This summer, I stepped out of the everyday world and followed the old path of pilgrimage, journeying into my heartland.
I have recently landed back from a solo trek around the thirty mountains of the Yorkshire Dales, up here in the north of England. I walked for two weeks, in one continuous loop, with the sole purpose of deepening my connection with the land.
I chose my final pilgrimage destination to be Ingleborough Mountain.
For those reading this who don't know Ingleborough and the limestone country of the Yorkshire Dales, it is a dramatic landscape of waterfalls, caves, limestone pavements and mountains.
For those who have been, you know what I mean when I say this is a place for awe-seekers. There is archaeological evidence woven through the landscape that this was a place of spiritual importance for our distant ancestors. It has inspired people for thousands of years and after spending a lot of time here over the past year, I believe it to be a place of pilgrimage.
Today, Ingleborough is one of England’s favourite mountains and tens of thousands of people traverse its summit as part of the Three Peaks Challenge. I was curious what might happen if I were to come here not as a tourist, but as a pilgrim and see how the land might speak to me and how Ingleborough in particular might respond.
I am now on the other side of what turned out to be a life-changing experience, and I have so much to share about what happened. As I give space for it first to seep into my sinews, I have created this short video I recorded on the final day for The Way of the Buzzard community. It gives a window into what I was up to as I unplugged from the everyday world.
Oh Nicola, very well done.
What an achievement!
Beautiful photos that capture your love for the land
Thank you for sharing ❤️
So well done Nicola! You are such an inspiration!🙏🏻🗻⛰️🏔️
Blush, thank you Stella! I am really touched 🙂
I don’t know the Dales at all but seeing your wonderful photos I must add it to next year’s list! What an inspirational woman you are to do all that alone x
Ah, thank you Gail. This is so lovely to receive your note. And I am made up you are coming to the Yorkshire Dales next year!
What an inspirational act, from conception, through body, mind and spirit readiness to the courage to do this.
The ripples out from beyond the epicentre of that land are healing and unfathomable.
Deep bow to you
Thank you
🙇🏼♀️ 🙏
Ah, thank you Rachael, this is so lovely to read 🙂
This is absolutely beautiful, as are you. Thank you for making this pilgrimage, somehow it’s for us as well as for you!
Blush, thank you Mary. I love that this pilgrimage was for our community as well as for me. This feels even more special.
I’ve not ventured into Yorkshire. The uk is full of so many magical places.
I know what you mean by heartland. For me it is Cornwall, specifically Bodmin moor and tintagel coast. I’m not from the UK, but it is home to me.
You are the perfect partner for Jason. 😉
We are very lucky that the UK has so many magical places. I don’t know Cornwall too well, but I have loved it when I have visited. Love that you know what I mean by ‘heartland’
Really made me feel emotional just looking at your beautiful photos. What a wonderful thing to do. Thank you for sharing. It added to me the importance of nature as reignited in me by Jason’s recent posts
This is so touching to hear Sue, thank you.
Thank you Nicola, feeling all inspired (and very impressed) now!
Amazing to hear on both counts, thank you Yvette 🙂
What an amazing journey, well done! Thank you for sharing the lovely photos
Thank you Sue 🙂
Amazing achievement Nicola, it looks so beautiful, I think you are brave to do it on your own as well.
Thanks Gill 🙂
What a beautiful space, truly awe inspiring! thank you Nicola!
Thank you Lorraine 🙂
What a fantastic achievement. You are such an inspiration and for me it highlighted that we can achieve our desires if we allow ourselves some time and space to reflect on what they actually are. Thank you for sharing your insights.
I do believe we can Sandra. If it is part of our life path, it is absolutely possible. Thank you 🙂
Wow what an immense achievement. Stunning photographs & scenery. Well done to you for following your passion & making that pilgrimage. I’m sure it will take some time to process – have you landed yet?! xx
Thank you Trina 🙂
I have landed now, but it took a few weeks!
Dear Nicola
Amazing you ! taking on an amazing pilgrimage. The land is truly stunning and I can only begin to imagine the strength and power of the ‘more than’ mountains you experience in your heartfelt space. The beautiful images and your words brought a huge swelling of emotion which fills my heart and throat.
Bless you and the land 💞
Karon X
Thank yo so much for your note here Karon. This is so touching to read 🙂
Well done Nicola, and thank you for the wonder full pictures. You have reaffirmed my need to reconnect with our marvellous landscape.
Thank you Shauna, and this is lovely to hear 🙂
I’ve never been to the Dales, but you inspired me and I’ve just finished 3 peaks over 3 days and I’m off to Ingleborough cave. Thank you for reminding me to walk the landscape with a prayer in my heart, several times it took a song to keep me plodding ‘ every step I take is a sacred step, every step I take is a healing step’ prove a useful mantra. I’m a fast walker so my other lesson was my husband who walks 2k an hour slower than me, which meant I had to take time to see the land in all her beauty rather than just aiming for an end goal. Diolch yn fawr x
I love that you have this song and also that you have been inspired to explore the Dales. You are going to some of my favourite places too! And enjoying that extra time waiting for your husband, perfect 🙂
Thank you…. love your way of the Buzzard…. many years ago at age of 10, I too climbed Ingleborough while on a school journey… only wish I had climbed it with a pilgrim to show me the wonders.
Thank you Carolyn, and what a fabulous mountain to climb so young.
What an inspiration and such a beautiful journey. Thank you for sharing it. Ingleborough so special. I love the idea of writing poems.
Thank you Margaret. The poem writing was a game changer for me.
Wow, what an achievement. Well done, and thank you for giving us a glimpse of your incredible pilgrimage. I look forward to hearing more, when you are ready to share.
Thank you Alexandra, this is lovely to hear 🙂 I am excited to share more soon. I have just about pieced together what emerged so it comes out in coherent way!
Wow – this is amazing Nicola – what a journey, in every sense of the word. This is incredibly inspiring and gives me such joy to be able to share in your sense of achievement. Thank you for this video, its great to get an insight into where you walked and climbed.
Thank you so much for your note Emma, I am really touched by your words 🙂
Congratulations Nicola on your amazing journey, I’m sure you are buzzing with how proud you are of your achievement. Well done, you are an inspiration xxx
Ah, I am Linda. Even now, all these weeks on I look back and feel that same sense of achievement as when I reached the end. Thank you so much for your note 🙂
Wow! A fantastic achievement which shows passion and determination; I love that strength of character in you, Nicola. I remember you said you were scared at some points when the weather was really bad but you kept going. I, too, am very proud of you for doing this and thank you so, so much for sharing it. I cannot wait to hear/read more. Well done, you! Such a beautiful thing to do. 🙂💕🥾🥾🌿
Thank you Julie, what a lovely note to read. I was frightened at times, but had not choice really but to push on and learnt a lot in the process.
Wow Nicola,
Many congratulations, you should be so proud of yourself and you are such an inspiration to many, what beautiful and stunning scenery. I love your photos, well done, there isn’t enough words to describe it all.
Thank you Mandy, I am really touched by your words here 🙂
Just stunning Nicola, I am in awe at your achievement – thank you for sharing and I look forward to seeing and hearing more when you are ready to share.
Thank you so much Carol 🙂
Just wow! What an amazing thing to have done, and what an achievement! Well done you ❤️ x
Thank you Michelle!
Thank you so much Michelle 🙂
It’s an amazing achievement Nicola and I am so pleased. What really gets to my heart is the beaming smile on your face as you share this. Not just your achievement (which should make you smile) but your love of the places you interacted with and became friends with. The photos show this too.
This is lovely to hear that this comes across in my video. Thanks Susie 🙂
Thank you for sharing. It is an incredible landscape. I’ve done a bit of walking up there including Ingleborough in the snow which was so very majestic. Congratulations on the completion of your pilgrimage 🙂
Thank you Sister Patience. Yes, this landscape is even more beautiful in the winter
I shed a little tear watching this!
I have only ever visited the area for the Yorkshire 3 peaks and it was beautiful, sadly summited Ingleborough in the pitch dark in October at 6am so never saw the summit properly. But I can only imagine the feeling after finishing, and I can’t wait to hear about the spiritual side and your experiences in
More detail. Incredible well done you must be so proud x
I am so touched that you felt emotional watching my video Faye. Yes, it is common to miss the true glory of Ingleborough, usually because of cloud. I expect there was something quite special though being up there in the dark. That is lovely you would like to hear more of my pilgrimage. I am excited to be sharing more soon.
So simply beautiful.
Thank you Gail 🙂
Hi nicola it looks amazing you are so lucky to have the freedom to do that walk and alone it must have been so awesome .By the way im half way through your book and iv just found out our towbs st marys hospital started out as the ketterings workhouse .
Yes, I am so grateful that I have the freedom to do this. My ancestral healing work has a large part to play in this. I love you are reading my book and have made discoveries already.
A solo pilgrimage of such length and breadth…I will enjoy hearing about it when you feel ready to start sharing. It’s got me thinking about my own wish to do something like this in my favoured Fenscape, on a much smaller scale as hurdles of courage and knowledge to address first. How did you?Maybe you’ll be the mentor needed …I’m sure I’m not alone in this. Thank you again x
That is amazing that you have an idea to do something similar with your land Alison. I have captured my process that led me to achieving this – it began last year. I am writing a book about it… more about this soon as I am nearly finished 🙂
So proud for you Nicola, your pilgrimage echoes the ‘you’ I respect and admire – wayfinder, sharer, explorer, truthseeker and spokeswoman for Nature. You must feel so different after this! 🌱🙏🍃x
Thank you Suzie! I do. I am different now for sure. Still watching the changes in me emerge.
What a journey, in so many ways. Wow. Looking forward to hearing about your transformations – excited for you. xxx
Thank you Jaqui 🙂
Oh wow Nicola what an incredible journey. Thank you for sharing your amazing photos, I’m looking forward to hearing about your experiences. What a gift to yourself. You are an inspiration. Huge congratulations for completing your pilgrimage, proud of you.
Thanks so much Anne Marie 🙂
So amazing Nicola congratulations on reaching your goal. I am in awe of your commitment and strength of will. You are truly an inspiration to us all ❤️
Ah, thank you Kim 🙂
Wow, well done Nicola what an achievement. Photos are stunning and thank you for sharing your amazing journey!
Thank you Sheila 🙂
I felt quite emotional watching the film. what an achievement.
Congratulation Nicola and well done xx
Thank you Dawn, this is so lovely to hear 🙂
I’m in complete awe.. How incredible, such a precious time for you to reconnect. Thankyou for sharing x
Like others have said , Nicola, this moved me to tears. Your connection to the land came through your photographs – Jason you have some competition!
I, too, am looking forward to hearing more about your journey and I hope we are able to hear some of your poetry.
Thank you so much for the inspiration and sharing. 😊
Thank you Bridget, I am really touched that this has moved you so much. And that is really encouraging that you would like to hear some of my poetry. Thank you 🙂
Wow Nicola what an amazing journey, in so many ways! I know that the mountains will have felt your love ❤️
Thank you Sue 🙂 I hope so 🙂
How special Nicola – thank you for sharing these beautiful moments and magical landscapes with us in all the vastness and tiny details. I have visited this part of the world – it’s powerful and I’m looking forward to hearing more when you are ready. Sending much love and appreciation 💜and well done – you did it 👏👏👏👏👏❣️
Thank you Alison, this is so lovely to read your note 🙂
Wow ! This has literally moved me to tears .Whan an amazing pilgrimage Nicola .Beautiful pictures too. You are a real inspiration .Thank you for sharing your amazing journey .❤️
Wow, that is so lovely to hear my video touched you in this way Tracey. Thank you 🙂
Well done. My brother and his wife had a family cottage up there and I spent a summer exploring the landscape, beautiful part of the country. So pleased it was beneficial for you.x
Thank you Beverly, and how lovely you got to explore this landscape too.
Just lovely to vicariously share a little of your journey.
Thank you Barbara 🙂
Your video is a wonderful little taster of the goodies yet to come! The way you trod looks so beautiful. I so look forward to hearing more stories about your experiences with the Land and how they were so life-changing – unfurling, as you process them and feel ready to share. x
It is! Thank you Liz, it is so great to hear what you are looking forward to hearing about my journey 🙂
Amazingly beautiful and wonderful what you have achieved. What a courageous and inspirational adventure. Can’t wait to hear your stories xx thank you so much for sharing such a sacred mission xx
Thank you so much Sue 🙂
Hi just wanted to say thank you so much for posting these photos. They are stunning. I wouldn’t be able to do anything like this as less able than the used to be. But I can still get about and often get out in beautiful Yorkshire to appreciate nature. Xx
Thank you so much for your note Sharon. As I was walking I was thinking of all those not able to undertake something like this. But I believe that any trip to any special landscape or sacred site will deliver exactly what it needs to to the pilgrim that makes it, however they make it. I love you think Yorkshire is beautiful too 🙂
Thank you Sharon 🙂
Tears rolling down my cheeks. I think it’s an emotional response to someone giving so much of themselves in service of the land. I am so moved. I’m not sure if it’s my place to say, as I have never met you in person Nicola, but I am so proud of you
Oh Sam, I have just skipped a beat! Thank you so much 🙂 I am really touched by this.
This is really touching, thank you so much Sam 🙂
My heart dancing watching your pilgrimage… ✨️
Thank you for taking me to places in my birth land I can’t get to anymore. Love from Sue. 🦋
Thank you Sue, this is so lovely to hear 🙂
I cried most of the way through watching this: with joy for you and a vicarious pride in your achievements; with recognition of the beauty of those limestone landscapes; with acceptance that my own pilgrimage walks are much more modest, and with the memory of reaching the summit of Ingleborough (once!) – in the fog! Thank you (both) for sharing your love of the land…
Kathy, this is such a lovely note to read. I am really touched, thank you. And yes, Ingleborough summit is often experienced in the fog! Thank you 🙂
Just wonderful and congratulations once again Nicola. These photos and video of our beautiful Yorkshire Dales make my heart sing and I can’t wait to get back ‘home’ again there in October! ⛰️ 🌳 🚶♀️
Ah, thank you Heidi. I love we share this passion for the same landscape. Roll on October for you!