The aim of both pilgrim routes across Pen Llŷn is to reach Bardsey Island, the island of 20,000 saints. It's been a place of great spirituality for centuries.

The paths begin in two of the area's most important churches - the former monasteries of Clynnog Fawr and Tywyn.

Since the early Christians escaped to Egypt to find peace to worship God, the tradition of opening quiet places of worship spread to Rome, France and then to Britain.

It was for this reason that St Cadfan left his monastery in Tywyn and travel to the island on the horizon - Bardsey - and established a new monastery there.

There's been a great increase in pilgrims making their way to Bardsey in the past few years, especially from America. It's possible to drive from church to church these days, of course, but many still take a week off to walk the paths.

Now they can stay in very nice guesthouses and have a G and T after a hard day's walking! Nicer than camping out in a field behind a church like they used to.

The northern path
This is the most popular path across Pen Llŷn to Bardsey. It begins in Clynnog Fawr and goes on to Pistyll, Nefyn, Edern, Tudweiliog, Llangwnadl and Aberdaron.

It's hard to know exactly which path they took, but they would have walked from church to church, going to some because they were places of significance and some because they were conveniently located for an evening's rest. Follow the route.

The southern path
This path is a little harder to precisely follow because the mouth of the Mawddach is so wide, and has changed so much over the years. Starting in Tywyn, they would have gone into the countryside as far as Dolgellau to cross the river, but today you can go over the Cob.

Basically, the path goes from Tywyn towards Llanelltyd, then on to Bontddu, Barmouth, Dyffryn Ardudwy, Harlech, over to Abererch and down the peninsula to Aberdaron. Follow the route.
Andrew Jones