My first pilgrimage was very much a journey of discovery as I explored Wales on foot over a period of three months. I walked roughly north from my home in mid-Wales to the ancient place of pilgrimage at Holywell (Trefynnon) with my route also taking in the fascinating historic church at Pennant Melangell in the Berwyn hills.
Not far from Holywell I then met, by chance, a group of pilgrims who walk to the island of Bardsey (Ynys Enlli) each year on a route of their own devising across north Wales. They very kindly invited me to join them for this section of my walk.
Having visited Bardsey and nearby Aberdaron, I then resumed walking on my own as I made my way roughly south to the great pilgrimage centre of St David’s (Tyddewi). From there I went to Llantwit Major (Llanilltud Fawr and through Cardiff ( Caerdydd) to home.
The reconstructed shrine to St Melangell at Pennant Melangell. A children’s ‘play church’ in the Ruthin area of north-east Wales. Detail of the medieval churchyard cross at Tremeirchion near St Asaph. The parish church at Mwnt on the west Wales coast. St Non’s holy well near St David’s. Village church in the Vale of Glamorgan.