St Aidan
Why we did this pilgrimage
Jock and I (Bev) felt a calling to explore the spiritual practice of pilgrimage. Our journey was born from a desire to connect our faith experience with a physical journey following in the footsteps of an ancient saint. Jock is Scottish by heritage and has a strong affinity with the Scottish land. We both love the connection to the rugged landscapes and spiritual heritage that shaped Celtic Christianity.
How we found out about it
I first heard about this pilgrimage through Peter Greig's daily devotional - Lectio 365. Peter documents his pilgrimage along St Aidans Way on his book website; Dirty Glory Jock and I were on a different type of pilgrimage, when we listened to Pete's experience, where we had decided to travel around the world - this is another story! A friend sent me Pete's daily devotional and we connected with the idea of a walking pilgrimage as a spiritual practice. Peter Greig was sharing his daily devotional as he himself walked St Aidan's Way. So the dream was seeded and about 2 years later we embarked on our own version of St Aidan's Way.
Why we put this website together
This website serves as a living record and a practical bridge for fellow pilgrims. We realized that while many paths exist, no direct route formally mapped this specific spiritual thread—so we decided to "map" it ourselves. We wanted to share the logistical realities, the navigational breakthroughs, and the spiritual quiet we found along the way, helping you plan your own path across the heart of the North. We really struggled to gather information about this walk so we hope that this will help add to the body of knowledge out there!
A statue of St Aidan found on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne
Who was St Aidan?
St Aidan of Lindisfarne was an Irish monk and missionary credited with restoring Christianity to Northumbria. Known as the 'Apostle of Northumbria', he was a man of extraordinary gentleness and humble spirit.
In 635 AD, following the invitation of King Oswald, Aidan left the monastery of Iona to establish his own at Lindisfarne (Holy Island). He chose this tidal island for its isolation and closeness to the royal fortress at Bamburgh, creating a sanctuary that would become the heart of the Northumbrian church.
Aidan was famous for his commitment to 'the slow way'. He refused to ride a horse, preferring to walk everywhere so that he could speak with everyone he met—rich or poor—on an equal footing. If a wealthy person gave him a gift, he would frequently give it away to the destitute or use it to ransom slaves. His life was an authentic testament to the values of service and peace, qualities that remain at the core of the pilgrimage experience today.
Todays "St Aidan's Way" roughly follows the walk that he is thought to have traveled all those hundreds of years ago. There is something mystical that happens when you take the 'slow way'