All Souls’ Pilgrimage Retreat
March 21 - April 1, 2025
A rite of passage pilgrimage to the Valley of Silence
Embark on a sacred journey on one of the most beautiful stretches of the Way. This 12 day pilgrimage retreat will start with 3 days on-site at the soulful Flores del Camino retreat centre, followed by spacious walking to the breathtaking Valley of Silence.
with Don Chatfield, Basia Goodwin & Bertrand Gamrowski
Optional Part 2 - extend by two more weeks your Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela (April 1 - 14, 2025)
The Retreat Centre
Your journey will begin and conclude at Flores del Camino, a beautiful retreat centre dedicated to pilgrimage and ancient spiritual arts and crafts. This serene haven provides the perfect environment for reflection and soulful exploration, setting the tone for a deeply enriching experience.
The purpose of your time at Flores is to gently enter liminal space, intentionally prepare for your walk, as well as support your reentry.
In this spacious time on-site, we will:
explore, reflect and share in sacred community,
gently journal,
colour prayer mandalas with earth pigments.
Location
Both the location of the retreat centre - Castrillo de los Polvazares - and our pilgrimage destination - Peñalba de Santiago - are considered two of the most beautiful villages in all of Spain and are seeped in the rich history and spirit of the Camino.
Castrillo - a heritage site located within beautiful vast nature - still retains a medieval character and has a long history of offering hospitality to pilgrims. In harmony with the landscape, its warm stones, the colour of its surrounding deep, red earth will embrace you.
Peñalba de Santiago
Peñalba is nestled within the Mounts of León, a range of mountains and valleys that have been home to monasteries since the earliest of times. The village is near a cave once inhabited by a hermit, which gave the Valley its name. It houses a stunning 10th-century Mozarabic church with petroglyphs and solstitial alignments. This beautiful example of sacred architecture is infused with the contemplative spirit - inviting pilgrims into mystery, awe, beauty and the interior journey.
"As you start to walk on the way, the way appears."
– Rumi
Camino to the Valley of Silence
Leaving from the doorstep of the retreat centre, you will encounter one of the most beautiful stretches of the Camino, steeped in history, symbol and legend. The walking will be spacious and at your own pace, yet framed within a story and a structure. You will be staying in guesthouses along the way.
Preliminary Schedule
* Day 1 ~ Fri, Mar 21
Check-in at Flores del Camino between 4 & 5pm.
Evening welcome meal
* Day 2 ~ Sat, Mar 22
On-site at Flores del Camino
Morning session: Sacred space - Entering into the retreat (Don, Basia & Bertrand)
Afternoon session: Symbols of pilgrimage (B&B)
* Day 3 ~ Sun, Mar 23
On-site at Flores del Camino
Morning session: Elements of interspirituality: living in solidarity with cosmos, living in humility, living a life of simplicity (Don)
Afternoon session: Meditative drawing and painting with the earth (B&B)
* Day 4 ~ Mon, Mar 24
On-site at Flores del Camino
Morning session: Elements of interspirituality (cont’d) (Don)
Preparing for the Camino (B&B)
Afternoon session: Sharing Circle, receiving scallop shells, credentials and pilgrims’ staffs , packing
Possibility to continue painting
* Day 5 ~ Tue, Mar 25
Flores del Camino ~ Rabanal (14km - average walking time 3h)
Dawn departure & labyrinth walk as initiation
From the very start, as you leave Flores and pass through the lovely villages of Santa Catalina and El Ganso, you’ll be accompanied by Camino symbols, the labyrinth and the goose. You will cross a threshold, from a flat landscape to a gentle climb. Your destination for the day is the charming village of Rabanal, with more than a thousand years of history linked to the Visigoths and Templars.
In the evening, you will experience the pilgrims’ blessings & vespers, still chanted by the monks in the atmospheric 12th century Romanesque church.
Each of our evenings and mornings will be grounded in gentle community refection time.
* Day 6 ~ Wed, Mar 26
Rabanal ~ Foncebadón (6km - average walking time 1h30)
Morning spacious reflection time in Rabanal at the Stone Boat.
Afternoon short walk to Foncebadón
Evening sharing circle
* Day 7 ~ Thu, Mar 27
Foncebadon ~ El Acebo (11km - average walking time 2h45)
At this meaningful point on your journey, you will reach the highest point on the Camino: Cruz del Ferro, a gentle place of letting go for pilgrims. Here, you are invited to participate in the tradition of symbolically leaving a stone from home.
As you pass the mountains of León, you will discover breath-taking views over the Bierzo region. Your destination of the day is the charming mountain hamlet of El Acebo with its distinctive architectural style.
The day will end at dusk as you watch the sunset over the the extensive Bierzo plain from a purposeful viewing point in the village.
* Day 8 ~ Fri, Mar 28
El Acebo ~ Molinaseca (8km - average walking time 2h)
You will descend the mountain to reach the charming village of Molinaseca situated by a tranquil river. After having lunch there, we will make our way by car to the nearby Peñalba de Santiago. Nested within the breathtaking Valley of Silence, Peñalba is our highly symbolic pilgrimage destination. It is known for its exquisite 10th century Mozarabic church with solstitial alignments.
* Day 9 ~ Sat, Mar 29
Peñalba de Santiago - The Valley of Silence
The valley gained its name because a hermit lived there in silent contemplation. At sunrise you will make the circular journey around the Valley to and from the hermit’s cave. For the rest of the day we will end our time in purposeful retreat.
* Day 10 ~ Sun, Mar 30
Walking back to Flores from Rabanal
Early morning Taxi to Rabanal
Walk back to Flores from Rabanal (14km)
Dinner & Night at Flores evening gathering by the font
* Day 11 ~ Mon, Mar 31
Final Day at Flores
Preparation for your return home
* Day 12 ~ Tue, Apr 1
Departure after breakfast
This Camino is for all. It is a spacious experience that suits your pace and body. You can take taxis on the longer walking days if you feel you need your walking day to be shorter.
This schedule may be subject to changes.
Optional pilgrimage continuation to Santiago de Compostela
* Day 10 - Sun, Mar 30 Taxi transfer to Ponferrada ~ Walk to Villafranca (15 km)
Templar castle and crossing beautiful vineyards
* Day 11 ~ Mon, Mar 31 Villafranca ~ Las Herrerías (21km)
Gentle streams along the Valley
* Day 12 ~ Tue, Apr 1 Las Herrerías ~ O’ Cebreiro (9 km)
Stone circles & thatched roofs
* Day 13 ~ Wed, Apr 2 O’ Cebreiro ~ Triacastela (21km)
Passing the threshold & entering into magical Galicia
* Day 14 ~ Thu, Apr 3 Triacastela ~ Samos (9km)
Ancient forest & medieval monastery
* Day 15 ~ Fri, Apr 4 Samos ~ Sarria (10 km)
Medieval fortress & pilgrims’ milestone
* Day 16 ~ Sat, Apr 5 Sarria ~ Portomarín (22 km)
Ancient churches, roman bridge and a beautiful rose window
* Day 17 ~ Sun, Apr 6 Portomarín ~ Palas de Rei (22 km)
Visigothic treasures and Eucalyptus trees
* Day 18 ~ Mon, Apr 7 Palas de Rei ~ Ribadiso (26 km)
Pulpo gallego
* Day 19 ~ Tue, Apr 8 Ribadiso ~ Pedrouzo/Rua (24 km)
Monte de Gozo - Hill of Joy
* Day 20 ~ Wed, Apr 9 Pedrouzo/Rua ~ Lavacolla (10 km)
Quiet spaces - preparing to arrive
* Day 21 ~ Thu, 10 Apr 2025 Lavacolla ~ Santiago (10km)
Arrival
* Day 22 ~ Fri, 11 Apr 2025 Full day in Santiago
Being Present
* Day 23 ~ Sat, Apr 12 Taxi transfer to Flores
Circular Journey - gentle landing
* Day 24 ~ Sun, Apr 13 Retreat at Flores ~
Preparation for your re-entry home
* Day 25 ~ Mon, Apr 14 Departure for Madrid after breakfast
This schedule may be subject to changes.
“Blessed are you pilgrim, when you contemplate the Camino and you discover it is full of names and dawns.”
Your facilitators
Basia Goodwin (MA) is co-founder of Flores del Camino, an artist, educator and passionate retreat facilitator . She is dedicated to crafting purposeful space for contemplative journeys and leading groups on the Camino as a rite of passage experience. An alumnus of the King's Foundation School of Traditional Arts, she specialises in the use of geometry in traditional arts, craft & philosophy. In her creative practice she makes & paints with natural pigments, using local Camino ochre earths and loves to share this joy with others.
Bertrand Gamrowski (PhD) is co-founder of Flores del Camino, a pilgrimage guide, craft practitioner, passionate educator and leading expert in the use of geometry in sacred architecture. He specialises in the art and architecture of the Camino de Santiago. He finds joy in teaching geometry as a contemplative and a mindful, hands-on practice. He is currently co-authoring a book with Basia on the use of geometry in sacred art along the Camino.
Rev. Don Chatfield (PhD) is Lead Pastor at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne, Vermont. He has been an ordained minister since 1977 and has served spiritual communities from coast to coast in the United States. Along with his wife Karen, he founded two interfaith Schools of Spiritual Direction. He loves to work with students who are training to become effective spiritual companions. Don and Karen enjoy life between the shores of Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains, where they hike, bicycle, ski, and snowshoe, accompanied by their Bichon Frise, Lily.
What’s included
Accommodation
During your stay at Flores del Camino, all accommodation consists of ensuite bedrooms.
During the mini pilgrimage, accommodation will be ensuite as well. However, in the final day in Peñalba, a couple of people may have to share a room.
Food
During your stay at Flores del Camino and in the Valley of Silence, nourishing and healthy meals (breakfasts, lunches & dinners) are prepared onsite and served with love in either the dining area or in the courtyard under the pergola. Wine is offered at dinner.
On the Camino, dinners will be provided and some breakfasts are included.
Dietary requirements
When on-site at Flores, we cater for the following dietary requirements: vegetarian, gluten-free, carb-free, dairy-free.
However we cannot guarantee all dietary requirements during the mini pilgrimage / outside restaurants. Please get in touch with us if you have concerns.
Sessions
All equipment & material provided.
Private transport between Madrid & the retreat centre
See times & pick up point details.
If you prefer to arrive independently to the retreat centre, see how to get here.
What’s not included
Lunches and some breakfasts on the Camino
Flights
Insurances (travel, health, etc.)
Book this Retreat
We welcome a maximum of xx participants to nurture an intimate experience within a small circle of fellow pilgrims. We encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.
All Souls’ Pilgrimage Retreat
March 21 - April 1, 2025 4,090 €
All Souls’ Pilgrimage Retreat continued to Santiago
March 21 - April 14, 2025 9,240 €
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