The Spiritual Traveler: The Guide to Sacred Sites and Pilgrim Routes in Britain Book

The Spiritual Traveler: England, Scotland, Wales by Martin Palmer and Nigel Palmer is an interesting resource book for pilgrims. It's a guide to the sacred sites and routes in Britain. On its cover is depicted a map of the English and Welsh counties, and Scottish regions where these sites and routes could be found. The book consists of the following: 1. The Epic of Sacred Britain, 2. The Sacred Landscape - Pilgrim Routes through Sacred Britain, and 3. A Multi-faith Pilgrimage and Places to stay along the Way. Included also for readers are a bibliography, general index, index of places, credits, and more maps of sacred Britain.
The story of this land began thousands of years ago. When the great ice age ended the by 4500 BCE the Mesolithic peoples began to infiltrate Britain by crossing over from continental Europe via a land bridge. These peoples could be described as the first religious ones to settle the land and establishing spiritual centers. Their burial mounds were long barrows and megalithic tombs. Following was the Bronze Age in that transformed Britain. Metal technology came from Europe and stone-using farming began. Trade started with other European countries. The Bronze Age left its marks on the fields. And this human activity was responsible for the Mesolithic's influence to decline.
Around 1000 BCE an ecological and religious collapse further ensued with a major climatic change due to volcanic activity. Agriculture collapsed in many parts of the country. This led to the rejection of the old egalitarian beliefs and systems. There was an emphasis on patriarchy and the rise of the warrior class. Darkness and death descended upon the landscape. But soon the Iron Age around 750 BCE revolutionized the land. The establishment of forts protected the communities. The smithy blacksmith became legendary. The Celtic ascendancy shifted the tenure of communities with communal homes that soon became places for storytelling. Houses' entrances were changed from the west to the east to the rising sun of new life. The Celts had cleared the land but had centered their religion on the forest.
The sacred yew groves of the druids left virtually no mark. The Celtic worship and ritual sites came not from buildings or standing stones, but from sacrifice lakes such as the one at Llyn Cerrig Bach on Anglesey - one of the greatest centers of druid training. But with the coming of the Romans and by the late 5th century CE England was left devastated. The southern half of Britain was transformed into a semi-urban agricultural landscape. With the Romans appeared the first true towns and cities. Many of the temples sites from the period were built to house Celtic deities after the power of the druids was destroyed. Celtic temples were later transformed into Christian churches. Around 450 CE the Roman period ended. With warring tribes what eventually evolving about 180 CE saw Christianity later coming to Britain. Later was ushered in the scientific revolution and the Age of Enlightenment that were to impact Britain's Christian lifestyle.