Your article on the revival of pilgrimage travel (The modern pilgrims retracing Britain’s ancient routes, 15 April) refers to the development of six long-distance pilgrimage routes in Scotland, including the newly launched St Magnus Way on Orkney. This work is being carried out under the leadership of the Scottish Pilgrim Routes Forum, a network of over 60 organisations and individuals committed to off-road pilgrimage travel, established in 2012. The Forum has no counterpart within the UK in terms of its aims and structure. Our core purpose is to facilitate the involvement of rural communities in the promotion and operation of the new routes for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and sharing best practice among members to make this possible at a practical level. Current media coverage of the contribution of SPRF to modern pilgrimage travel is growing rapidly, and it is heartening that Scottish churches are increasingly committed to this movement. However, your readers should not confuse our work with the activities of the British Pilgrimage Trust, which has no presence in Scotland, despite its title.
Nick Cooke
Secretary, Scottish Pilgrim Routes Forum
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