50th Anniversary celebrations
Pilgrimage of Light
2022 will be the year of the 50th anniversary of the LDWA. To celebrate this anniversary year the national committee are encouraging all local groups to organise some sort of event of their own choosing.
So we have a plan for Northumbria group. We will combine two long-distance paths:
1) The Northern Saints Trails, Way of Light. This is a new trail, 45 miles long, from Durham Cathedral to Heavenfield, which transports us on a journey through Christianity's illustrious history in the North East.
2) St Oswald's Way. This more established path, 97 miles long, from Heavenfield to The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, links a number of places associated with the King Saint, Oswald.
We'll do the nearly 145 mile, which is being named the Pilgrimage of Light, in 8 separate linear stages of approximately 20 miles each, as group social walks, over maybe 6-9 months.
Durham Cathedral to Castleside
Castleside to Hexham
Hexham to Kirkwhelpington
KIrkwhelpington to Rothbury
Rothbury to Warkworth
Warkworth to Craster
Craster to Bamburgh
Bamburgh to Holy Island
Each stage will be advertised on the website in the normal way in future events. Because of the need to organise some transport with the walks being linear, we'll need people to book on the walks in advance, but that will be explained when the walks appear on the website. Walkers are free to do as many or as few of the stages as they like. Hopefully we can get a different leader for each stage. I would anticipate starting the first stage early in the year and arriving bare-footed across the sands of the Pilgrim's way to Lindisfarne by summer.
That's the plan. It's a tad ambitious and organising the transport could be challenging. Members have already given me some leads for bus companies, but if anyone in the group owns a bus company or has any contacts I would be glad to know about it. If anyone has any queries or suggestions for improvement, please get in touch.
Interestingly, the Lindisfarne Gospels themselves will be on display in the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, from 17th September 2022 until the 3rd December 2022, on loan from the British Library
Paul Nellist, walks secretary
07495929777
