AN INVITATION
To escape the noise of the modern world and reclaim your voice in an evolving history of England—on a path carved by travellers for over 1500 years.
Exciting News Coming 1st October
Over the last 6 months the team of Alan and Hari the labrador have been building what we hope is a world class cultural and historical walk from Falmouth to Canterbury and we have exciting news to share with you…. including..
A new guidebook, an expanded route, membership scheme, monthly magazine, walkers sanctuaries, details of the upcoming books, and films, philosophical audio guide, the foster powell challenge, and medieval december pilgrimage! See you in 15 days! Alan & Hari
ABOUT THE GREAT ENGLISH WAY
The Great English Way CIC is a registered Community Interest Company (COMPANY NUMBER 17169206) dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and protection of the historic 413-mile cultural path between Falmouth and Canterbury.
Founded on the principles of our “Pilgrim’s Charter,” we view the English landscape as a shared heritage—a space where history, nature, and the human spirit intersect to foster well-being and community connection. Our founder Alan has mapped and waymarked the entire 666km / 413 miles path with his labrador Hari on public lamposts to enable people to follow the path without having to use smartphones and maps but the entire trail is available in beta format as a GPX file, and is available on OS Maps here .
The Great English Way is a world class, curated, evolving journey on foot through the landscape , people, culture, and history of England for everyone, designated as a neutral cultural territory, where everyone is welcome, no matter their background or beliefs, to explore the landscape, to challenge themselves, to reflect, to create, and to learn.
The Three H’s: Health, History, and Heritage
The Great English Way is built upon a foundational commitment to the “Three H’s,” ensuring that every step taken on the path contributes to a larger tapestry of well-being:
- Health (Physical & Mental Recovery): We view the path as a space for profound holistic recovery. Walking the Way is a therapeutic process—a “circuit-breaker” for those seeking to overcome the weights of physical, psychological and emotional trauma, Through physical endurance, locally grown organic nutrition, and the practice of mindfulness, we facilitate a return to natural vitality, helping individuals process deep-seated trauma and rediscover their internal balance.
- History: The route from Falmouth to Canterbury is a corridor through time. By engaging with the deep historical narratives of the land, pilgrims find a broader perspective on their own lives, understanding that we are part of a story much larger than our immediate circumstances.
- Heritage: This is our shared cultural inheritance. By protecting the path as a “Cultural Artifact,” we ensure that the spirit of the pilgrimage remains a living reality for everyone, regardless of their past.
YOU ASKED FOR IT SO WE NOW HAVE INSTAGRAM!
For Each Section of The Great English Way Alan is Curating a playlist of Cornish songs and musicians to showcase the rich cultural heritage along the path.. Our first playlist is Cornwall, more to come.
The Sanctuary Network
Our vision is to establish a series of Sanctuaries along the route. These hubs are designed to support walkers and local communities through three core pillars:
- Hospitality & Refuge: Providing a warm bed and a safe environment for reflection, rest, learning, sharing stories. This will always be available for anyone who holds a Great English Way passport and is in need of a safe space for whatever reason.
- Sustainable Nutrition: Maintaining Kitchen Gardens and working with local suppliers to provide wholesome, organic meals.
- Renewable Innovation: Utilizing solar cooking and off-grid power to minimize our environmental footprint.
It is our intention to learn from the Camino de Santiago model and develop ultra low cost shared accommodation, with a pilgrim meal for between £10 and £15 per night through either tented accommodation, or by redeveloping and restoring buildings along the path to achieve this goal. It is fair to say that in England, millions of pounds of investment has been mostly made in path maintenance, and legal wranglings, and little or no hospitality infrastructure, and where there is, it is hugely expensive and not often on the path.. we aim to change all that by creating a new model and creating investment opportunities in our hospitality program of 21 building rest stops and showcasing the best in English Hospitality, because we love being hospitable not because we just want to make a profit. More soon.
The Stewards & Scholars Program
At the heart of our mission is the Stewards & Scholars of the Path initiative. This program provides vocational training and mentorship for unemployed individuals, disadvantaged youth, and those seeking a way out of criminality and anti-social behavior.
By participating in the daily operations of our Sanctuaries—from gardening to hospitality—our “Stewards” develop practical life skills, discipline, and a renewed sense of purpose. The Way offers a restorative environment where individuals can move beyond their past labels, learning to become guardians of the path and, in turn, guardians of their own future.
The Founder: Alan Macmillan Orr
The Great English Way was conceived by Alan Macmillan Orr, an author and philosopher with a lifelong inquiry into the relationship between human consciousness and the natural world. In his seminal work, The Natural Mind – Waking Up, he explored how our environment shapes our thoughts, advocating for a return to an authentic, integrated way of being.
Alan’s work is centered on personal human evolution. He invites participants to move beyond “the conditioned mind”—the layers of societal pressure and past trauma—to rediscover their own unfiltered voice. This is supported by:
- The Sail Trader Initiative: A blueprint for a truly ethical economy using wind-powered transport (the Ariana) to bypass polluting global systems.
- Ethical & Plant-Based Sovereignty: Ensuring every supplier adheres to a strict code of land preservation and fair wages, prioritizing a lifestyle of compassion.
- Literature: Alan has written several large works, including The Natural Mind – Waking Up, a 250 topic personal deconstruction of being human, written as a dialogue with the reader to help people deconstruct their own minds and lives, in order to evolve personally covering topics as diverse as banking, zoos, anger, supermarkets, driving… Alan trawled through his own life experiences, to look at each topic from every angle.
Alan invites you to join him on this path—to explore the landscape of your mind, rediscover the sanctity of the small, and embrace the unbound journey of personal growth.
Documenting the Story: Ariana Film Company
In partnership with the Ariana Film Company Ltd, we document the growth of the route and the success of our community programs. The film company captures the journey of those reclaiming their lives on the path, ensuring these stories of transformation are preserved as a cultural artifact for generations to come.
THE PILGRIM’S CHARTER
Our Tenfold Commitment to the Land, the Community, and the Path
1. Leave it Better Than You Found It We don’t just carry our own trash; we pick up what others have left behind. We treat the path as our own home, recognizing that clearing the land of “human noise” (waste) helps us clear our own minds of “mental noise.”
2. Respect People’s Privacy We stay on the marked paths and respect all “Private” signs. We remember that we are guests passing through someone else’s backyard, and we treat their home with the respect it deserves.
3. Look After the Animals We are careful around livestock and wildlife. We keep dogs on leads, close every gate behind us, and never disturb the animals that live here. Protecting the vulnerable is part of our journey.
4. Buy Local We support the people who live along the route. Whether it’s a village shop, a local cafe, or a farm stall, we put our money back into the small communities that keep the path alive.
5. Keep it Quiet We respect the peace of the countryside. We keep our voices down and our impact light, making sure the quiet of the trail is there for everyone to enjoy.
6. Look Out for Each Other No one walks alone unless they want to. We stay aware of the group, carry enough supplies, and make sure that nobody is left behind or put at risk.
7. Tell the Truth We keep an honest record of our journey. We share our experiences truthfully, helping to build a real history of the walk for those who come after us.
8. Leave Labels at the Start On this path, everyone is equal. We leave our backgrounds, past mistakes, and outside labels behind, treating every person we meet with the same level of dignity.
9. Report Problems We act as the eyes and ears of the path. If we see a broken gate, a blocked way, or an animal in trouble, we report it to the right people so the Way stays safe for everyone.
10. Walk for the Next Person We know that how we behave today determines if pilgrims are welcome tomorrow. We walk in a way that ensures the next generation is always invited back.
See you on The Great English Way!
Interactive OS Map
use the interactive map to find places of interest, places of worship, accommodation, hospitality. The full route is marked by a red line. A stage by stage OS Map with GPX download will be available soon.