St Aelred's Pilgrim Trail Stages
The St Aelred's Pilgrim Trail in 9 stages — detailed stage-by-stage guide with distances, descriptions and accommodation for each section of the 41 miles pilgrimage through North Yorkshire (North York Moors).
The St Aelred's Pilgrim Trail is divided into 9 walking stages, covering the 41 miles route through North Yorkshire (North York Moors). Each stage ends at a town or village where you can find accommodation, rest, and prepare for the next day's walk.
Use our stage-by-stage St Aelred's Pilgrim Trail guide below to plan your walk, then use our route planning tool to book accommodation at each stage.
Stage-by-stage guide
Stage 1: All Saints' Church, Helmsley to St Mary Magdalene's Church, East Moors (6 miles). Begin at All Saints' Church in Helmsley and walk east through the North York Moors to the historic St Mary Magdalene's Church at East Moors. View accommodation and details for the All Saints' Church, Helmsley to St Mary Magdalene's Church, East Moors stage.
Stage 2: East Moors to St John's Church, Bilsdale (7 miles). Cross the high moors with heather in full bloom (late summer) to St John's Church in Bilsdale, near the site of a medieval priory. View accommodation and details for the East Moors to St John's Church, Bilsdale stage.
Stage 3: Bilsdale to All Saints' Church, Hawnby (5.5 miles). Walk through rolling moorland to the village of Hawnby and its historic All Saints' Church. View accommodation and details for the Bilsdale to All Saints' Church, Hawnby stage.
Stage 4: Hawnby to All Saints' Church, Old Byland (3.5 miles). A challenging but rewarding stage across open moor to the small village of Old Byland and its charming church. View accommodation and details for the Hawnby to All Saints' Church, Old Byland stage.
Stage 5: Old Byland to St Mary's Church, Scawton (2 miles). A short, gentle stage to St Mary's Church in Scawton, one of the trail's most peaceful stops. View accommodation and details for the Old Byland to St Mary's Church, Scawton stage.
Stage 6: Scawton to St Michael's Church, Cold Kirby (1.5 miles). The shortest stage of the trail, leading to the tiny church of St Michael in Cold Kirby. View accommodation and details for the Scawton to St Michael's Church, Cold Kirby stage.
Stage 7: Cold Kirby to St Mary the Virgin's Church & Rievaulx Abbey (4.5 miles). Descend into the Rievaulx valley to St Mary the Virgin's Church and the magnificent ruins of Rievaulx Abbey — the spiritual heart of the trail and the home of St Aelred. View accommodation and details for the Cold Kirby to St Mary the Virgin's Church & Rievaulx Abbey stage.
Stage 8: Rievaulx to St Chad's Church, Sproxton (7.5 miles). The longest stage, leaving Rievaulx Abbey to walk to St Chad's Church in the hamlet of Sproxton. View accommodation and details for the Rievaulx to St Chad's Church, Sproxton stage.
Stage 9: Sproxton to Helmsley Methodist Church & All Saints' (3.5 miles). The final stage returns to Helmsley, completing the circular pilgrimage at the Methodist Church and All Saints' Church. View accommodation and details for the Sproxton to Helmsley Methodist Church & All Saints' stage.
All Saints' Church, Helmsley → St Mary Magdalene's Church, East Moors
6 miles
East Moors → St John's Church, Bilsdale
7 miles
Bilsdale → All Saints' Church, Hawnby
5.5 miles
Hawnby → All Saints' Church, Old Byland
3.5 miles
Old Byland → St Mary's Church, Scawton
2 miles
Scawton → St Michael's Church, Cold Kirby
1.5 miles
Cold Kirby → St Mary the Virgin's Church & Rievaulx Abbey
4.5 miles
Rievaulx → St Chad's Church, Sproxton
7.5 miles
Sproxton → Helmsley Methodist Church & All Saints'
3.5 miles
Accommodation by stage
Each stage of the St Aelred's Pilgrim Trail ends at a town where you'll need overnight accommodation. The key towns are Helmsley, Ampleforth, Rievaulx. Use our route planning tool to find and book pilgrim-friendly places to stay at each stage of your walk.
Book accommodation in advance, especially during summer months and weekends. Some stages have limited options, so planning ahead is essential.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many stages are there on the St Aelred's Pilgrim Trail?
The St Aelred's Pilgrim Trail has 9 stages, covering the 41 miles route. Each stage ends at a town or village with accommodation options.
Which stage is the longest on the St Aelred's Pilgrim Trail?
Stage lengths vary across the St Aelred's Pilgrim Trail. Check the stage-by-stage guide above for distances, and plan your daily walking distance accordingly.
Where do I find accommodation for each stage?
Use our route planning tool to find pilgrim-friendly accommodation at each stage of the St Aelred's Pilgrim Trail. The key towns for overnight stops are Helmsley, Ampleforth, Rievaulx.
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