step by step to Geneva...

In 2003 I stumbled across part of the old pilgrim path near Montpellier and decided to walk part of it. I became smitten by these old ways and bit by bit over successive years walked from Geneva to Logrono. In 2012 I took a break in order to walk some of these old European pilgrim paths from Canterbury to Geneva. And I haven't been able to stop! Over nearly two decades I've now means I've walked every metre (the Channel excepted!) from Oban in Scotland through Scotland and England to Porto via Edinburgh, Lindisfarne, York, Lincoln, London, Canterbury, Dover, Reims, Besancon, Lausanne, Geneva south down the Rhone valley to Arles and then southwest through Languedoc and Gascony, over the Pyrenees into Jaca and then westwards through Navarra and Rioja via Logrono, Burgos and Leon before strking northwards Aviles, and via the Camino del Norte eventually to Santiago and then south to Lisbon and - I hope - eventually Faro.

It's been a great experience.

Why? On a simple level, a fantastic opportunity for some exercise, relaxation and to experience some great scenery as well as a chance to think and reflect a little.

But it's more than that. To quote someone who has been walking these paths ("caminos" in Spanish) for some years: "The camino - the long distance walk that has taken such a grip of my heart. From time to time I look up and dream I am back there, shuffling along some dusty track in the sun. What is it about this long distance walk, along the route of a medieval pilgrimage, which has such an effect on those who walk it?.... It's impossible not to be affected by the realisation that thousands have done this walk before you and thousands will do it after you....you don't "do" the camino - it "does" you...you cannot prepare for the effect of the camino on your heart and mind." (Pat Holland)

The blog flows in geographical rather than chronological order - the itinerary thus far is set out in the "A pilgrim's progress" tab.