St Edmund of Canterbury, Hayes

Pilgrimage to St Michael's Mount

The vision is to walk from St Paul's Cathedral to St Michael's Mount and to establish a Pilgrim's Way, similar to the Camino in Spain.  This refers not only to a route on a map, but also to a Way of Life, a rule of life for those on pilgrimage.

Pilgrimage is a way of praying and interceding for the things that we pass, the people we meet, even the nation we walk through.  It is also a spiritual discipline - a soul-training exercise, that works the grace of God into our lives so that we better embody a Christ-like character.

The Post-Communion Prayer for the Tenth Sunday After Trinity
God of our pilgrimage,  you have willed that the gate of mercy should stand open for those who trust in you: look upon us with your favour that we who follow the path of your will may never wander from the way of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

               with allusions to Pilgrims Progress


Day 1:  St Paul's Cathedral to St Edmund of Canterbury, Hayes

Distance: 15 miles; 33,000 steps; about 5 hours walking, 9am - 3:30pm (including breaks)

            

 Route: Ludgate Hill; Fleet Street; The Strand; Trafalgar Sq; Pall Mall; Haymarket; Piccadilly Circus; Regent Street; Oxford Street; Bayswater Rd; Holland Park; Shepherd's Bush; Uxbridge Rd (Acton Vale, Broadway etc).  

Ealing Broadway

            


Southall

Southall Junction Southall Broadway

After Hayes Bridge 

Hayes Bridge

turn right onto Brookside Road,

Brookside Turning Brookside

continue to the end, 

Brookside community centre

cross the brook and cross the field following the diagonal path, Diagonal

go under the A312 underpass, A312 underpass

then follow the Hillingdon Trail 

Hillingdon Trail Larch Cres Field

Larch Cres Field 2

to Yeading Lane, turn right 

Yeading Lane

and arrive at St Edmund's Church.

Day 2: St Edmund of Canterbury Hayes to Slough

Route: The Hillingdon Trail; Charville Lane; 

The last view of central London from the top of Charville Lane

The last view of Central London from the top of Charville Lane.  This view reminds me of a scene from Pilgrim's Progress when they look back to see the city they have left behind.

Lees Road, Pield Heath Road; The Celandine Way;

The Slough Arm of the Grand Metropolitan Canal


Day 3: Slough to Maidenhead

Slough to Eton, Windsor and then the Thames Path to Maidenhead.


Day 4: Maidenhead to Henley

Thames Path


Day 5: Henley to Reading

Thames Path


Day 6: Reading to Goring on Thames 

Thames Path

(There is an alternative route which is to follow the Kennet and Avon Canal to Devizes.)