Welcome to the Summer 2025 Hearts in Search of God Project newsletter.

The 2025 National Walking Pilgrimage of Hope:

Registration for Day Pilgrims is now open but will close on 21^st August 2025. Register NOW to avoid disappointment!

The theme of the 2025 Jubilee is ‘pilgrims of hope’ and this has inspired a national walking pilgrimage with four main Ways converging at the Cathedral of St Barnabas, Nottingham, on Saturday 13th September 2025, for shared prayer and celebration.

The four main Ways start at the Catholic cathedrals in Cardiff, Leeds, Norwich and London, and will bless our nations with a Sign of the Cross and with the Gospels. The routes use established hiking routes and are off road as much as possible. A small group of 4-6 'perpetual pilgrims' will walk the full distance of each Way, and up to 20 day pilgrims will be able to register to join for stages. On some days there are opportunities for shorter walks.  

St Matthew’s Way

The western Pilgrimage of Hope Way is from St David's Cathedral in Cardiff to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham and the Shrine of St Chad in Lichfield.

Day pilgrim stages include the Welsh Coast Path, Offa's Dyke Path through the Wye Valley, the Wye Valley Walk to Ross-on-Wye and the Herefordshire Trail to Ledbury. The Three Choirs Way is followed over the Malvern Hills and on to Worcester. The route goes on to Bromsgrove, through central Birmingham to reach Lichfield. The route joins the Trent & Mersey Canal towpath to Burton upon Trent and finally reaches Nottingham.

There are some hilly stages in the Wye Valley and Malvern Hills

Average walk day length: 14 miles

First walking day: Thursday 28th August 2025

More information and to register as a day pilgrim

St Mark’s Way

The northern Pilgrimage of Hope Way is from Leeds Cathedral to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via St Marie's Cathedral in Sheffield and the Chapel of the Padley Martyrs.

The Way follows the Aire & Calder Navigation, a disused railway line and the River Calder to Wakefield. The Way then follows the former Barnsley Canal and a disused railway to Wombwell. The route turns SW across farmland, then follows the Sheffield Canal to reach St Marie's Cathedral in central Sheffield. The route leaves the city through Endcliffe Park, then climbs Houndkirk Moor to the Chapel of the Padley Martyrs. The path follows the River Derwent to Matlock where it turns east, through Ripley and then along the former Cromford Canal to Eastwood. Here the route joins the Robin Hood Way to Strelley and finally reaches St Barnabas' Cathedral, central Nottingham.

The route is mostly flat with the only significant climb on Day 4 over Houndkirk Moor

Average walk day length: 13.5 miles

First walking day Saturday 6 September 2025

More information and to register as a day pilgrim

St Luke’s Way

The St Luke's Way is the eastern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist in Norwich to the Cathedral Church of St Barnabas in Nottingham via the National Shrine of Our Lady at Houghton St Giles and the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham at King's Lynn.

The Way leaves the city along the Marriotts Way, crossing the River Wensum towards Cawston, then taking the Pilgrim Cross route to Walsingham along country lanes to the National Shrine to Our Lady at Houghton St Giles. From Walsingham the Way follows tracks and lanes to Dersingham and then crosses the Sandringham estate to King's Lynn. The Way continues alongside the Great Ouse to Wisbech, then across fenland to Spalding and Bourne. The Way uses roads and footpaths to navigate the rolling countryside of Kesteven to Grantham, then follows the Grantham canal near Belvoir Castle across farmland to Bingham, joining the Trent Valley Way at Radcliffe, to arrive at St Barnabas' Cathedral in Central Nottingham.

The Way is generally flat and involves walking along quiet lanes.

Average walk day length: 15.5 miles

First walking day: Thursday 4th September 2025

More information and to register as a day pilgrim

St John’s Way  

The southern Pilgrimage of Hope Way is from Southwark and Westminster Cathedrals in London to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate & St Thomas of Canterbury in Northampton.

The Way passes through Royal parks to the Shrine of the Tyburn Martyrs. At Paddington the Grand Union Canal is reached. The Canal arm is followed for much of the route, visiting Harefield, Rickmansworth, Abbots Langley (birthplace of Adrian IV, the only English pope), d Leighton Buzzard and Newport Pagnall. The route then crosses quiet countryside to Northampton. The path continues to Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Willoughby-in-the-Wolds, Keyworth and finally Nottingham.

The Way is generally flat.

Average walk day length: 14.9 miles

First walking day: Monday 1st September

More information and to register as a day pilgrim

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Wishing you every blessing and joy as we start the Jubilee year, during which we can become ‘pilgrims of hope’.

Buen camino!

Phil McCarthy, Project Lead