TOP 10 PILGRIMAGE ROUTES

JAPAN: KUMANO KODŌ

This network of ancient trails dives into the remote, densely forested, shrinetopped mountains of the Kii Peninsula, Japan’s spiritual heartland.

UK, FRANCE & ITALY: VIA FRANCIGENA

A 1,200-mile route connecting Canterbury to Rome via France, the Swiss Alps and the Italian Apennines, passing churches and shrines devoted to St Francis. viefrancigene.org

SRI LANKA: ADAM’S PEAK

In Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands, this conical, 7,360ft-high peak is home to a footprint that’s said to belong to — faith depending — Adam, Buddha or Shiva.

PORTUGAL & SPAIN: CAMINHO PORTUGUÊS

The wild Atlantic coast unravels before you on this uncrowded trail from Lisbon (380 miles) or Porto (140 miles) to Santiago de Compostela. caminhoportosantiago.com

TIBET: MOUNT KAILASH

This three-day, 32-mile circuit of sacred 21,778ft Mount Kailash in Tibet is a holy ritual said to bring good fortune.

FRANCE: LOURDES

The 92-mile Piemont Route connects St-Jean-Pied-de-Port and Lourdes, a holy pilgrimage site since 1858, when Bernadette Soubirous claimed to have witnessed 18 apparitions of the Virgin Mary. lourdes-france.org

SCOTLAND: ST MAGNUS WAY

The wide-open horizons, space and silence of Orkney’s coastline enthrall on this 58-mile route honouring the island’s patron saint. stmagnusway.com

THE MIDDLE EAST: ABRAHAM’S PATH

This epic 1,243-mile route starts in Harran, Turkey, where God is said to have called upon Abraham to

‘go forth’, and rambles on through Egypt, Palestine, Israel and Jordan. abrahampath.org

GERMANY: VIA COLONIENSIS

Grand abbeys and palaces punctuate this 152-mile trail, uniting the former Roman cities of Cologne and Trier, where fourth-century St Peter’s Cathedral is a highlight.

IRELAND: ST FINBARR’S WAY

Traversing three mountain ranges, this 22-mile pilgrimage begins at the Top of the Rock in Dromdaleague, County Cork, where sixth-century monk St Finbarr once preached. pilgrimpath.ie