A new illustrated book, Northumberland's Pilgrim Routes: A History Of Paths, Places And People, examines the historic paths associated with the Northern saints Cuthbert, Oswald and Aidan. Written by Andy Bull, a long-time researcher of Britain's pilgrim paths, the book is published by Amberley and is on sale now at £15.99.
Routes linked to the Northern saints
Northumberland has long been synonymous with the great Northern saints, whose lives and missions shaped the region's early Christian identity. Today, two major long-distance pilgrim trails, St Cuthbert's Way and St Oswald's Way, link the places connected with all three saints. Each route leads to or from Holy Island, the tidal sanctuary of Lindisfarne, where their legacies remain most powerfully felt.
St Cuthbert's Way crosses the Northumberland National Park and the Cheviot Hills, tracing the landscapes associated with Cuthbert's ministry. St Oswald's Way begins on Holy Island and follows the coast past Bamburgh before turning inland towards Hadrian's Wall, reflecting the king's influence across both shoreline and countryside.
Wider network of pilgrim journeys
The book also examines a wider network of pilgrim journeys that criss-cross the county. These include St Wilfrid's Way, running from Hexham north into Scotland; the remote monastic outpost of Inner Farne; the Kyloe Hills near Berwick; and historic sites such as Holystone, long linked with early Christian tradition.
One chapter explores a path called The Way Of The Sea, which leads to Bede's monastery, south of the Tyne at Jarrow. Another is titled St Cuthbert's Posthumous Journey and considers why the saint's relics are housed at Durham Cathedral.
Medieval Northumbria and the author's perspective
The author points out: “While the book focuses on modern-day Northumberland, medieval Northumbria was far broader, running north up eastern England from the Humber to the Firth of Forth, and the northern saints held sway over a kingdom that included York, Ripon Durham and Whitby.
“Cuthbert, Oswald and Bede's shrines are in Durham, thanks in part to expediency, in part to a medieval relic-grab designed to make Durham the pre-eminent medieval pilgrim destination in the North. Why? Because pilgrims brought wealth.”
Book appeal and availability
The book will appeal to anyone who enjoys walking, exploring Britain's heritage, or discovering the deeper histories hidden within familiar terrain. It is diligently researched, well-written and richly illustrated. The 10 location images included in the article are an example of the 100 in the book.
The title is also available in Kindle, Kobo and iBook formats.
