Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent, royal patron of the Pluscarden 1230 Pilgrimage, attended a special ceremony at Pluscarden Abbey on Sunday 17th September to dedicate the ancient stone carried throughout the pilgrimage. The stone came from the ruins of the abbey of Val des Choues in Burgundy, the ...

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS – ARRIVAL AT PLUSCARDEN ABBEY The abbey’s bells rang out triumphantly to celebrate the safe return of the Pluscarden Pilgrims. It was an emotional moment when, following 13 weeks of walking, they finally arrived on a beautiful sunny day. 21 pilgrims set off from Logie in the morning, gathering another ...

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS – WEEK 13 This week started from Fort Augustus following the Great Glen Way to Drumnadrochit then over the hill to Beauly to visit the ruins of the priory which was founded by the Valliscaulian monks from Burgundy at the same time as Pluscarden Abbey. We spent a very ...

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS – WEEK 12 This week followed the West Highland and Great Glen Ways from Tyndrum to Fort Augustus, through some spectacular Highland scenery. A short detour was made to visit the ruins of Ardchattan Priory which was founded by the Valliscaulian monks from Burgundy at the same time as ...

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS – WEEK 11 This was a week of following various water routes across Scotland from Edinburgh to Tyndrum, firstly along the Union and Forth & Clyde Canals to Glasgow, then along the West Highland Way up Loch Lomond. A slight detour was made to Luss where we enjoyed the ...

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS – WEEK 10 Following a wonderful weekend as guests of the Duke of Northumberland at the world famous Alnwick Castle, Week 10 took the pilgrims up the Northumberland coastal path, passing Bamburgh Castle and Holy Island. The border into Scotland was finally crossed and the group proceeded through the ...

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS – WEEK 9 This was a week of contrasts, walking through areas which were stunningly beautiful as well as some which were very run down and deprived, on the way from Ampleforth to Alnwick. One of the highlights was the stunning Durham Cathedral. A memorable night was spent in ...

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS – WEEK 8 Leaving Mount St Bernard, heading north to Ampleforth, this week took in the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral and York Minster. The incredibly kind Father Robert Thacker, (clad in t-shirt and Doc Martins), offered accommodation in his own home to pilgrims and support staff where a very enjoyable ...

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS – WEEK 7 After a fabulous weekend at Prinknash Abbey, we headed up through the stunning Cotswold countryside along the Gloucester Way, then the Heart of England Way to Mount St Bernard. Highlights of the week were a lovely night’s camping at Chipping Campden in the company of the ...

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS – WEEK 6 A beautiful walk along the Thames Pathway from London, spending three glorious nights in the magnificent cottage guest house at Douai Abbey, before arriving at Prinknash Abbey where we enjoyed a fantastic welcome and hospitality for the weekend. Rinnes made some equine friends along the way ...

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS – WEEK 5 A week of two parts, walking from Théouranne to Calais, then crossing the Channel by ferry to Dover and on to London. In Dover we were joined by Alice Carter, one of the Pluscarden 1230 Pilgrimage patrons, and author of “An Accidental Jubilee”, the diary of ...

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS – WEEK 4 A smaller group of pilgrims this week, walking from Laon to Théouranne, passing through the emotional battlefields of WW1. At Théouranne we had the pleasure of meeting Abbot Jacques Tangome and also the mayor, Alain Chevalier, who not only provided a warm welcome and hospitality in ...

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS – WEEK 3 A large group of 16 pilgrims, of all ages and stages of life, set off this week to walk the 100 miles from Brienne-le-Château to Laon. The first few days were spent walking along blisteringly hot, dazzling, endlessly straight Roman roads and when temperatures hit 35C ...

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS  –  WEEK 2 It’s now the end of the second week of the Pluscarden 1230 Pilgrimage. The first week’s group came together and gelled so well that we could hardly imagine recreating such a strong group dynamic during the second week. We miss the first lot, and their fellowship ...

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS  –  WEEK 1 The pilgrims set off at 8am on Monday 5th June from Val-des-Choux on a very hot and humid day, with everyone in cracking form and looking forward to the challenge ahead. After a mass held by the Father Abbot of Pluscarden, they were ceremoniously piped down ...