St Hild's Way - a 48 mile pilgramage trail from Hartlepool to Whitby launched on International Women's Day

Rt. Rev Micahel Sadgrove, Rev Gill Alexander, Rt. Rev. Sarah Clark, Mrs Sue Snowdon, The Mayor of Hartlepool Coun. Brenda Loynes and her consort husband Dennis at the launch of the Way of St Hild.

The 48 mile Way of St Hild is a unique long distance walk that is supported by augmented reality stations along a route that runs from Hartlepool to Whitby.

Launched on Sunday, March 8 – International Women’s Day – the trail celebrates a significant female Saxon saint as she led one of the most important religious centres in the Anglo-Saxon world.

Hild in Latin means Hilda who in Saxon times was an Abbess of both Hartlepool and Whitby, better know as the head of an abbey of nuns and monks, which made her a significant female leader who not only impacted religion at the time, but also politics as Kings often sought her advice.

Rt Rev Sarah Clark, Bishop of Jarrow speaking outside St Hilda's Church at the launch of the Way of St Hild.

The launch of the trail on International Women’s Day is not only to honour St Hilda, but to honour the contributions that female leaders have made to civic activities, communities and religious life.

The launch began with a service held at 9.30am at St Hilda’s Church in Hartlepool, led by The Rt Revd Sarah Clark, Bishop of Jarrow.

Followed by a number of walkers and runners, who departed from the church and made their way to Whitby, including Ultra-distance runner Sharon Gayter who set a new world record in 2019 by running 822 miles between John O’Groats and Land’s End in 12 days, 11 hours and 7 seconds.

Sharon, who is a lecturer at Teesside University, said: “The Way of St Hild is a fantastic route along a particularly scenic stretch of our coastline and the fact it is also dedicated to such a significant woman makes it even more special.”

The launch of the Way of St Hild at St. Hilda's Church, on Hartlepool Headland, on Sunday, March 8.

Special guests, including Sue Snowdon, the Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham, Councillor Brenda Loynes, the Ceremonial Mayor of Hartlepool, Gill Alexander, the Chief Executive of Hartlepool Borough Council and Bishop Sarah who were taken to Whitby on board HMS Example, as it is believed St Hild herself would often have made the journey between Hartlepool and Whitby by sea.

Two more services were held in Whitby, a short one on arrival at 2.30pm and a second held by The Rt Revd Paul Ferguson, Bishop of Whitby at St Hilda’s Church in Whitby at 4pm.

Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, Dean Emeritus of Durham, who has supported the creation of The Way of St Hild, said: “The Way of St Hild is offered as a journey that carries multiple significance.

“It begins and ends with churches associated with St Hild herself, a traditional way of setting out on and completing a pilgrimage at a sacred site.

International Women's Day saw the launch of the Way of St Hild at St. Hilda's Church, on Hartlepool Headland.

“But, the journey also embraces the many contrasting natural and human environments of this stretch of coastline, and helps us understand the long history of these landscapes both before and since Hild’s time”.