrinos all day- both solo women from Ukraine and Slovenia.

07/09/2024

Real now. Lisbon's Se Cathedral. Start of the Camino Portugues.

400 miles, 2 countries, 30 days walking to Santiago Cathedral in Spain.
In need of a circuit- breaking trip, my biggest physical, mental and emotional challenge ever.
Solo. With pack. Mainly dorms. A modern pilgrim experience to bring back lessons learned to my own pilgrimages.

If you would like to encourage me along the way by raising a pound for each mile, to buy 40 eco cookbags for distributing via Ken Dunn Africa's Gift , please donate here https://www.africasgift.org/

06/09/2024

What a wonderful pilgrimage we enjoyed together on St Augustine's Way from Shrine of St Augustine & National Pugin Centre, Ramsgate to Canterbury Cathedral with WalkingWomen guests. Precious time out deeply connecting with ourselves and each other in nature.

17/08/2024

‘Suffering is not a question which demands an answer, it is not a problem which requires a solution, it is a mystery which demands a presence.’ John Wyatt

Care for the Family, who I am a bereaved parent supporter for, have a supportive, caring, invaluable day for all bereaved parents and adult siblings coming up next month September.

These events were a lifeline to me in those early months and years. No one understands like other parents who are with you on and run the training. You will be in the exceptional hands of my friends Dave and Jane Park. Please encourage anyone you know in 'the club no one wants to join' to go. It can be life-changing... for the better.

Bereaved Parent and Adult Sibling Support residential weekend in Daventry. Friday 27 September, 5.00pm to Sunday 29 September, 2.30pm.

13/08/2024

When I guided Hope Walking's first grief and loss pilgrimage, it was a pleasure to talk to presenter Chrissy on BBC South East today during the last brilliantly-organised Kent Pilgrim Festival week.

Now this very special flat 6 mile pilgrimage from Shepherdswell to Womenswold is back on Friday 30 August.
Last chance to book and feel the hope rising as you journey forward through whatever has been weighing you down or holding you back!

09/08/2024

We all live with forms of grief and loss. Health. Career. Relationships. Bereavement.
And it sits like a stone in our hearts, guts, on our backs...
Pilgrimage is a way to lay that heavy burden down. To move through those feelings to HOPE, because we can't just flick a switch and 'get over' it.

Last chance to book our very special women- only Women to Womenswold pilgrimage coming up 30 August- a safe space to let go and reflect... on part of the Via Francigena pilgrim route walked since the first millennia by people like us who found a new way forward.

Featured on ITV, BBC national radio and Woman's Hour. Book here to join us... and there will be cake!
https://hopewalking.co.uk/women-to-womenswold?rq=Women%20to%20womenswold



Visit Kent Visit Canterbury Visit Britain The Kent Pilgrims' Festival North Downs Way Ambassadors

07/08/2024

**SPECIAL OFFER** With ONLY TWO twin/king rooms still available 22 to 24 August at the beautiful Grove Ferry Inn, we and WalkingWomen are offering a second guest sharing your room at 💚HALF PRICE💙... so why not spread the pilgrim love 🥰 and bring a companion for the journey?

Join us on our women-only Way of St Augustine 20 mile pilgrimage with award winning global travel company WalkingWomen starting at the stunning Shrine of St Augustine & National Pugin Centre, Ramsgate.

Discover more and book https://hopewalking.co.uk/st-augustines-way

Enjoy precious time to connect deeply with yourself, nature and others on this inclusive modern-day pilgrimage from Royal Ramsgate Harbour to Canterbury Cathedral. We know you will love it like Pilgrim Alex Gardner!

Alex has her own business consultancy, charity ambassador, great friend and super-busy single mum. This three minute video will give you a wonderful introduction to the staggering beauty our route wove on her and the magic of blue green therapy to bring calm and focus.



Visit Canterbury Visit Kent Visit Ramsgate Visit Britain The Kent Pilgrims' Festival

31/07/2024

Rated 5* by every pilgrim who has joined this very special journey from St Augustine's shrine in to Becket's shrine in Canterbury Cathedral... there's still time to book the last three twin/king rooms 22 to 24 August at the beautiful Grove Ferry Inn.
It's our women-only Way of St Augustine 20 mile pilgrimage with award winning global travel company WalkingWomen.

Book https://hopewalking.co.uk/st-augustines-way for precious time to connect deeply with yourself, nature and a small group of like-hearted others on this inclusive modern-day pilgrimage.

WalkingWomen Group Visit Kent Visit Canterbury Visit Ramsgate