PILGRIMS have travelled on foot, horseback and more recently on bicycle for thousands of years, seeking to enrich their lives in some way, be it for spirituality, for charity or simply for reflection.

Father Michael Gollop, Parish priest of St Arvans, will dedicate just over a month in September to join these ranks of pilgrims and glean something for himself and his parish.

The Father will set off from the small town Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, nestled in the foothills of the French Pyreneese mountains.

From there he will walk 500 miles, following the Way of St James to reach his destination, the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, northern Spain.

The active priest, who has been in residence at St Arvans for 20 years, said the pilgrimage will be an entirely new experience for him.

"I've never done anything like this before," he said.

"I've walked for enjoyment and walked the dog but never long distance."

The pilgrimage won't just be serving as a spiritual endeavour for Father Michael.

"There are two aims really," he said.

"There's a spiritual aim in doing the pilgrimage, but I'm also trying to raise money for charity, with 50 per cent going to the Macmillan nurses and 50 per cent for parish funds and its restoration appeal.

"There is a personal and professional interest with them (Macmillan Cancer Support). So many people in the parish who have suffered from cancer have been helped by the organisation, as well as my own family. It's in part to give something back."

The walk is also a way to acknowledge his surrounding community.

'The parish are really wonderful. It's a way of saying thank-you."

The Father will be walking primarily alone, although he will be joined by members of his parish at various stages.

The pilgrimage has always been on the Father's bucket list, but it took a movie about a band of unlikely pilgrims to seal the deal.

"It has been in the back of my mind for ages but the real trigger was watching the film 'The Way'. Half way through the film my wife turned to me and said 'so when are you going to do this then?' and I realised, no time like the present."

The intrepid vicar, who has a degree in law from Oxford, has been limbering up for the event.

"I'm going for longer and longer walks and breaking my walking boots in. I'm hoping to do a bit of walking in August in France to become used to the higher temperatures.

"To begin with it's going to be a lot warmer than here, and the Pyrenees often gets a bit wet."

The Father will travel home a little quicker then he arrived, flying to Bordeaux and taking the train from there.

He said: "It will be a little different, with my walking boots in my pack this time."