Wexford Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way

Across the Irish Sea, where Celtic saints once sailed in their coracles, the Wexford Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way reconnects the ancient bonds between Ireland and Wales. This unique cross-water pilgrimage links the monastic heritage of County Wexford with the cathedral city of St Davids - Britain's smallest city and Wales's holiest place.

📜 History & Significance

The sea lanes between Ireland and Wales carried not only trade but faith. Celtic monks traveled these waters spreading Christianity, establishing monasteries, and creating a shared spiritual culture that predated national boundaries. St David himself is said to have been born in Pembrokeshire to an Irish mother.

The Wexford Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way was established in the 21st century to revive these ancient connections. The route links walking trails on both sides of the Irish Sea with a ferry crossing, creating a pilgrimage that embraces the maritime character of Celtic Christianity.

🥾 Route Overview

The Wexford Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way covers approximately 200 km in total - roughly 70 km in Ireland and 130 km in Wales, with a ferry crossing between Rosslare and Fishguard. The full route typically requires 8-12 days of walking.

The Irish section passes through County Wexford's monastic sites and countryside before reaching Rosslare. After the ferry crossing, the Welsh section follows the Pembrokeshire coast and inland paths to St Davids, whose cathedral has drawn pilgrims since the 6th century.

☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites

St Davids Cathedral - The goal of the pilgrimage, where the patron saint of Wales is buried. Medieval pilgrims believed two visits to St Davids equaled one to Rome, and three visits equaled one to Jerusalem.

In Ireland, the route passes monastic ruins and holy wells associated with the early Celtic church. The Pembrokeshire coast offers spectacular scenery along with the chapel of St Non, mother of St David, at the traditional site of his birth.