A priest from St Arvans has successfully completed his 800km pilgrimage across Spain.

Father Michael Gollop, priest of St Arvans, embarked on the pilgrimage for spiritual reasons while raising money for charity and the church parish fund.

The pilgrimage route, known as El Camino de Santiago, starts at the town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port located at the foot of the Pyreneese mountains and finishes at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain.

Father Michael began his journey on Thursday 3rd September and completed the pilgrimage early in the morning of Thursday 10th October.

Father Michael said: "I wouldn't say the individual days were challenging, rather the route as a whole. The terrain is very varied underfoot and you have to walk around 10 to 15 miles a day, so waking up with the knowledge you have to walk that distance was quite challenging.

"I stayed in Albergues across the route, they are hostels designed solely for pilgrims. Although I did the pilgrimage alone there were lots of people taking the same route. You'd see a familiar face in the morning, then perhaps wouldn't see them again for a few days.

"The pilgrimage gave me a huge insight into life in northern Spain and I got to see a lot more of it walking on foot than if I would have travelled by coach or car.

"The major reason for walking the route was to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and the church parish, but I also had a spiritual goal and that was to reach the shrine of St James.

The fund is still open for donations from the public.

All the money raised will be split equally with Macmillan Cancer Support and the church parish fund. To donate visit http://www.justgiving.com/starvanschurch">www.justgiving.com/starvanschurch

Any cheques should be made payable to St Arvans church.