The Saints' Way (Cornish: Forth an Syns) is a long-distance footpath in mid Cornwall in the United Kingdom that connects the coastal towns of Padstow and Fowey.
The Saints' Way follows a possible reconstructed route taken by early traders and Christian travellers making their way betweem Ireland and Mainland Europe. Rather than risk the difficult passage around Land's End, they could disembark from ships on the coast of Cornwall and progress over land to other coast ports such as Fowey on foot.
Description
editThe footpath runs North-West to South-East, from North Padstow—on the North coast of Cornwall—to Fowey—on South coast of Cornwall.[1][2][3] The Saints' Way's symbolic trailheads are St Petroc's Church in Padstow (50°32′28″N 4°56′35″W / 50.541°N 4.943°W),[2][4][5] and St Finbar's church in Fowey (50°20′10″N 4°38′10″W / 50.336°N 4.636°W).[2][5][6]
As the Way approaches Helman Tor from Lanivet, the Way diverges into two routes, both leading to Fowey.[7] The eastern route passes Helman Tor, through Lanlivery, to Golant, and to Fowey.[5] The western route passes through Luxulyan, to St Blazey, to Tywardreath, to Fowey.[5][8] The Saints' Way via the Luxulyan route is a total distance of 28.5 miles (45.6 km), and via the route Lanlivery totals 29 miles (46.6 km).[7]
Part of the route is a bridleway so can be used by horse-riders.
The route passes many Celtic crosses and holy wells
History
editEarly seafarers travelling between Ireland or Wales, and Brittany were often reluctant to travel around Land's End and The Lizard peninsulas due difficult sailing conditions due to frequent storms.[1][5] Instead, travellers disembarked along one of Cornwall's coasts, and travelled over the Cornish peninsula toward the opposite coast where they would then reëmbark.[1] Such travellers included traders and religious figures took various transpeninsular routes across Cornwall.[1][5]
One such transpaninuslar journey was from Padstow and Harlyn Bay by the Camel Estuary, then heading to Fowey and St Austell Bay along the south.[1][5]
Between 55–50AD a Roman trading centre was constructed at Tregear near Nanstallon and it is thought its purpose was to serve the main communication and trade route linking the north Cornish coast at the River Camel and the southern coast at the River Fowey, the 'transpeninsular route'. However the centre was abandoned after only 20–25 years and it was not used again. It is thought that the trading route served the Celtic peoples of Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany as Nanstallon was built close to major mineral bearing areas.[9]
The routes between Padstow and Fowey largely declined in use during the Roman period in Cornwall.[10] In the post-roman perioid in Cornwall, cultural and religious exchange between Ireland, Wales, Brittany and Cornwall, as a part of the Age of the Saints in Celtic Christianity.[11]
Modern reconstruction
editIn 1984, two villagers from Luxulyan—Cliff Townes and Alf Fookes—discovered of a section of abandoned pathway surfaced with cobbles and a series of granite stiles that had been covered by overgrown vegetation.[4]
The Saints' Way was created as part of the Cooperative Retail Services Community Programme and opened in 1986.[4]
See also
editReferences
editCitations
edit- ^ a b c d e Hannigan 1994, p. 191.
- ^ a b c Wills, Dixe (2 November 2019). "And did those feet … 15 pilgrim trails in the UK and Europe". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ Stables, Daniel (21 September 2020). "Britain's best pilgrimage routes, from Saints' Way to Peak Pilgrimage". The Independent.
- ^ a b c Hannigan 1994, p. 193.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Cornish Saints' Way - British Pilgrimage Trust". www.britishpilgrimage.org. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ Hannigan 1994, p. 198.
- ^ a b Cornwall. Ordnance Survey. Basingstoke : Publishing Division, Automobile Association. 1987. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-86145-512-6 – via Internet Archive.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Hannigan 1994, pp. 197–198.
- ^ Philip Payton. (1996). Cornwall. Fowey: Alexander Associates
- ^ Hannigan 1994, pp. 191–192.
- ^ Hannigan 1994, p. 192.
Works cited
edit- Hannigan, Des (1994). Ancient Tracks: Walking Through Historic Britain. London: Pavilion Books – via Internet Archive.
Further reading
edit- Rowse, A. L. (1941). Tudor Cornwall.
External links
edit
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