Two pilgrimage walks and bus rides around Bury St Edmunds, Rushbrooke, Norton, Brandon and Thetford

This summer, walkers are welcomed on two pilgrimages that begin at St Edmundsbury Cathedral.

Both walks take their name from Suffolk’s patron saint.

The first, on Wednesday, June 4, is St Edmund’s Pilgrimage – a bus and walk which covers around nine miles.

The one-day pilgrimage walk from to St Helen’s Holy Well, and on to Brandon, uses local buses to and from Bury St Edmunds with the walking between Thetford and Brandon.

With the walk beginning in Thetford there is plenty to see and experience along the way with most of the walking along forest paths.

This route forms part of the London-Walsingham Camino and pilgrims may wish to extend it in either direction at their own discretion.

For those just wishing to join for the day, it begins at 9.30 am with an option to join morning prayer beforehand at 8.30 am at the Cathedral.

The second pilgrimage is St Edmund’s Pilgrimage – Bury St Edmunds Circular via Rushbrooke and Nowton on Saturday, July 26.

The nine-mile circular pilgrimage walk starts and ends at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, taking in the Suffolk countryside and two lesser known and fascinating churches at Nowton and Rushbrooke.

Walking begins at 10am with an aim to be back at the Cathedral in time for an optional stay for Evensong at 3.30 pm.

Although pilgrimage has its routes in faith-based journeys and these pilgrimages include stopping at places of worship, they are open to all faiths and none.

Those who may not have considered pilgrimage before are encouraged to join and make their walking meaningful in whatever way they would like.

Sarah Friswell, the visitor experience manager at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, said, “Pilgrimages are perfect for taking time out for yourself, away from the stresses of daily life. They are mindful and have a purpose, but also foster conversation with new people you may not usually interact with.

“We hope these local pilgrimages give our local community a chance to ‘try out’ pilgrimage and take something away from the experience.”