The 20.5 mile route starts in the suburbs of Cardiff following paths and parks out of the city and quickly out into fields and woodlands, via the town of Llantrisant. Running away from the sea to the heart of the South Wales valleys, this is an overall uphill route with a steep climb from Tonypandy to the end point.
The holy site has been a focus for pilgrims since the late middle ages, who started from Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, to Penrhys in the Rhondda valley. The original statue of the Virgin was destroyed in 1538, but replaced in 1953 and the pilgrimage is now a marked walking and running route.
You can discover more history at the dedicated website: http://www.penrhyspilgrimageway.wales/
