Rediscovering the Ancient Pilgrim Paths of Wales and Herefordshire
Updated: 4 days ago
Pilgrimage has deep roots in both Wales and Herefordshire. Ancient churches, holy wells, and timeworn paths crisscross the borderlands. In Wales, pilgrim ways once led to St Davids and Bardsey Island. These routes drew seekers to places known as “thin” — where earth and heaven felt close. In Herefordshire, paths threaded through hidden valleys and ridgeways. They linked villages and market towns with small rural churches like Huntington or Old Radnor. Today, these pilgrim paths are being rediscovered not only as routes of faith but also as ways to reconnect with landscape, heritage, and personal reflection. It is a chance to walk slowly, breathe deeply, and step into the rhythm of those who walked before us.
A Pilgrim Walk through the Ancient Paths of Herefordshire with Kington Walks Festival and Kington Parishes
There are places where the land seems to hold memory. Old lanes worn deep by centuries of footsteps, churches standing quietly in their stone patience, and paths that feel as though they are waiting to be walked. My chosen walk was booked through the fantastic local walking festival held annually here in Kington, 'Kington Walks'. This grassroots walking organization is driven by local volunteers who share a love for footpaths, scenery, history, and community.
Kington is a hub for walkers. The Offa’s Dyke Path meets several regional trails here, making it an ideal base to explore dramatic landscapes. The group organizes two annual walking festivals that showcase everything from rural vistas to industrial heritage, natural history, local arts, and the cozy character of village pubs. They also look after local footpaths, run health-walk schemes, and aim to offer a warm welcome to both newcomers and regulars alike. Ancient Paths, Modern Wisdom is one of those walks that invites you to step into that story.
The Journey Begins
Beginning at the atmospheric and secluded Church of St Thomas a Becket in Huntington, tucked beneath the rise of Hergest Ridge, the journey unfolds gently. It covers four miles of moderate walking, taking around two and a half hours of steady rhythm through the Herefordshire countryside.
Led by Canon Dr. Sally Welch, the walk was less about covering distance and more about opening space — space for reflection, for listening, and for noticing what the path itself might offer. Along the way, Sally shares stories of pilgrimage. She explains how people once traveled these routes in search of faith, healing, or understanding. Their footsteps linger in the earth beneath ours.
There are moments when silence becomes the teacher. The crunch of leaves, the call of a bird, and the pause by a boundary stone or hedgerow all contribute to the experience. At times, the walk feels like moving through layers of time. The ordinary landscape suddenly threads with something timeless.
At its heart, the walk is an invitation to think about the paths we choose in life. It encourages us to consider the ones we return to and the ones we long for. It reminds us that pilgrimage is as much an inward journey as it is an outward one.
The walk closes as it begins, back at the church. But not before sharing a delicious home-cooked meal with fresh vegetables from Fiona’s impressive garden and greenhouse at the beautiful Huntington Court. We ate together, sharing stories with strangers from many different paths of life. Now connected through the walk, that time of food and conversation grounds the experience. It reminds us that pilgrimage is not only solitary but also communal: we walk, we pause, we share.
What lingers afterward is a sense of connection — to the land, to history, and to one another. These ancient paths remind us that wisdom is not only found in books or words but in the simple act of walking with awareness. Letting the way itself become the teacher.
The Setting & Starting Point
We met at St Thomas a Becket Church, Huntington, a tucked-away jewel at the foot of Hergest Ridge. The church itself is beautifully quiet. Ancient stones speak of centuries of worship and reflection. It made a perfect place to gather, breathe in the cool morning air, and set off with a shared sense of purpose.
The Walk
We wound our way through rural Herefordshire. Canon Sally Welch guided us, sharing stories of pilgrimage: old ways and paths. She explained how people in England (and Wales) walked as an act of faith, penance, or seeking. We paused to look at landmarks, old footpaths, boundaries, and the land itself. We reflected on how the terrain shapes human life and how human devotion has shaped the land in turn.
It was quiet in parts. Birds, farmers, hedgerows, and sheep contributed to the atmosphere. I found those moments just as powerful as the talking — when the walk became meditative. It felt like walking through layers of time. You sense the footsteps of many who’ve gone before. Despite all the centuries, those ancient paths still resonate.
There was also discussion about what pilgrimage means today. We explored spiritual benefits, social and psychological wellbeing, and connection to place. It wasn’t preachy; it was more invitational: “How do you walk your path?”
Lunch & Practicalities
We were advised to bring along a mid-morning snack and plenty of drinks — something we were grateful for once we set off at pace. The opening stretch was brisk. By the time we paused, the simple act of eating outdoors made even the smallest bite taste restorative. There’s something about walking that sharpens both appetite and appreciation.
The real highlight, though, was the two-course lunch awaiting us at Huntington Court, cooked by Fiona. We expected sandwiches but were greeted with salmon, homemade bread, and fresh salad on a bed of lentils. It was delicious, far more than just a meal. Sitting together at the long table, we shared food and stories. The morning’s rhythm of movement gave way to the warmth of conversation. Plates passed around, and strangers began to feel like companions.
This closing moment transformed the walk into something richer. It became not only a journey through landscape but also a gentle weaving of community. The lunch offered both nourishment and pause, anchoring the experience in a way that felt deeply satisfying and grounded.
Reflections: Ancient & Modern Wisdom
Pilgrimage as Metaphor and Practice: What struck me was how pilgrimage is many things. It is a journey in outward steps, but also an inner one. The walk encouraged reflection: Where am I walking in life? What paths do I choose or avoid?
Connection to Land & History: Being in Herefordshire, near Hergest Ridge, the landscape feels alive with history. Old churches, ancient boundaries, and hidden paths tell stories of belief, struggle, and community.
Community & Presence: Walking with others, sharing silence and conversation, breaks open what solo walks sometimes cannot. There’s something powerful in collective movement and in listening to others’ insights.
Modern Relevance: Mental health, spiritual wellbeing, slowing down, and being present are not new needs, but perhaps they are more urgent now. Ancient paths remind us that people before us walked, rested, reflected, and found comfort in walking as practice. We do too.
You can walk from here to the Pilgrim path that starts at St Stephen’s Church, Old Radnor. I plan to do this walk myself soon, and I’m already excited. I want to capture something of what draws me to walks like these — history, beauty, silence, and questions. St Stephen’s stands in Old Radnor on a site sacred for centuries. With its medieval screen, ancient font, and an organ case from around 1500, even the church building feels like an echo of many who’ve walked, worshipped, and reflected here before. I imagine starting there early in the day, breathing in the quiet, and letting the peace of the place ground me.
Then the route will take me through the countryside: lanes and fields, hedgerows, and maybe glimpses of Radnor Forest. I will climb and descend, following the slow rhythm of footsteps and breath. There are likely to be views over hills, old castle earthworks, and perhaps the sense of stepping through layers of time.
You can find all the local Pilgrim paths here.
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