Penrhys Pilgrimage
Penrhys Pilgrimage
3 days / 2 nights
Regular departures and private groups
“We are that place where God becomes visible.”
Joel Goldsmith (1892 – 1964)
Penrhys Pigrimage
IN BRIEF
- A long weekend pilgrimage (34 kms/21 miles) from Penrhys in the Rhondda valleys to Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff (this trip can also run in reverse).
- Visit the holy wells in Penrhys and Llandaff, retracing the newly re-opened medieval pilgrimage route.
- Visit the shrine and relics of St Teilo at Llandaff Cathedral, one of the finest medieval cathedrals in Britain.
- Thread a new green route through the Rhondda Valleys to the lush farmland of the Vale of Glamorgan.
- Wooded riverside walks into the capital of Wales.
St Teilo was a Celtic Christian saint from the sixth century. He was a friend of St David and after going on pilgrimage to Jerusalem together, they were made bishops. When they returned to Wales, Teilo established a monastic settlement in Llandaff on the river crossing on the old Roman road. On this death his shrine and holy well at Llandaff cathedral became a major medieval pilgrimage destination and his relics remain in the cathedral to this day.
We commence the pilgrimage at the site where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared at Penrhys, high in the Rhondda Valley. A holy well marks the place that was once a Cisterican abbey grange.
We follow the newly re-opened Penrhys pilgrimage trail for 34 kms/21 miles, stopping off in Llantrisant (which in Welsh means the Christian site of three saints) to the holy well and shrine of St Teilo in Llandaff cathedral, Cardiff.
We thread our way through mountain passes, wooded river valleys and through lush farmland arriving on foot after a two day hike at Llandaff Cathedral.
Description
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Day 01: Arrive
Arrive in Cardiff by 4pm with pickup from Cardiff Central Station if required. Optional city tour of Cardiff, capital city of Wales
Day 02: Penrhys to Llantrisant
We drive up to the starting point in Penrhys, where a holy well and statue mark the place where a medieval wooden statue of the Virgin Mary appeared at Penrhys. With stunning views of the valleys, we walk south toward Tonfrefail and we finish the first day in Llantrisant – the town named after three Celtic Saints and the home of the Royal Mint. (17 kms/10.5 miles)
Day 03: Llantrisant to Llandaff
We walk through the medieval town centre past its guildhall, stocks and parish church, heading back into the countryside towards Groesfaen. Then we pass out of the former industrial lands of the valleys into the lush green farmland of the Vale of Glamorgan as we head toward the village of Pentyrch. From there we reach the leafy suburbs of Radyr where we joing the Taff Trail along a beautiful wooded river valley into the medival city of Llandaff which predated the modern city of Cardiff. The pilgrimage ends around 4pm at Llandaff’s majestic cathedral with its shrine and holy well dedicated to St Teilo. (17 kms/10.5 miles)
Departing trains are available from Llandaff into Central Cardiff and beyond.
Penrhys Pilgrimage
Departures:
Two options – please contact us for more details if anything is unclear.
Private Basis: Up to 6 pilgrims plus guide on a private basis including accommodation, all food and guiding.
£375.00 pp in twin share
£100.00 pp single supplement
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Special Departure: 16 – 18 September 2022
Group departure includes a storytelling event, two lunches, guiding and transport back to start point. No accommodation provided.
Bookable via Eventbrite (link to booking page)
Storytelling only (Fri) – £10 pp
One day Pilgrimage – £40 pp
Two day Pilgrimage – £60 pp
Entry to the storytelling event is included for those buying a one or two day pilgrimage ticket.
Includes:
Iain Tweedale, a local guide with expert knowledge of the area will be with the group throughout
Transport to and from Cardiff Central Station and to the start and finish points of each day’s walk
2 nights hotel accommodation in Cardiff
Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Entrance fees
Excludes:
Casual refreshments, drinks and tips
Travel to Cardiff prior to start of holiday and travel home from Cardiff after end of holiday
Travel Insurance (please take out your own travel insurance policy)