Come and pilgrim with us!
Having planned a series of walks that link up all the churches in our Mission Community, we will be following the on-line guides and meditations on a series of Saturdays this summer.
If you would like to join us, please come along to the starting point, armed with waterproofs, walking boots, a map and a picnic. Please note the timings are estimated – I have added more time here to include meditations and breaks.
The walks can all be found at
Please do check the guide in advance to ensure it is suitable for your ability and experience. We do not have Mountain Leadership or First Aid qualifications, so we will not be responsible for your safety. You will join us at your own risk. (Sorry to be melodramatic!)
WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING FEEDBACK:
Hello, thank you so much for your delightful pilgrim walks. I came across them looking for walks from Hawkshead and we did the Sawreys walk. The route notes are excellent and easy to follow and we especially appreciated the meditations. Just what we needed and planning another for tomorrow. Best of wishes to all the people who’ve taken such care and time to prepare these lovely notes, Valerie & Stewart from Perth, Scotland x
18th May 10am – Walk 6: Hawkshead and Wray
Meet at Hawkshead Church
Difficulty - Moderate
Distance - 7.5 miles
Altitude gain - 1127 ft
Time - Approx. 5 hrs
Bring a picnic.
This walk links up the ancient parish of Hawkshead with a sister church in Wray which is no longer in use. You will leave Hawkshead through the fields and climb up and over the fell to the right of Latterbarrow. The route takes you all the way down the other side to the shores of Windermere. After a wander along the shore to Wray Castle, you will return through farmland and forest, lakes and lanes. There are refreshments and toilets at Wray Castle.
The route over the fell can be muddy and wet and the path to the shore is loose and uneven, so boots are advisable
to protect your ankles.
25th May 10am – Walk 7: Hawkshead Hill and Colthouse
Meet at Hawkshead Church
Difficulty - Easy
Distance - 4 miles
Altitude gain - 500 ft
Time - Approx. 3 hrs
We should be back in time for lunch so no need for a picnic for this one.
Exploring this pretty valley will take you through the tiny hamlets of Hawkshead Hill and Colthouse, as well as the
picturesque village of Hawkshead. You will experience the Ecumenical nature of our community as you visit a Baptist
Chapel, a Quaker Meeting House, a Methodist church and an Anglican church.
You will be walking through fields some of which will have livestock so please keep dogs on leads and close all gates
behind you. There aren’t any difficulties on this walk, but after rain, it will be very muddy.
1st June 10am – Walk 8: Sawrey and Hawkshead
Meet at Sawrey Church.
Difficulty - Moderate
Distance - 7.7 miles
Altitude gain - 980 ft
Time - Approx. 4 hrs
Bring a picnic.
You can park on the road near the church in Far Sawrey.
The route circles up over Claife Heights, past some idyllic tarns and into the forest before dropping down into Esthwaite Vale and the village of Hawkshead. The return journey follows the road along Esthwaite Water back to Sawrey.
After recent storms, some of the paths are very rough, so boots will be needed.
8th June 10am – Walk 9: Satterthwaite to Sawrey
Meet at Satterthwaite Church. Grid Ref SD 339924
Difficulty - Hard
Distance - 8.2 miles
Altitude gain - 1730 ft
Time - Approx. 6 hrs
Bring a picnic.
You can park on the road near the church in Satterthwaite.
This walk is the longest and one of the most challenging in the collection, but it is worth the effort, especially if we get a sunny day. We will cover a range of different terrains and explore little known valleys in this secret corner of the Lake District.
After rain, some of the paths are muddy and steep in places, but the views across Claife Heights to the Eastern Fells at the start of the day are only just surpassed by the expansive vista across South Lakeland and Lancashire on your way home.
15th June 10am – Walk 10: Rusland and Satterthwaite
Meet at Rusland Church. Grid Ref SD 338897
Difficulty - Moderate to hard
Distance - 4.3 miles
Altitude gain - 962 ft
Time - Approx. 4 hrs
Bring a picnic.
You can park on the road near the church in Rusland.
At the southern end of our Mission Community, the Rusland Valley is quiet and there are not many tourists. You will
find parish churches in Rusland and Satterthwaite.
The walk is shorter than some of the others, but quite tricky in places. You will be on forest tracks which are uneven and potentially muddy and there are some steep sections, so boots and a map are recommended.