Bishop embarks on millennium walk

Bishop will stop at sites linked to the county's Saxon roots

The Bishop of Gloucester is leading a team of walkers on a 100-mile pilgrimage through Gloucestershire.

The Right Reverend Michael Perham will stop at sites with a connection to the county's Saxon origins, including Highnam, Stroud and Cirencester.

The walk, being staged as part of the county's millennium celebrations, will end in Winchcombe on 15 June.

Part of his journey will be made by canal boat with members of a day centre for disabled people.

Bishop Michael said: "I hope the pilgrimage I'm going to make... will bring the county's millennium celebrations to a good conclusion, enabling us to look back with gratitude over our history and look forward with a sense of direction for the future.

"I hope it will be for me a spiritual experience, as well as, inevitably, a physically challenging one.

"And I'm sure the conversations on the way with those who walk with us will be really important."