Wellspring Villages Pilgrimage Walk

The Wellspring Villages Pilgrimage Walk is a circular walking route linking the four churches of our parish – St Andrew’s, Wanborough, All Saints, Liddington, St Mary’s, Bishopstone and St Swithun’s, Hinton Parva.

Following footpaths, village lanes, countryside tracks, and stretches of the ancient Ridgeway, the route invites pilgrims and walkers to journey through the landscapes, communities and sacred places that shape our parish.

More than simply a walk, the pilgrimage offers space to slow down, reflect, pray and reconnect — with God, with creation and with one another.

The full pilgrimage forms a circular route of approximately 16.7km (10.45 miles) and can be walked either as a complete journey or in smaller individual sections. Each stage offers its own character and rhythm:

• open ridgeway views
• quiet village lanes
• rolling downs
• woodland paths
• historic churches
• moments of stillness and reflection

At each church, pilgrims are encouraged to pause for prayer, reflection, and a simple symbolic act using water drawn from the springs of our villages — a reminder of renewal, hospitality, and shared faith.

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A Pilgrimage of Prayer and Reflection

Throughout the route, pilgrims are invited to engage with short reflective pauses and “mindful moments” inspired by the landscape and the experience of walking. The Wellspring Villages Pilgrimage Walk is rooted in the ancient Christian tradition of pilgrimage — not simply travelling to a destination, but allowing the journey itself to become a place of prayer, encounter, and renewal. Whether walking alone or with others, we hope the route offers moments of:

• stillness
• gratitude
• conversation
• prayer
• wonder
• and reconnection with the natural world

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Walking the Route

The pilgrimage can be walked:

• as a full circular journey
• in individual stages
• during organised parish pilgrimage days
• or independently throughout the year

Detailed route maps, directions, timings, and practical guidance are available for each section of the walk. The paths combine field tracks, village roads, woodland paths, and sections of the Ridgeway, with generally easy walking suitable for most people with reasonable mobility.

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Rooted in Our Villages

The pilgrimage reflects the shared life of the Wellspring Villages parish — four churches serving four communities, connected through worship, hospitality, landscape, and faith. As the route passes through fields, springs, churches, and ancient pathways, it tells the story of a parish deeply rooted in place and shaped by the rhythm of village life.

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Plan Your Walk

Whether you are looking for:

• a reflective day walk
• a spiritual journey
• time outdoors
• local history and churches
• or simply space to breathe and slow down

…we warmly invite you to explore the Wellspring Villages Pilgrimage Walk.

Every step is welcome.