Treehouse Theatre
Interactive theatre and drama for the history curriculum,
plus story telling, pantomime, festival fun and more...
The Shaftesbury Tales pilgrimage route
The Pilgrimage Trust say “Walking is for the body, Pilgrimage is for the soul”
We’re adopting their ‘bring your own beliefs’ approach and vision of pilgrimage as part of our cultural heritage.
The days spent walking are an intrinsic part of ‘The Shaftesbury Tales’, reliving the journey taken by St Edward’s first Pilgrims a millenium ago when they accompanied his body from Wareham to Shaftesbury Abbey, and by countless thousands in the centuries since.
Led by Penny, our costumed cast will focus attention on the natural landscape, historical connection, and an inner journey.
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The last page of our programme booklet is your Pilgrim Passport, which you can get stamped at the start and end of each days walk.
Our thanks to Rachel Diment for permission to use her image of Edward for our ink stamp​! There are also official St Edwards Way stamps to use in Lady St Mary Church, Wareham, and at our journey’s end in Shaftesbury Abbey.
We’re roughly following St Edwards Way, as developed by the Dorset Ramblers in 2021.
Although not a formal guided event, all are warmly welcomed to walk alongside us, for as much or as little as you’d like.
All walks involve a risk or personal injury or death. This is not a guided event, and you are fully responsible for your own self and your own safety, as you would be on any country walk. The Shaftesbury Tales and Treehouse Theatre do not accept responsibility or liability for any individuals walking with us.
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DAY 1 - Saturday 13th July - Corfe to Wareham
Meet 10am at St Edwards Church, Corfe Castle
Finish Lady St Marys Church, Wareham
5.8 miles / 9.4 km
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2679256
DAY 2 - Tuesday 16th July - Wareham to Bloxworth
Meet 10am at Lady St Marys Church, Wareham
Finish Bloxworth Village Hall
6.9 miles / 11.1km
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2679258
DAY 3 - Wednesday 17th July - Bloxworth to Winterbourne Whitechurch
Meet 10am at Bloxworth Village Hall
Finish Winterbourne Whitechurch Village Hall
6.3 miles / 10.3 km
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2679264
DAY 4 - Friday 19th July - Winterbourne Whitechurch to Shillingstone
Meet 10am at Winterbourne Whitechurch Village Hall
Finish at Shillingstone Recreation ground
8.4 miles / 13.5 km
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2676632
DAY 5 - Sunday 21st July - Shillingstone to Fontmell Magna
Meet 10am at Shillingstone Recreation ground
Finish St Andrews Church, Fontmell Magna
6.8 miles / 11 km
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2679275
DAY 6 - Tuesday 23rd July - Fontmell Magna to Two Brewers, Shaftesbury
Meet 10am at St Andrews Church, Fontmell Magna
Finish Two Brewers pub, foot of Gold Hill, Shaftesbury
5 miles / 8.1 km
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2679278
Grand finale! - Thursday 25th July - Shaftesbury Abbey via Gold Hill
Meet 1.30pm at Two Brewers pub, foot of Gold Hill, Shaftesbury
Finish Shaftesbury Abbey
0.3 miles / 0.5 km
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2679279
READ ABOUT St Edwards Way here
Photo credits: Louisa Lindsey-Clark, Penny Falzoni, Pete Courtenay, Charmaine Kay, Alastair Braidwood, Shaftesbury Fringe.