But when I told the many people we met along the way that this was a pilgrimage I got a fair few blank looks. Yet, if I said this was a Camino, ‘like they have in Spain’, I almost always got nods of recognition. Often they knew of the film, The Way, in which a character played by Martin Sheen walks to the shrine of St James in Santiago, in honour of a son who died on the eve of his own Camino journey. Today, it is once again hugely significant, attracting 300,000 pilgrims a year to the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox Shrines, and to the ruins of Walsingham Priory. In 1061 a Walsingham noblewoman, Lady Richeldis de Faverches, had a vision in which the Virgin Mary transported her soul to Nazareth and showed her the house where the Holy Family once lived, and in which the Annunciation of Archangel Gabriel, foretelling Jesus’s birth, occurred.

The trail leads from London to pass through Waltham Abbey, Ware, Stansted, Mountfitchet, Saffron Walden, Withersfield, Stansfield, Bury St Edmunds, Thetford, Brandon, Great Cressingham, Castle Acre, Fakenham, and it ends in Walsingham. The first section routes east along the Thames heading north at Limehouse in the Lea Valley to reach Waltham Forest and includes much waterside walking. The London to Walsingham Camino Pilgrimage Guide is exceptional in its presentation, highlighting the historical context of the ancient Pilgrim Routes, alongside the spiritual reasons as to why people have made pilgrimage to Walsingham over so many centuries. It eloquently speaks to us of the often unknown spiritual heritage of England. Perhaps lost jewel to be rediscovered! The book is fascinating on myriads of levels with insights from some of the great British authors which have the capacity to open us to the depths of our great literary heritage along side the spiritual one.The church (Lower Thames St, London EC3R 6DN), is the official start of the London to Walsingham Camino route, and will be open for us to visit the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham and stamp our pilgrim passports. Passports are available from the Confraternity of St James (csj.org.uk) She was told to build a replica of the house in Walsingham, and did so. The Holy House, initially a simple wooden structure, later richly decorated with gold and precious jewels, became a shrine and attracted pilgrims to Walsingham from all over Europe including numerous kings. Highlighted holy place: Walsingham Abbey Shrine– There are two modern shrines in the village of Little Walsingham – the Anglican and Catholic shrines. However, in the footprint of the abbey ruins is where the true shrine remains. Here the young noblewoman Richeldis de Faverches had three visions of the Virgin Mary and consequently desired to replicate the Holy House of Nazareth, where Mary herself had had her most famous vision, the annunciation – at the spot in the photo. Construction was difficult but, in the end, it was built miraculously (not by humans). Walsingham eventually became one of the greatest pilgrimage shrines in medieval Europe before it was destroyed by dastardly Henry. The poem Pynson Ballad remains to tell of its greatness.

Our final day was truly sublime. We began by joining the vicar, Tracy, for Morning Prayer at St Peter and St Paul. We had been welcomed in this church the previous afternoon, gratefully hoovering up the remains of a fine St George’s Day spread of sandwiches, pork pies and quiche. Please note: Partly because of restrictions relating to animal infection on a farm, we will currently have to walk along the narrow verge of an A road for two stretches, totalling about 1.5 - 2 miles. It may be that restrictions will lift by April, I am monitoring the situation. This is the only point in the 178-mile journey where this happens. I believe it to be safe, but if you are at all unsure of navigating this, you might like to arrange transport for yourself between Mundford and Hilborough. I hope to be able to offer some pilgrimage-related activities in Bury, and am discussing this with the Cathedral team. It all depends on how many we will be. Some of you have committed to completing the full pilgrimage, others have opted to dip in and out. At this stage it looks as if about half a dozen of us will walk the full route, with variable numbers joining as for a time.How to get your pilgrim credencial/pilgrim passport for access to pilgrim accommodation along the routes, and to qualify for the Compostela certificate of completion. Then, from April 11 to 25, I shall walk the full route over 14 days, with a one-day rest in Bury St Edmunds, on the 18th, where a day of pilgrim events are being planned.