pilgrim way

The Pilgrims' Way (also Pilgrim's Way or Pilgrims Way) is the historical route supposed to have been taken by pilgrims from Winchester in Hampshire, England, to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury in Kent. This name, of comparatively recent coinage, follows closely a pre-existing ancient trackway dated by archaeological finds to 500–450 BC, but has probably been in existence since the stone age. The prehistoric route followed the "natural causeway" east to west on the southern slopes of the North Downs.

A pilgrim's way or pilgrim way is a standard route that pilgrims take when they go on a pilgrimage in order to reach their destination - usually a holy site or place of worship. These sites may be towns or cities of special significance such as Jerusalem, Rome, Santiago de Compostela, Lourdes or Einsiedeln, but also specific point in the countryside such as a hill, spring, well, cave or shrine. On the route there are stations where pilgrims can stop and rest, where prayers may be said or religious services observed.