The Official Launch of Fountains Ways – Ancient Paths for Modern Pilgrims: Saturday 21st March
As mentioned in the last edition of The Fountain, we're moving towards the formal launch of our three Fountains Ways – Ancient Paths for Modern Pilgrims pilgrimage routes on Saturday 21st March, and would like to invite you to join us to celebrate this significant moment with us.
There will be a brief gathering, prayer and briefing at St Andrew's, Kirkby Malzeard, at 10am. Two groups will then set out at about 10.30am, either walking North on the Fishers’ Way (through Grewelthorpe, Hackfall Woods, Mickley, and back), or South on the Curlew Way (through Galphay, Winksley, Laverton and back). Both walks are in the region of 7 miles and will take just over 4 hours, including stops in the churches. If you are planning on walking, please bring a day pack, with packed lunches, a drink, waterproof clothing, etc, and wear stout walking shoes or boots. Please be aware that there are uneven sections on both walks, with various styles to climb over, and with significantly steeper elements on the Fishers’ Way. The 9-mile third route, Abbots’ Way, unofficially launched on September 13th, 2025, will not be included in the day’s walks.
We will reconvene at St Andrew’s at about 3.30pm, for a short Thanksgiving service, for which we hope to have a small brass ensemble, and +Anna, Bishop of Ripon, saying a few words of encouragement to us all, as we embark on this new venture. This will be followed by a reception, with refreshments, celebratory cakes, tray-bakes, parkin, etc. Along with yourselves, we are inviting the press and our various benefactors to attend, as well as representatives of the Church, the National Trust and local businesses.
If you would like to attend, please let us know, for catering purposes; explaining whether you intend to walk before the afternoon celebration, or simply to come for the latter at 3.30pm. Please contact Karen Pickles regarding attendance: 07498491191.
Revd Andrew Cromarty and the Fountains Ways Team