DORSET’S only resident bishop has invited people to join her on a series of pilgrimages to be held in different parts of the county in May and early June.

Rt Revd Karen Gorham, the Bishop of Sherborne, has organised the three pilgrimages to help people connect the much loved pastime of walking for leisure with the deeper callings of their spirituality.

For the last two years she has led a trip to St Aldhelm’s Chapel on the coast near Worth Maltravers, Purbeck, with connections to St Aldhelm taking the role of the first Bishop of Sherborne in the seventh century.

The pilgrimage will take place on St Aldhelm’s Day, Friday, May 25.

Another journey will take place from Morecombe Lake to Whitchurch Canonicorum, to revive the pilgrimage to the shrine of St Wite on her saints day, June 1.

These events will follow on from a longer walk from Cerne Abbas to Milton Abbey on Saturday, May 5, connecting two of Dorset’s longest-established holy places.

Rev Gorham said: “For centuries people have walked the highways and byways of Dorset. In the past this was for work, for essential supplies and for pilgrimage.

“The idea of these pilgrimages is to walk in the footsteps of those who have gone before, to celebrate their lives and to share our own faith journeys.”

“Everyone is welcome to join in, regardless of their faith and regardless of whether or not they have a faith.”

Full details on how to join the pilgrimages of is available at www.salisbury.anglican.org/whos-who/news-and-events/pilgrimage