Page 29 - LOTN Spring Issue 52 2023

FAITH AND CULTURE

writes that they found 'an embarrassment of material' - Her enthusiasm for the landscape, its people and its
evidence of early Christian history with connections to history shines through this book, which, I understand, is
every corner of Caithness as well as folk memory and old primarily designed as a companion to her guide book to
tales. The group constructed the circular routes first and the Pilgrim Way.
then saw that there was enough evidence to re-establish I would recommend this book for anyone interested
the mediaeval pilgrimage route described above. in exploring the Christian heritage of this part of
The book has four sections. The first gives information Scotland which also simply sounds like a lovely place
about pilgrimages, saints, and the context of the wider to explore. Ideally a reader would know the area or be
pre-reformation church. The second section is about planning to visit, it would be best read with a map to
the places the Northern Pilgrims Way passes through. hand. There is also an informative website https://www.
Section three gives historical details to place the saints northernpilgrimsway.co.uk/.
in context, some ideas for modern pilgrims and then There is a link to The Northern Pilgrimage Way on
describes the six circular routes with extra notes on the SPRF website https://www.sprf.org.uk/. This forum
relevant non- Caithness sites associated with the NC500. promotes and supports the development of pilgrim
The final section gives brief biographies of the saints routes across Scotland and would be of interest to
and their feast days, a bibliography and suggestions for anyone who wants to find out more about what is
further reading. available in Scotland.
The wealth of information in this book illuminates the The attractive cover of the book is illustrated by Stuart
hugely interesting history of the pre-reformation church Mingham. His painting of shadows of past pilgrims
which has left so many traces in the landscape and in walking through the Caithness landscape encapsulates
place names associated with saints and their missions the attraction of this pilgrim way. Not everyone can go
and with pilgrimage routes. The original small group on a long pilgrimage walk but for those who can this
who did the research hoped that the routes would help walk offers a particular kind of refreshment and re-
all Christian denominations to remember their common orientation - and all of this, for many of us, not too far
heritage and so further the positive ecumenical spirit in from home. I hope many people will be able to walk the
the Highlands and also that they would attract visitors to Northern Pilgrims Way or explore the Christian heritage
spend time in the area of Caithness on The Northern Saints Trails.
Jane Coll is the founder member of the Northern Saints
Trails group and of the Northern Pilgrim’s Way group.
Having grown up in Moidart she now lives in Caithness.

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