It has often but not always been the case that the Great Britain National President leads a pilgrimage during his year of office. Since my election as GB National Vice President in November 2022 I have along with Br John Tweddle, Director of Province 3, been planning a pilgrimage with a difference for my year of office. As some brothers will know I am a keen fell walker and, in the past, have completed the Pennine Way, the West Highland Way and Alfred Wainwright’s (A.W.s) Coast to Coast Route. I am combining this love of walking with a faith-based pilgrimage within Great Britain to enable as many Catenians to join Brother John and I for some if not the whole of the walk.
We have planned a self-arranged and self-guided walk of the St Cuthbert’s Way which begins in Melrose Scotland and ends on Lindisfarne between the 4th to 11th September 2024. It is a walk of approximately 65 miles. The pilgrimage is based on accommodation in the Wooler area and transport out and back each day as required. It is hoped to arrange accommodation for a small GBNC party to walk the whole way whilst we invite other Catenians who wish to participate by joining us on each day of the walk.
We hope to start each day by attending Holy Mass if possible but if not by holding a small prayer service prior to beginning our daily walk. It is also hope that we can recite the rosary as we walk and have some time for silent reflection. At the end of the walk, Bishop John Arnold the Bishop of Salford along with Fr Shaun O’Neill parish priest of St Aiden’s in Seahouses will join us to celebrate Holy Mass in the chapel on Lindisfarne at 12.30p.m. We hope that this mass will also encourage a good number of local Catenians to attend.
St Cuthbert’s Way links many of the places important in the story of the 7th century saint starting at Melrose Abbey, finishing on Holy Island where St Cuthbert served as Bishop of Lindisfarne, it passes the cave where his remains were stored almost 200 years later. Cuthbert was a native of the border country who worked as a shepherd before entering the monastic community in Melrose. He was initially created Bishop of Hexham in 684 before eventually become Bishop of Lindisfarne where he lived a life of great holiness and was responsible for the establishment of the Christian faith in the kingdom of Northumbria.
He was beatified some 11 years after his death when his coffin was opened, and his remains found to be perfectly preserved. These remains were removed from Holy Island in 875 when the island community was threatened by Viking raids and finally came to rest in Durham Cathedral. One of the optional feasts of St Cuthbert is incidentally celebrated on 4th September and very appropriately the day when we begin our pilgrimage walk.
Our proposed walking schedule outlined below is based on a reconnaissance visit by John Tweddle in September of this year.
| Day Number | Date | Route | Mileage | Ascent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wednesday, 4th September | Meet at Wooler | None | None | Book into accommodation |
| 2 | Thursday, 5th September | Melrose to St Boswells | 7 miles | 883 ft | Start at Melrose Abbey and finish at St Boswells Main St Greenside |
| 3 | Friday, 6th September | St Boswells to Jedfoot Bridge | 10 miles | 700 ft | Start St Boswells as above; finish Jedfoot Bridge on A698 and lane just below Caddy Man car park |
| 4 | Saturday, 7th September | Jedfoot Bridge to Morebattle | 9 miles | 1101 ft | Start Jedfoot Bridge as above; finish Morebattle old Chapel next to Temple Hall Hotel |
| 5 | Sunday, 8th September | Morbattle to Kirk Yetholm | 7 miles | 997 ft | Start Morebattle as above; finish Kirk Yetholm green by Borders |
| 6 | Monday, 9th September | Kirk Yetholm to Wooler | 13.5 miles | 2221 ft | Start Kirk Yetholm as above; finish Wooler Market Place |
| 7 | Tuesday, 10th September | Wooler to Causeway | 14 miles | 1276 ft | Start Wooler Market Place finish Causeway |
| 8 | Wednesday, 11 September | Causeway to Holy Island | 3.5 miles | 151 ft | Safe crossing time 10.35 to 19.25 but latest safe crossing time for return by the Pilgrim’s Route is 16.00 |
Proposed accommodation
A provisional booking has been made at The Black Bull Inn, High Street Wooler. This is a 17th Century Inn in the centre of the town. Rooms are a bit old fashioned in keeping with the character of the Inn. It is well used by walkers. The hotel is functional, clean and serves an incredibly good breakfast. Dinner is available most nights by arrangement with the chef, but he does need a night off!! The 2023 Prices for midweek B&B prices per room night are shown below but a weekend supplement may be payable. However, we hope that the owner may be able to agree a 7-day rate.
| Large double | £85 / room night | 2 available |
| Standard double | £70 / room night | 4 available |
| Twin | £65 / room night | 2 available |
All 8 rooms have been blocked out to John Tweddle from Wednesday 4th to Tuesday 10th September 2024 inclusive, depart Wednesday 11th.
Bookings will be direct to the hotel but controlled by John.
The Inn has its own private carpark shared with Noble Lands self-catering accommodation in the adjacent courtyard. Access to the car park is from an adjacent road and there is pedestrian access through the courtyard to the hotel. At the head of the courtyard there is a (highly recommended, by John and Jean and many others), Italian restaurant called Milan. There is a sandwich shop and cafe a few yards up the High Street from the Bull, appropriately called Ramblers, who will be able to provide sandwiches and packed lunches to order.
There is plenty of other accommodation available in Wooler for those wishing to join the Pilgrimage.
Further information about the St Cuthbert’s Way can be found in the following resources and books:
- Walking St Cuthbert’s Way: Melrose and Jedburgh to Holy Island – Book by Rudolph Abraham
- The St Cuthbert’s Way website
- The British Pilgrimage Trust website –
If you are interested in joining us for either the whole walk or any day of the walk, please contact either John Tweddle or myself.
As part of my commitment to Across one of the many charities which many Catenian circles support I am completing my pilgrimage walk as a sponsored event. I am sure that all brothers and especially all those who have ever attended our national conferences will know that the Across Trust provides specialised transport to enable sick pilgrims to travel to Lourdes on pilgrimage.
This is especially important to those who are too sick to travel by plane. The importance of this charity and the work they do was brought home to me in an exceedingly poignant and personal way when my elder sister Anne contracted multiple systems atrophy which confined her to a wheelchair and resulted in a dramatic change to her life. Fortunately thanks to the work of Across she has been able to travel to Lourdes on one of their specially adapted jumbulances.
Please if you can consider supporting my fundraising efforts in any way you can.
Finally, please consider joining the pilgrimage for either a day, a few days or for the whole walk. If you are unable to join us on the walking part of the pilgrimage, then please come along and join us for the final mass on Lindisfarne on the 11th of September. Maria, John, and I look forward to meeting you all.
Andrew Sowerby, Catenians GB President Elect
