My pilgrimage experiences

I don't believe much, although I know some things. I'm sceptical, rational, cynical, anti-authoritarian, and the list goes on. Yet, since 2000, I keep returning to pilgrimages and I don't entirely know why.

2000, Le Puy-en-Velay, France to Santiago de Compostela to finish at the lighthouse of Finisterre. The route passed through Conques, Figeac, Cahors and Moissac before reaching St Jean-Pied-de-Port in the foothills of the Pyrenees, and in Spain through Roncesvalles, Pamplona, Puente la Reina, Estella, Logroño, Burgos, León, Astorga, Ponferrada and Sarria before it reached the “City of the Apostle”: 1,800-km

2002, Winchester, England to Le Mont Saint-Michel, France. The route passed through Portsmouth and by ferry to Cherbourg and continued to Barfleur (figures large in English history), the Normandy coast, across Normandy to walk across the bay with a guide to the iconic Le Mont Saint-Michel: ~200-km.

2005, Saint Cuthbert's Way from Melrose to Lindisfarne (Holy Island) off the coast of Northumberland: 100-km.

2007, Camino Portugués from Porto, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela: 232-km.

2008, Le via Francigena to Rome, Italy. I began from my home in north London and walked to Trafalgar Square to link with St Martin-in-the-Fields’ annual pilgrimage to Canterbury and continued to Dover and by ferry to Calais - crossed France, Switzerland (followed the north shore of Lac Léman) to arrive at the Great Saint Bernard pass and crossed into Italy and continued through Aosta to Rome: 2,100-km.

2010, Cami de Llevant runs from Valencia via Albacete, Toledo, Avila and Zamora to Santiago de Compostela to finish at the lighthouse of Finisterre, once again: 1,290-km

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In the Middle Ages Barfleur was one of the chief ports of embarkation for England.

1066 - A large medallion fixed to a rock in the harbour marks the Norman departure from Barfleur before the Battle of Hastings.
1120 - The White Ship, carrying Prince William, only legitimate son of Henry I of England, went down outside the harbour.
1194 - Richard I of England departed from Barfleur on return to England following his captivity by Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor.