The Great Pilgrim Way
520 Mile Pilgrimage
Lancaster
to
Iona Abbey
The Antei-ji Great Pilgrim Way at 520 miles is the longest and most demanding of the Antei-ji pilgrimages, crossing England and Scotland before concluding on the sacred island of Iona. It is a pilgrimage through the contemplative history of Britain, linking medieval abbeys, the holy places of the Celtic saints, and living monastic communities of both Christian and Buddhist traditions.
Pilgrims begin with a period of silent meditation at Antei-ji Temple before following the Antei-ji Monastic Way to Lindisfarne. From there the journey continues into Scotland, visiting Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre, Whithorn Priory and St Ninian’s Cave, before travelling north through Ayrshire to Glasgow Cathedral and finally west through the Highlands to Iona, where St Columba established his monastery in AD 563. It’s almost a journey upstream through Britain’s contemplative memory.
Throughout the pilgrimage, travellers are encouraged to spend time within living contemplative communities, sharing, where possible, in their rhythm of prayer, meditation, work and hospitality.
Antei-ji Temple, Lancaster
A Pilgrim’s departure.
Dalton Square, Lancaster
Remembering the Dominican monastery of the Blackfriars of 1260AD who served Lancaster for nearly 300 years.
Lancaster Priory
Around the Priory building of 1094AD are traces of a church from the 6th Century.
St Patrick’s Chapel, Heysham
One of the oldest Christian sites in Northern England, dated to the time of the founding of Iona in the 6th Century.
Cartmel Priory
A beautifully preserved medieval priory from 1189AD. The original church was dedicated to St Michael and built shortly after King Egfrith granted the land to St Cuthbert in 674AD.
Conishead Priory
Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre.
It was founded as an Augustinian Priory in 1188AD.
Furness Abbey
One of England’s greatest Cistercian monasteries. Founded in 1123AD
Shap Abbey
Crossing into the high fells to a quiet Premonstratensian abbey in the Eden Valley. Founded in 1190AD
Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey
A modern Buddhist monastery in the Soto Zen tradition. Founded in 1972. (possible option of a two night stay)
Durham Cathedral
One of England’s treasures. Built upon the early White Church (995AD) of Saxon times. The cathedral holds the Shrine of St Cuthbert.
Minsteracres Christian Retreat Centre
Run by the Passionists. Pilgrims can spend a night in a Catholic retreat house before continuing to Hexham.
Hexham Abbey
Founded by St Wilfred in 674AD, a generation after Aidan’s mission and one of the great churches of the North.
St Cuthbert’s Cave
A place of refuge during the Viking invasions.
Lindisfarne Priory and St Cuthbert’s Island
The monastery founded by St Aidan in AD 635.
(Optional two night stay at Marygate House)
Old Melrose Abbey
Founded by St Aiden AD635. It was here that St Cuthbert entered monastic life under Abbot Eata before moving to Lindisfarne.
A long period walking alone in the wilderness of the Border Country follows. The pilgrim walks in the footsteps of the old Celtic Christian monks, Peregrinatio pro Christo (wandering for Christ).
Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre
An opportunity to experience a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Scotland. An option of staying for two days.
Whithorn Priory (Candida Casa)
Here the pilgrim honours St Ninian, whose mission predates Columba by well over a century. Whithorn is traditionally regarded as the earliest Christian centre in Scotland, founded in 397AD.
St Ninian’s Cave
A personal retreat of St Ninian
Crossraguel Abbey
A magnificent Cluniac Benedictine abbey perfectly continuing the thread of medieval monasticism that began at Furness and Shap. Founded in 1244AD
Paisley Abbey
One of Scotland’s greatest abbeys. Founded in 1163AD
Glasgow Cathedral
Built over the traditional burial place of St Kentigern.
This is unquestionably one of Britain’s great pilgrimage destinations
We follow the old route along Loch Lomond and through Crianlarich. one of Scotland’s classic walking landscapes which makes the final approach to Iona feel like a gradual transition from the busy Lowlands into the wild Highlands, ending with the sea crossing on to Columba’s island.
Oban
Ferry to Mull
Iona Abbey
The Celtic monastery of Iona was a vibrant missionary hub and founded by St. Columba in 563AD. St. Aiden was a monk here before he travelled to the east coast to found the Abbey on Lindisfarne Island and Melrose Abbey. For many pilgrims staying within the landscape of Iona for a couple of days is a fitting conclusion.
The Way between Holy Island and Whithorn Priory is not marked. Here the Great Pilgrim Way follows the spirit of the ancient ‘peregrinatio pro Christo’. Pilgrims are encouraged to navigate for themselves, choosing paths according to weather, ability, local advice and inspiration. The destination is known; the way is discovered one step at a time.
The Antei-ji Great Pilgrim Way is a unique pilgrimage across Northern Britain, bringing together Britain’s oldest sacred places with living Christian and Buddhist monastic communities in a way found nowhere else.