Religious and Spiritual Sites
Contours Walking Holidays
Religious and Spiritual Sites
https://www.contours.co.uk/religious-and-spiritual-sites
The UK is famed world-wide for its long-standing history, with one of its major aspects being its links to all things ethereal. Great Britain has celebrated religion, spirituality and legends since prehistoric times, and the evidence still litters the landscape. From abbeys, priories and cathedrals to stone circles, burial chambers and pilgrimage routes, there is so much to uncover. Many of our walking holidays visit the UK’s most iconic religious and spiritual sites, so you can discover this amazing history first-hand.
Click here for a full list of walking trails featuring religious and spiritual sites, or check out our favourite examples below:
The White Peak Way explores the Peak District National Park, showcasing many intriguing stories along the way. The plateau of Stanton Moor provides great insight into local spirituality and legend. The Bronze Age barrows, stone circles and standing stones scattered here fostered tales of druids, magic and ghosts. The most notable landmark on the Moor is the Nine Ladies stone circle. This supposedly formed when nine ladies were turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath.
Other sites of note include Tideswell Church, Little John’s burial site at Hathersage, and a hideaway carved by a Victorian vicar at Rowter Rocks.
Thought to have been in use for over 5,000 years, the Ridgeway follows one of the oldest tracks in Britain. This National Trail heads through the Wessex Downs and the Chiltern Hills, unveiling a range of historic monuments along the way.
At the start of the trail is the World Heritage Site of Avebury, with its huge prehistoric stone circle. There is also the mysterious chalk mound of Silbury Hill and the West Kennet Long Barrow on display nearby. As the route continues, it reveals more Neolithic sites and fascinating curios. The Uffington White Horse, for example, is the oldest hill figure in Britain at around 3,000 years old. Each turn in the trail offers something new to explore, making the Ridgeway a truly immersive walking route.
St Cuthbert was a renowned monk, hermit and bishop who lived in the 7th century. He travelled across Scotland and northern England, spreading the word of Christianity and devoting his life to the church. St Cuthbert’s Way follows the saint’s spiritual journey, beginning at the remarkable ruins of Melrose Abbey, where his monastic life began.
The walk enjoys beautiful, varied scenery before arriving at the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. The island’s impressive priory was founded in AD635 and was an important site for Christians in Anglo-Saxon England. Lindisfarne Priory is the site of St Cuthbert's original pilgrimage shrine and his final resting place. St Cuthbert's Way combines these sites and more to offer a fantastic insight into Britain's religious history.
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If you have any further questions or queries, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help you.
