Via Francigena 20-mile Canterbury to Dover

On our 19.5 mile one-day challenge walk for adventurous women of any or no faith, we will make a modern-day pilgrimage along the famous Via Francigena or “Way that comes from France”, setting our intentions and walking with purpose. We journey from Canterbury- considered the heart of Christianity in Britain- to Dover from where the pilgrims of old would have started their journeys over the Alps to St Peter’s Basilica in Rome and even on to Jerusalem.

Dating back to the Middle Ages, The Via Francigena is considered the mother of all European pilgrim routes. From Dover, pilgrims would have crossed the channel and journeyed 1700km (1100 miles) through France and Switzerland, to Rome. As the practice of pilgrimage is seeing huge resurgence with hundreds of thousands embarking each year on well-known routes like the Camino Frances to Santiago, the Via Francigena is becoming increasingly popular. Designated a European Cultural Route in 1994, funds were allocated to maintain, mark and promote the trail.

Together, we will follow in the footsteps of Archbishop Sigeric the Serious, who first mapped the route in his travel diary of 990AD and identified his eighty stops walking around 16 miles each day on the way to be ordained by Pope John XV.

It’s a journey of purpose, an opportunity to reflect and enjoy the soothing rhythm of walking in nature with like-minded companions, through the beautiful Kent countryside. It’s also a challenge. Twenty miles is a lot of walking, so please be sure you can manage the length and pace. You will learn about nature, history and get a chance to experience some pilgrim practices along the way.