Our top five pilgrimage walks

A pilgrimage walk can mean something different to everyone on the trail. A means to reconnect with nature, a religious rite of passage, or simply an active way to spend time with friends. What’s clear is that in many instances, it is not so much the destination that is the ultimate goal, but the sheer pleasure of being on the journey itself. On the Camino de Santiago through Spain and parts of Europe you pass through many historic communities that add a soulful quality. On the Pilgrims’ Way in Southeast England the landscapes have an old-world pastoral quality that lifts the spirits, and in Japan, walks such as the Nakasendo Trail and the Shikoku Pilgrimage offer the chance to experience the warmth of Japanese hospitality at traditional ryokans, and sink into a relaxing onsen after a long day on the hoof.