Welcome to the website of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton Ecumenical Walking Pilgrimage!

Each summer (since 1975) the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton organises an ecumenical walk to a place, shrine or area exploring a particular theme or aspect of our faith and Christian heritage. What we rediscover, year after year, is the amazing personal and community value of going on a pilgrimage as our medieval forebears did, where the journey, walking, laughing, sharing, praying, singing, etc. is as important as the destination. We stop at a pub for lunch and sleep on the floors of church, school or community halls. We try to walk on footpaths not roads.

Our pilgrimages are open to all, so long as you are able to walk about 15 miles per day and sleep on a floor.

Our Pilgrimage in 2026

Our 2026 Pilgrimage will take us from Middlesbrough, where the Catholic Cathedral is celebrating it’s 40th birthday (one of the youngest in the country) to Blackburn, where the Anglican cathedral is celebrating its centenary as a cathedral (though the church building is much older), via Ripon, one of the ancient cathedrals in England. Linking Yorkshire and Lancashire, this is the Roses Pilgrimage.

Bookings are now open at https://thepilgrims.org.uk/book where you can also find out more about the pilgrimage and what to expect.

Pilgrims can join us all the way, for a few days, or for individual days. Pre-booking is essential for overnight stays (capacity is limited) and we encourage day pilgrims to book too.

Last year’s pilgrimage

In 2025 we celebrate our half century and the Diocese’s 60th birthday by walking from Horley to Eastbourne visiting all 11 deaneries in the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton. Click here to view 2025 diary “Pilgrims Live”

More to discover

You can see details and diaries from earlier pilgrimage on our pilgrimages page and visually in our pilgrimage mapping.