Wild Waters: Awakening to Well-Being. Ancient Pilgrimage Route to Aquae Sulis, Bath

Connect to nature, cleanse your spirit and awaken your inner wildness on a special pilgrimage, walking an ancient route from Frome to the holy waters of Aquae Sulis, Bath. Culminating in the unique hot mineral-rich springs where the Celts revered their goddess Sul, and which have drawn pilgrims for thousands of years.

Immersing ourselves in the natural world and the sacred histories within it, we will encounter ancient sites and special places, from Singing Tunnels to Holy Wells and water wonders every step of the way. Yoga and meditation, bonfire tales, hilltop picnics and stargazing, wild swimming and wild water drinking, Earth rituals, raucous pub dinner and a night beneath the stars at Iford Manor, will all feature in an inspiring weekend that will ground your awareness and lift your heart.

The waters of Bath have long been sacred to the Celts, Romans and Christians, and we will take full advantage of this wet and watery tradition of well-being, as we un-stick, un-plug and reconnect to the wild, cleansing our bodies, minds and spirits. Exploring wild water drinking and swimming as indigenous British sacred traditions of inner cleansing – with added bonus of skin in sun and joyful health – the route will include beautiful wild swimming spots and wild water drinking springs before reaching our final destination of the Aquae Sulis thermae spa.

The Walk: Expect flat, easy riverside walking on public footpaths – a wild wealth of flora and fauna - colourful canal culture – heritage and holy sites – an ancient island chapel on a lake - fording the river ford at Iford Manor – discovering the lost holy well of Lady Emma in the Priory Woods – drinking from seven springs between Frome and Bath – immersing in the wild waters of the River Frome and the River Avon - culminating at the ancient holy waters of Aquae Sulis – where you can drink from the King Spring and bathe in the Thermae Baths.

Sleeping: Camping in bell tents within the beautiful grounds of Iford Manor. With comfortable rollmats and sleeping bags provided, of course.

Distance#

Day 1 - Frome to Iford Manor - 11 miles

Day 2 - Iford Manor to Bath - 12 miles

What you get for your ticket…#

£75. One night’s accommodation and breakfast on Sunday is included, along with the Thermae Spa entrance fee of £38 per person. Please note this does not include lunch and dinner.

All donations go straight into the British Pilgrimage Trust (HMRC Reg: EW38990), a charitable trust seeking to open up Britain’s pilgrimage tradition in newly inclusive and exciting ways.

Guided by Will and Guy - co-founders of the British Pilgrimage Trust (see below).

This pilgrimage is open to all. Bring your own beliefs. All are welcome.

A journey guaranteed to make you re-encounter Britain in new (and very old) ways.

Why Pilgrimage?#

Today in Britain, the British Pilgrimage Trust is helping to spearhead a new inclusive approach to pilgrimage, promoting it as ‘Open to All – With or Without Religion’. Their motto is ‘Bring Your Own Beliefs’. With the taboo of religious identity bypassed, pilgrimage in Britain can offer an accessible and healthy form of spiritual tourism that does not prescribe belief, which promotes well-being and access to heritage for all participants.

Visit The British Pilgrimage to learn more about the movement of British pilgrimage.

Or see recent articles in the Times, the Guardian, the Independent, the Spectator, Resurgence Magazine, Simple Things and Positive News, or features on BBC1, Channel 4 and Radio 4!

From Guy and Will: We provide full guidance, navigation, and support - as well as the fruit of our extensive pilgrimage experience, including the teaching of pilgrim songs, foraging teas and ways of engaging with holy places. On our thousands of miles of British pilgrimage, we’ve made many mistakes, which hopefully means you don’t have to.

Our goal is to build routes that are open to everyone. But to raise the funds to achieve this, we run these fundraising weekend group events. We’re not a business, we make no profit, we do not pay ourselves to run these weekend events, and we receive no central government funding. With the money we pay people to do things for the charity, like a web designer and a digital map-maker, and a videographer, and meetings with venues for low-cost pilgrim accommodation. Overall, organising these fundraisers serves multiple purposes, combining route research, fundraising, PR, and establishment of low-cost accommodation, all through a single weekend event.

This pilgrimage route will be published online soon, so if you can’t make these weekends it will available for self-guided pilgrims anytime you want.

Making a pilgrimage#

It will be quite a long walk, but we move quite slowly with lots of stops. Your fellow pilgrim companions are usually a mixed bunch - albeit with a certain shared questing glint in their eye. Pilgrims tend to have very little, and almost everything, in common. You’ll see what we mean.

You’ll make friends, learn songs, meet plants and animals. You’ll feel good about yourself and other people, and you’ll feel closer to the land and story of Britain. You’ll change your relationship with holy places, and feel more freedom to meet them in your own way.

Of course, you’ll also be challenged, in significant ways. Your legs might get tired. Someone might say something that’s difficult for you - or vice versa. It could rain and be windy. It could be too hot. And you’ll sleep on a stone floor in ancient cloisters (albeit on comfy mats). And it may open up vistas of possibility that you had not encountered for a while. Your well-set notions might get all shook up, in the best possible way.

This is pilgrimage, in a British tradition, modern but also very old indeed.

If you are interested, book a ticket and come along. If you’re unsure, book two tickets and bring a friend.

See you on the path.