| Dear Pilgrims, friends and supporters of the Peak Wesley Way. We’re back with an Autumn Newsletter to share the highlights of this year, some recent changes and also a glimpse of what’s ahead in 2026. After a busy summer packed with pilgrims, we are glad to welcome some quieter months in our seasonal calendar. Some weeks we had bookings with pilgrims starting their journey on foot every day of the week. We are delighted to share that we had 50 groups booking with us this year coming from all over the UK, Ireland, Scotland and some even travelled here to walk this path from the US and Canada. The hundreds of pilgrims included families, friends, solo pilgrims, ministers on sabbatical, church groups and people with no church connections. They ranged from seasoned walkers and pilgrims to a group completing a “Couch to Camino’ walk in preparation for the Camino de Santiago. |
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| photos: pilgrim walking uphill; groups of pilgrims at Little Longstone Congregational Chapel on day 2; standing on the magnificent Dark Peak Edges on day 4; pilgrims in front of Edale Chapel; a pilgrim collecting her last stamp; pilgirms leaving the Chapel in Barber Booth & walking to end their journey at Edale railway station |
| Pilgrim Review We welcome all feedback and this most recent one we’ve received we’d like to share. It is so encouraging to hear such praise and to know that we have succeeded in bringing our original vision to life. “I want to let you know what a wonderful experience we had. We were blessed with the most magnificent weather which allowed us, and in particular Doreen, our Camino friend from Canada, to appreciate the Peak District in all its glory. The route each day was a splendid variety of hills and valleys, ridge walking and river courses. Plus there was the added benefit of walking from the White Peak and finishing in the Dark Peak. The people we met both along the way and in our daily destinations were the most warm, friendly and helpful bunch. The whole 6 days were a pure joy. Thank you to all who have put this route together, planned the overnight stays, and continue to administer and look after the PWW. Your efforts deserve wider coverage. We will continue to sing its praises and encourage our fellow walkers to consider this route. “ |
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| We warmly welcome our New Superintendent Minister Rev’d Tim Morris Tim arrived in August 2025 to take up the role of Superintendent Minister, ministering across the whole of The Peak Methodist Circuit.Originally from Hampshire, he has lived and ministered in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. He is faithfully supported by his wife, Alison and they also have two adult sons, Samuel and Jacob.Having studied at Cliff College (very many years ago!) and lived in Ashbourne for 15 years, Tim is familiar with some of the area. He says: “As we journey together over the next few years with people and places, may it prove to be a fruitful and hope-filled time for us all. May we know the love of God, the friendship of Christ and the equipping of the Spirit”.  “People and places are very important to me. It’s a privilege to be able to share in people’s stories – joining in their journey, supporting them in times of joy and sorrow. I also enjoy the history, space and memory of places – whether that be church, or chapel; market place, or village hall; hill, vale, moor, mountain, or the back garden! Places hold special connections for us” |
| We also said a fond farewell to Rev’d Julie Letts during the summer. Julie championed and steered the vision of the Peak Wesley Way to bring it into reality and was also the main point of contact offering pastoral care to pilgrims during and after their pilgrimage. |
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| There is a new multimedia textile art Wall Hanging installed as a centre piece at Edale Chapel you can spot in the photos and is now that many hands have been working on over the past year. |
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| PWW volunteers a big thank you to our volunteers The second summer season of the Peak Wesley Way is drawing to a close with two remaining pilgrim groups at the end of October. Thank you to all the volunteers who have made it possible for the hundreds of pilgrims to experience the Peak Wesley Way throughout the year. We have received brilliant feedback, with so many compliments to the “invisible saints” who prepared their welcome, and their joy at meeting the welcomers in person. The majority of pilgrims who booked on the Peak Wesley Way first heard about it via word of mouth, so please do continue to spread the word of this wonderful spiritual experience. become a volunteer We are looking to grow our numbers in order to share the responsibility of looking after pilgrims in the chapels. If you are based in or near any of the villages where the pilgrimage passes through, and would be interested in volunteering with us, please get in touch with us. |
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| photo above was taken of three pilgrims 3 friends embracing on a bench on Peak Wesley Way in June, looking out over the landscape of the White Peaks, just outside Baslow, before reaching Curbar Edge. |
| Coming soon |
 We often reflect on the feedback and suggestions we receive from past pilgrims and we endeavour to continually improve the Peak Wesley Way experience for everyone choosing to undertake this journey on foot. Some of the following things are currently being planned behind the scenes. – Peak Wesley Way Open Days in 2026 – volunteer and team intros – pilgrimage for single pilgrims – baggage transport – pilgrimage as a gift for Christmas? |
| Please note, in our next newsletter there will be information about changes to our prices for pilgrimage bookings from 2026 January. We hope those who have been considering this pilgrimage for a while will be able to make a booking at our current rates before the end of the year. |
| Best wishes Alex and the Peak Wesley Way Team |
| P.S. At the end of the previous newsletter there was a photo of Padley Chapel in Grindleford. Can you guess where this last photo below was taken? |
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