Little Walsingham: Pilgrimage Routes and History

Little Walsingham brings together themes of pilgrimage, church history and local history. Walsingham Abbey is in the centre of the village; the Shrine Church of the Anglican pilgrimage site is near the centre of medieval Little Walsingham. Ruins, icons, museums and paths offer different points of interest. When planning your stay, consider whether you would like to focus mainly on religious history, exhibitions or time on the paths.

Ruins, Snowdrops and Paths

The grounds of Walsingham Abbey include the ruins of the medieval priory of Our Lady of Walsingham. Snowdrops have become established naturally, along with winter aconites, across 18 acres of the grounds and woodland. They generally flower from January to early March. If you would like to see them in bloom, plan your visit around this seasonal window. The River Stiffkey also flows through the grounds and is one of Norfolk’s distinctive small chalk streams.

The paths on the grounds include boardwalks, gravel paths, unpaved paths through the woodland and beside the river, and mown grass paths across the meadow. The surfaces and surroundings therefore vary within the grounds. Take these details into account when planning your day and how you spend your time there.

Shrine Church and Pilgrimage Routes

The Shrine Church contains the Holy House, a replica of the house of Joseph, Mary and Jesus in Nazareth. The Shrine Church and Shrine Grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk. Opening hours may change; check the latest information before your visit.

The Pilgrim Way is one mile long and connects Little Walsingham with Houghton St Giles. It is traffic-free, apart from occasional farm vehicles, and suitable for bicycles, pushchairs, wheelchairs and scooters. The Walsingham Way is 37 miles long and reaches Little Walsingham. The two pilgrimage routes therefore differ in length and in whether they are described as connecting two named places or reaching the village.

Icons, Garden and Orthodox Chapel

St Seraphim’s Chapel was created in 1967 from the former railway station’s ticket office and booking hall. Its introductory exhibition explains the meaning and use of icons in worship and at home, as well as the techniques used to create them. St Seraphim’s Icon Gallery contains artefacts relating to icon painting and is open by appointment only. Guided tours of the icons in the chapel are available by prior booking. Check appointment and booking options before your visit.

St Seraphim’s Quiet Garden was developed from former railway workers’ allotments. It offers pilgrims, visitors and the local community a natural setting for reflection. Nature and quiet contemplation thus complement the themes of the icon exhibition.

St Seraphim’s Orthodox Chapel is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm to people of all faiths and none, and until dusk in winter. Entry is by donation; only assistance dogs are permitted. Check the opening hours before travelling.

Museum and Church History

Shirehall Museum displays local artefacts and photographs from Walsingham, as well as an extensive exhibition about Walsingham as a place of pilgrimage. The museum includes a Georgian courtroom, preserved unchanged since its last use in the 1970s, and a holding cell. The prison is also open to the public. You can borrow the key during opening hours from the entrance to the Abbey Grounds at High Street Gate; check the access arrangements before travelling.

Little Walsingham’s parish church stands on the site of the original Saxon village of Walsingham Parva. Its tower dates from the 14th century and its nave from the 15th century. These two parts provide a timeframe for the church’s history and add further local architectural history to the medieval priory ruins.

Circular Walks and Railway Journey

Walsingham Walks comprises five named circular walks around Walsingham: Waterden Lane, Pilgrim’s Progress, Greenway to Snoring, High Fields above Great Walsingham and Hill House Trail. Some sections on public rights of way may be temporarily closed. Take this possible restriction into account when planning your walk.

The Wells & Walsingham Light Railway runs from the village of Walsingham to Wells-Next-the-Sea. The scenic route is four miles long and takes about 30 minutes. Timetables vary by season and may change; check the timetable for your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Narborough, Great Yarmouth, Stalham, Winterton-on-Sea, Melton Constable, Thornham, Belton, Tharston

For the main travel overview: Norfolk.