Plans to resurrect part of a Moray monastery have taken a major step forward – with the announcement of key details about the sponsored trek which will help fund it.
The Pluscarden Abbey monks will make an epic 1,300-mile journey between France and their ancient home near Elgin next year.
They hope the challenge will raise at least £1million towards restoration work, which will cost more than £9million to complete.
The 1230 Pluscarden Pilgrimage has been named after the year the abbey was founded.
Yesterday, the restoration scheme’s key players gathered at the rural retreat for a workshop on how best to drive forward their aims.
The walk will start at the Val-Des-Choux monastery in Burgundy in June.
Pilgrims are expected to cross the channel into England at the start of July and enter Scotland the following month.
The event’s grand finale will be a “weekend of celebration” after the final leg from Fort Augustus to Pluscarden Abbey in September.
During yesterday’s meeting it was revealed walkers will complete 100 miles each week, across 13 one-week legs, stopping at several important religious sites along the way.
The project’s development director, Lieutenant Colonel David Broadfoot, said: “We are mainly now looking at routes through England, and organising sponsorship for each of the legs.
“It is moving forward at a dramatically fast pace, we already have 80 pilgrims signed up and another 100 planning to.
“This will be a major event for the country, and the abbey will increase its role in Scottish tourism.”
Organisers have lodged a £5million bid with the Heritage Lottery Fund, and are seeking £3million in corporate and private donations to pay for the upgrade.
Everyone participating in the pilgrimage will have to raise £1,230 to take part.
Author Alice Carter addressed organisers at Pluscarden yesterday.
She published an account of her own trek from England to Rome, which she undertook after suffering a brain injury in 2011.
VisitScotland’s Neil Christison said the route chosen could ultimately become popular with tourists.
He said: “The route through Scotland will offer fantastic scenery, trails like this are massive right now and could enhance visitor numbers.”
Pluscarden Abbey’s leaders said the restoration of the 13th century building’s south range will improve the hospitality it offers.
Plans for the development include creating accommodation for 10 female visitors, a new refectory and a library to house its 40,000 books.
Abbot Anselm Atkinson explained that a guesthouse for female visitors was built outside the abbey gates originally, but that the monks now felt it was “inadequate”.
He said: “At the moment, female guests cater for themselves but in the new rooms there will be meals prepared for them.
“We also have 40,000 books – which are only accessible to the monks.
“But after we open a library, guests and visitors will be able to see them as well.””
The monks aim to convert the present guesthouse into a heritage centre after space for women is available in the abbey itself.
The abbot added: “Monastic hospitality offers people a unique opportunity.
“They all have their own reasons for coming to us, which we would never ask them about.”
The abbey has secured planning permission for the work it hopes to carry out.
