New Dartmoor pilgrim route opens

35-mile trek, church to church

Pilgrims could flock to Devon to take advantage of a new walking route.

The Archangel’s Way opens on Saturday, a 35-mile trek starting at St Michael de Rupe church on Brentor and ending at St Michael the Archangel in Chagford.

Church bells will be ringing out across Dartmoor to celebrate.

The Archangel’s Way is one of a series of routes developed for a new Devon Pilgrim project.

Paul Brooks, who helped devise it, said: “Vast open landscapes, rocky tors, intimate wooded valleys and rushing streams all contribute to the spiritual feel of Dartmoor. Add in the historic churches and villages, prehistoric remains and the man-made effect on nature and you have a unique walking adventure.”

On Saturday, walkers will be gathering for a launch event at Belstone, halfway along the route. It will include music, morris dancing and an outdoor church service.

Devon folksinger Jim Causley will perform a song he's written especially for The Archangels Way.

Rev Paul Seaton-Burn, vicar of Chagford, said, “The bells of Dartmoor have rung for centuries from parish to parish to bring people together and to mark moments of national significance, such as the end of war.

“We look forward to hearing the Archangel bells ring out across northern Dartmoor to bring people together and celebrate a new beginning for locals and visitors alike.This is just one example where The Archangel’s Way has already begun to build friendships across this beautiful part of Devon and invigorate community life in church and chapel.

The Devon Pilgrim project manager, Sarah Cracknell, said that on the route she could “feel a sense of connection” to people who have travelled before her. “Sitting in the Nine Maidens stone circle at Belstone you can imagine that people must have sat around this very spot thousands of years ago,” she said.

More information on the Archangels Way and other pilgrimage routes across Devon are at: www.devonpilgrim.org.uk