Copy of Route Map with Numbered Icons.png

Trail Stages

Our 41 mile pilgrimage trail is broken into 9 stages each of which ends at one of our beautiful, historic, rural churches. The stages vary in challenge and length, find details below.

Download OS Route and Map

St Aelred's Pilgrim Trail Stages 1 to 9

Stage 1

St Aelred's Chapel

All Saints' Church Helmsley

St Mary Magdalene's Church

East Moors

Easy/ 6 miles/ approx 3 hours

Stage 2

St Mary Magdalene's Church

East Moors

St John's Church

Bilsdale

Moderate/ 7 miles/ approx 3.5 hours

Stage 3

St John's Church

Bilsdale

All Saints' Church

Hawnby

Moderate/ 5.5 miles/ approx 3 hours

Stage 4

All Saints' Church

Hawnby

All Saints' Church

Old Byland

Challenging/ 3.5 miles/ approx 2 hours

Stage 5

All Saints' Church

Old Byland

St Mary's Church

Scawton

Moderate/ 2 miles/ approx 1 hour

Stage 6

St Mary's Church

Scawton

St Michael's Church

Cold Kirby

Moderate/1.5 miles/approx 1 hour

Stage 7

St Michael's Church

Cold Kirby

St Mary the Virgin's Church

and Rievaulx Abbey

Moderate/ 4.5 miles/ approx 2.5 hours

Stage 8

St Mary's Rievaulx

and Rievaulx Abbey

St Chad's Church

Sproxton

Moderate/ 7.5 miles/ approx 4 hours

Stage 9

St Chad's Church

Sproxton

Helmsley Methodist Church

and All Saints' Church, Helmsley

Easy/ 3.5 miles/ approx 2 hours

Rievaulx Abbey

Aelred was abbot of Rievaulx Abbey for 20 years.

It is under the care of English Heritage.

You can read more about it's history and Aelred on their website.