The Pilgrim’s Walk & Lunch

• Visit the World’s only St Patrick Exhibition
• See the largest Statue of Saint Patrick in the World
• Ramble the Quoile River and see Inch Abbey
• Visit the First Church in Ireland – a Famous ‘Thin’ Place
• Explore the idea of pilgrimage with our Adoration Sister Guides
• Discover the First Healing Wells in Ireland at Struell

  Full-Day (13 miles) or Morning/Afternoon (7.5 miles)

£45 Full Day, £30 Half Day, £55 2 Half Days

Group Tour Available for Half Day – Call for Details.

• Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9.15 am/12.00 noon
• Leave from Saint Patrick Centre
• Fully Guided Small Group (15 max)
• Pilgrim’s Passport, Water, High Vis ‘Patrick’s Way Pilgrim’ Vest and lunch included.

Moderate fitness, rainproof gear sunscreen, small backpacks and stout footwear recommended.

Discover the epic story of Saint Patrick at the Saint Patrick Centre and walk in his footsteps on our Pilgrim’s Way around the Medieval Town of Downpatrick. Explore the stunning countryside and visit important sites in Patrick’s story with Adoration Sisters turned pilgrim guides, Martina Purdy and Elaine Kelly. Once professional talkers now professional walkers the former-BBC political correspondent and former-barrister will bring Saint Patrick’s story to life and discuss spiritual aspects of his journey. Have a Pilgrim’s Lunch at The Barn in Saul (included).

Martina and Elaine spent five years in the convent as Adoration Sisters before they had to leave when their congregation grew too small to continue their one-year formation. Join her on her own spiritual journey with Saint Patrick.

The Pilgrim’s Walk and Picnic is completely guided, follows paths and country roads and observes social distancing principles. It can be complete in a day doing the entire trail or as two half-day trips. The tour always starts from the Saint Patrick Centre in the morning.  If you want to take the afternoon tour our coach will take you to join the group at The Barn at Saul for lunch if you are only doing the afternoon. Those who are doing the morning session only will then return to the Centre on this coach after lunch.

Morning

Visit the Saint Patrick Centre Exhibition, explore Inch Abbey where the legend of the snakes was written, walk the beautiful banks of the River Quoile and discover the first church in Ireland at Saul. Lunch at the Barn at Saul. [For those doing the only half-day only, return by mini-coach to Downpatrick.]

Afternoon

After lunch walk to the top of Slieve Patrick and see the tallest statue of Saint Patrick in the World before walking along country lanes to the first healing wells in Ireland at Struell. Return to Downpatrick to see the mosaic shrine to Saint Patrick in Saint Patrick’s Church and finish at the Medieval Cathedral of Down and Saint Patrick’s Grave.

• Upgrade – Pilgrim’s Dinner at Denvir’s

Complete your day with a delicious 2-course dinner with tea/coffee in Ireland’s oldest Coaching Inn including a complimentary glass of prosecco to celebrate your completion of the Pilgrimage.

£16.50 pp. 2 Courses. £20 3 Courses

• Upgrade –Pilgrim’s Rest

Stay overnight in Denvir’s Hotel -Ireland’s oldest coaching inn and enjoy an a la cart breakfast.

£80 per couple sharing. £50 Single.