Pilgrims Road

Since the Tenth Century pilgrims have travelled the ancient roads through France and Spain that lead to the fabled rown of Santiago de Compostella, the legendary shrine of St James the apostle. Travelling in groups for safety, they braved marauding Moorish armies, raging torrents and fearsome mountain passes, trusting in the protection afforded to them by the emblem of St James, a scallop shell. A thousamd years later, Bettina Selby tackled the pilgrim's trail alone on a bicycle, finding the scallop shell still a powerful talisman, opening doors and providing shelter. This is the story of her journey through countiries whose twentieth-century veneer barely conceals a wealth of history; from the magnificent architecture of the great cathedrals to the tiny hamlets that seem untouched by the present day, and the awe inspiring and dangerous beauty of the Pyrenees. Like her predecessors, Bettna had to contend with the natural hazards of the terrain, thieves and wild dogs, but she also encountered a host of fascinating characters along the route. Above all she found a vibrant tradition that lures more and more people to become pilgrims on the road to the 'Field of the Star'.