Dear Friend,
Here is our latest bulletin following the updating of the website.
St Margaret’s Day – Dunfermline – June 28 2015
The revived interest in St Margaret, the patron Saint of Scotland, was celebrated by the arrival of nearly 1500 pilgrims on June 28 2015 for a procession through the town of Dunfermline, followed by mass in the abbey.
This is due to become an annual event. Pilgrims now have the additional choice of walking or cycling to Dunfermline on “St Margaret’s Loop” a scenic and mainly off-road way from North Queensferry to Dunfermline.
Pilgrim Survey.
Many thanks to those who have been on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela for completing the survey. We are currently analysing the results and putting them out for comment to pilgrim experts and enthusiasts, and relevant secular bodies. These will be published on the website and in the March bulletin of the CS J magazine.
Expect important lessons for pilgrimage in Scotland.
Practical Pilgrim Days
The Confraternity of St James runs Practical Pilgrim Days for those wishing to go on the Camino, or on other pilgrimages. There were two Days in Scotland last year, including, for the first time a pilgrim day in Edinburgh organised by Ken Spittal of the CSJ. This was attended by over 60 people, entertained and educated among others by the veteran pilgrim, the Rev Richard Frazer of Greyfriars with handy hints from Tim Staplenhurst.
Information about practical Pilgrim Days will be published on the website.
Pilgrimage for schools
Schools encourage students to take part in extracurricular programs – John Muir, Caritas, Green Team etc – designed to broaden student experience from encouraging simple reflection to helping in the community . A short paper is available through the Contact me section of the website.
And, by the way
- No more sore shoulders. For those who want to travel light we recommend the use of local taxi services to carry your baggage to the next destination. There are also now professional companies which do this and can help fix accommodation along the way.
- No more getting lost. Where possible, the Way of St Andrews uses already waymarked routes but there are times when this is not possible. The 2 routes from Edinburgh to Rosslyn and back are now marked by a Camino yellow blob and with specific written directions .
- Fife Pilgrim Way. This new pilgrim way , starting from Culross and wending through the parishes of central Fife to St Andrews has just received substantial funds from the lottery for further development.
All best wishes,
The Secretary
November 2015