Book data
Forth to Farne Way
John Henderson Jacquetta Megarry
02 December 2020
UK price £12.99
72pp,
130 x 220mm,
170g
978-1-898481-96-6
"The soul will be cheered by the pilgrim lives and religious buildings that are documented throughout this inspirational, informative and practical guide" - Lord Wilson of Tillyorn
This inspiring 70-mile pilgrim route starts from North Berwick on the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh, and continues via Whitekirk’s 12th century church to Dunbar. It follows the North Sea coastline to the stunning scenery of St Abb’s Head and visits Coldingham Priory, perhaps Scotland’s most important Benedictine monastery. Enjoy impressive cliffs and dramatic sea stacks between visits to historic fishing villages. Cross the border and enter Berwick with its ramparts, walls and bridges across the River Tweed. The route culminates with a barefoot crossing of the Holy Island sands to Lindisfarne, where St Aidan founded a monastery in AD 635.
Most people will complete the route within 5 to 8 days, staying in friendly B&Bs along the route, but it can also be done in several shorter expeditions using train and bus.
This book is in our lighter, more pocket-friendly format, with perfect binding instead of concealed wiro.
This 72-page guidebook contains all you need to plan and enjoy the Forth to Farne Way:
- route detail in sections, with distance, terrain and refreshments
- where to find food and accommodation
- background on the spiritual dimension, geology and wildlife
- planning information for travel by train, bus, car or plane
- 16 pages with detailed route mapping at 1:30,000
- in full colour, with 135 photographs
- rucksack-friendly and on rainproof paper.
Click on the thumbnails below to view sample pages from the book "Forth to Farne Way" in standard PDF format.
To reduce loading time, resolution is limited in these extracts, but all photographs are printed at top quality in our books. All text and images are copyrighted ©Rucksack Readers and licensors: please respect our intellectual property.
Contents
From Part 1 Planning
14 centuries of pilgrimage
Cockburnspath to St Abbs-
The lighthouse on St Abb's Head, with foghorn
© Rucksack Readers -
Memorial to the 1881 fishing disaster, St Abbs
© Rucksack Readers -
South-east over Mire Loch, with St Abbs beyond
© Visit Berwickshire Coast -
Refuge on the causeway to Lindisfarne
© Helen Hotson/Dreamstime.com -
Lindisfarne Priory, the end of the Forth to Farne Way
© Biennguyen/Dreamstime.com -
West across the Pilgrim Way
© The Cuthbert Centre, Lindisfarne
From an online review
We found this guide a fascinating read, not only because we know most of the places it passes through well (and, to declare an interest, did contribute an image of the interior of Coldingham Priory). It is beautifully produced and will appeal both to armchair hikers and to the real thing, those who – pandemic permitting – are inspired to don their walking boots: and then take them off again for the final stretch following the traditional Pilgrim Way across the tidal sands to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. We’ve not tried, but the route descriptions look easy to follow and add hugely to the value of a book that is simply a joy to read.
Read the full review here.
Ken Lussey, Undiscovered Scotland
Reviewed on Amazon.co.uk
This book covers a fascinating and little-known stretch of the east Scottish coast and does it more than justice. Beautifully produced, compact, well structured and offering detailed guidance mean that it is a “must-have” for anyone exploring the area. Nice touches too in the production, it is water resistant!
To pack so much information and guidance into a book that will fit into one of your bigger pockets is marvellous. This is one in a whole series of walking guides from the same publisher and it continues the high standards.
Verified purchaser MW
Reviewed by Strider 150
Rucksack Readers are always a guidebook formula and quality of manufacture that can be relied upon. The books are written for walkers by walkers … and have fine touches of detail that only those who have been there, done it and bought the T-shirt know about.
Lots of quality photographs are interesting, inspiring and deliver a strong identity … The detailed maps … could mean that the purchase and carrying of OS maps becomes superfluous. …
There is coastal fascination all the way, with its own special brand of diversity and therapeutic scenery … The book is also a handy size and lightweight, the paper being waterproof.
Tim Glenn, August 2021
From a review in Outdoor Focus magazine
This new long-distance path down the east coast of Scotland follows the southern section of a 12th century pilgrim route, which linked St Andrews and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne in Northumberland.
The 70-mile route starts at North Berwick and takes in St Abb’s Head, John Muir’s birthplace at Dunbar, and the red sandstone Benedictine Coldingham Priory, before reaching the Tweed at Berwick and culminating in the recommended barefoot crossing of the Holy Island Sands to reach Lindisfarne.
And as might be expected from a pilgrimage route, the entire way is liberally sprinkled with historical and religious references. Did you know, for example that St Baldred, “the Apostle of the Lothians”, built a chapel and hermitage on the gannet-haunted volcanic plug of Bass Rock, which is an almost constant companion on this walk.
Reviewed by Roly Smith, OF Spring 2021, page 6
From the Foreword
Modern pilgrimage in Scotland is surely set to grown and flourish. On the Forth to Farne Way the steep climbs and long days will offer a physical challenge. The fascinating geology and coastal heritage will stimulate the mind; and the soul will be cheered by the pilgrim lives and religious buildings that are documented throughout this inspirational, informative and practical guide.
Lord Wilson of Tillyorn
GPX route file