A UNIQUE opportunity to follow in the footsteps of pilgrims past will take place in September with two historic walks through the Vale of Evesham.
Evesham Welcomes Walkers and The Almonry have teamed up to organise the strolls to mark Heritage Open Days – the annual celebration across England that celebrates heritage and culture.
In medieval times, Evesham was an important place of pilgrimage with the long-lost abbey being a noted destination for travellers from afar afield as Aquitaine, France and Ireland.
Following the Battle of Evesham in 1265, a cult built up around Simon de Montfort and although he was never canonised he was for a brief time regarded as a saint.
Almost immediately after the battle, miracles began to be attributed to him and pilgrims came to Evesham to offer prayers to ‘saint’ Simon for cures and remedies.
This included one of his supporters Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford who undertook a pilgrimage to Evesham Abbey in 1273, from his seat at Castle Hedingham in Essex. The last leg of his journey began from Winchcombe Abbey where he rested a few days before arriving at Evesham on August 10.
On Saturday 7, a coach will be picking up walkers at Merstow Green at 9.30am and taking them to Pershore Abbey for an eight-mile walk back to Evesham.
On Sunday, a coach will collect walkers from Merstow Green at 8.30am and take them to Winchcombe to begin the 13.5-mile walk, following in the footsteps of de Vere.
Glyn Hayter from Evesham Welcomes Walkers said: “We were delighted to be approached by the Almonry to create two mini pilgrimages as part of the Route-Networks-Connections theme for the 2024 Heritage Open Days.
“Walking in the Vale of Evesham, whilst celebrating local heritage, community and history, particularly the routes of the two pilgrimages, seems an excellent way of adding a new dimension to what is on offer as part of the national Walkers are Welcome initiative.”
The guided rambles cost £5 per person and will be led by volunteers from Evesham Welcomes Walkers. All proceeds will be split between it and the Almonry Restoration Project.
Dogs are permitted on the walks but only assistance dogs are allowed on the coaches. All walkers are asked to ensure they have adequate water and food with them.
Visit almonryevesham.org/events-and-exhibitions/ to book a ticket or call 01386 446944 for more information.
