Photo by Click and Learn Photography on Unsplash

Most of us will have wanted to go on a road trip at some point, but very few would consider completing our journey on foot. However, that’s exactly what Brother Biagio and Brother David – two Italian monks who are currently walking from London to Ireland on a ‘pilgrimage of peace’ – have set out to do.

Dressed in their full monastic robes as opposed to waterproof trousers and hiking boots, the pair have pledged to fast while walking. Throughout the day, they drink only water, refuse to accept lifts from passing drivers, and have taken no money with them on their trip. Instead, they are relying on the goodwill of the people they meet on their journey.

And meeting people is precisely the brothers’ motivation. The trek from London is one of the final legs in their 5 year plan to walk through as much of Europe as they can, during which mission they hope to spread ‘a message of hope’ to everyone they encounter along the way.

According to Brother Biagio, the two are on a pilgrimage, trying to talk to as many people as possible and tell them there is hope – that a better world is possible. He explains that the hope comes from God, telling people to respond to evil with good actions and stand together within the human race.

Brother David and Brother Biagio – a social justice activist who launched a support centre in Palermo to aid the homeless and those struggling with addiction – first left Italy five years ago. On their way to Ireland from London, they have visited Leicester, Liverpool, and (in an unscheduled detour) Wales. Biagio said that they found themselves walking through Wales by chance after being unable to get a ferry to Ireland from Liverpool.

Travelling from London to Ireland

If Brothers Biagio and David have left you yearning to travel – just maybe not on foot – these are the best ways to get to Ireland from London:

• Catch the train from London Euston or drive to Holyhead, where you can get on a ferry to Dublin.

• Fly to Dublin airport from London Heathrow.

Whether you’re keen to visit Dublin’s famous pubs and go to casino.com in Ireland, or follow in the brothers’ footsteps and embark on a spiritual retreat, you’ll find plenty to do in the Emerald Isle.

Travelling from London to Ireland is easy. Ferries from Holyhead sail up to four times a day, with the crossing taking roughly 3 and a half hours. The direct passages are run by Irish Ferries, whose fleet includes economy class service on the Epsilon ship right through to a luxury voyage on the Ulysses.

If you choose to fly, your flight will take just 1 hour and 24 minutes on average – and can cost as little as £20 for a return. The airport is roughly 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) north of Dublin itself.

Thinking of escaping from London to Ireland? As summer comes to an end, why not embark on a journey of your own to find your own sense of peace.