MORE than 50 people have taken to the county’s roads for the annual ‘Rugged Pathway’ Christian pilgrimage walk from Haddington to Whitekirk.

Sunshine, wind and rain greeted the members of the public who walked from St Mary’s Parish Church, Haddington, to St Mary’s Parish Church, Whitekirk, via Athelstaneford last Saturday.

Emily Armatage, one of those taking part, said she was “absolutely frozen” but delighted to make it along the 12.127-mile route.

Walkers head along the River Tyne before then crossing the A199 and heading to Athelstaneford. From there, walkers head towards the Museum of Flight and then Markle before reaching East Linton.

The final leg then sees the walkers travel to Whitekirk.

The pilgrimage began in 1971 as the brainchild of the 17th Earl of Lauderdale, whose ancestors were buried in the Lauderdale Aisle, an ecumenical chapel at St Mary’s in Haddington.

In its heyday, an estimated 2,000-plus took part in the international ecumenical pilgrimage.

Meanwhile, discussions about a new pilgrim route were due to take place in Athelstaneford Parish Church today (Friday).

Members of the public will meet to hear about proposals for a route from the Firth of Forth to Holy Island, Northumberland.

Nick Cooke, of the Scottish Pilgrim Routes Forum, will discuss plans for a marked walking/cycling route, which could follow existing coastal paths and the John Muir Way, as much as possible, linking East Lothian with Lindisfarne.

The meeting takes place at 10.30am.