The two routes appear in the Trust's newly published list of Britain's most popular pilgrimage routes in 2025, based on data from tens of thousands of pilgrims visiting their resources throughout the year.

The Brecon Cathedral Pilgrimage, ranked sixth in Wales, offers a beautiful half-day walk from Brecon Cathedral along the River Honddu, which cuts through the Black Mountains. The Gower Pilgrimage, ranked ninth, links all 17 historic churches of the Gower Peninsula, with their roots going back to Celtic Welsh history. The Gower was the first place in Britain to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The rankings reflect a growing rediscovery of Britain's ancient pilgrimage routes. As the British Pilgrimage Trust notes, pilgrimage offers "a deliberate contrast" to the pace of modern life, creating space for reflection and attentiveness to landscape and history.

The renewed interest in pilgrimage was highlighted by King Charles III in his Christmas Day speech, where he described pilgrimage as being "of particular significance for our modern world," noting that "it is about journeying forward into the future while also journeying to remember the past and learn from its lessons."

Learn more about pilgrimage routes in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon.