River Dart Pilgrimage: Salmon and Saltmarsh

Join our friend Rev Sam Wernham on part one of a partially silent pilgrimage along the River Dart.

The first of four journeys along the River Dart Way, a sea to source route. It is inspired by and follows the journey that the Dart Atlantic salmon swim, to return from the open ocean to their source pools, for spawning, on Dartmoor.

We start at Sugary Green with a warm welcome, an introduction to our day together and a short guided meditation to help us settle into our bodies, connect to nature and enter into silence. A short walk (with steep steps) takes us to the sandy sea shore at Sugary Cove, where we will pause. The guide will offer some reflections on pilgrimage inspired by the sea to source journey taken by the River Dart salmon. We then continue to St Petrox church (more steep steps), with another quiet pause and the option for each pilgrim to light a candle and set an intention for their pilgrimage today.
The walk then follows the Dart estuary into Dartmouth town. Yet more steep steps take us through Bayards Cove Fort and to historic Bayard's Cove where the Mayflower pilgrims paused in 1620 and where we take theLower Ferry over to Kingswear. Pilgrims will need to pay their own ferry fare by cash or card (£2).

From Kingswear we cross over the steam railway line, walk past the marina, along the shore, cross the road & continue through the woods (a long & sometimes steep hill), stopping for a quiet lunch at around 1pm(bring a picnic) by one of the streams leading down towards the saltmarsh. The guide will offer a few reflections and a short practice to explore the theme of margins. We then continue to the meadows above Greenway, where we come out of silence and share reflections together before we close at around 3.30pm.

For most of the pilgrimage, we will be in silence. At times we will need to include being in the town and alongside others in our silence.

About the guide

Rev Sam Wernham is the creator of River Dart Way and founder of River Dart Wild Church, which has been walking the River Dart and its tributaries for the last ten years. Our Wild Church is an independent and inter-spiritual collective, which works with and welcomes guides and pilgrims of diverse secular or sacred orientations.

What to bring

The weather by the sea & along the Dart Estuary can be very changeable. So please come prepared with sturdy and waterproof footwear, lots of layers, including a waterproof/windproof top layer and a hat. You may equally well need sunscreen & shades! As the route includes ferries, please make sure to have the means to pay for these. Please bring plenty of water, snacks and a packed lunch. There will be pauses for quiet reflection along the way and you may like to have a notebook, journal or sketchbook and writing/drawing equipment with you. Hand lenses and binoculars can also help your engagement with encountering the wild.

Timings: We begin promptly at 10.15am, and timings during the day will vary depending on the pace of the group. We'll aim to finish at 3.30pm but this may vary.

Travel Arrangements: More details about getting to Dartmouth are here and here. The best (and free) parking in Dartmouth for our start point is along the side of Castle Road on the way to Sugary Green/Dartmouth Castle. This is one way pilgrimage. Pilgrims can then choose for themselves if they want to linger (visit Greenway, cross to Dittisham) or walk back (self guided) and there are also ferries to get back to Dartmouth at 4pm & 5pm (£11.50 - booking info here). There is also an early escape point, taking the Higher Ferry to Dartmouth from the Kingswear side. We will pass this ferry boarding point but you would need to take care of yourself from there, if taking this option.

Safety: Please be aware that there are some short connecting sections which will require walking on a country lane. There is no footway but there is a wide grass verge.

FAQ’s

Who can come? Anyone over 18 (or under 18 with parental guidance, bearing in mind the walking distance).

Is this religious? This journey welcomes all and no-faiths equally. Wild Church is an independent and inter-spiritual collective, which works with and welcomes guides and pilgrims of diverse secular or sacred orientations.

Will I be asked to share my feelings with the group? This is a mainly silent pilgrimage with a time of optional shared reflections at the end. It's ot compulsory to share your feelings with the group.

‍Do you offer concessions? There are a limited number of free or discounted places available on this pilgrimage for those on income-related benefits such as Universal Credit. Please contact us for eligibility information and a discount code.

Are there fitness or access limitations? Pilgrimage is moderately intense. You will need a reasonable level of fitness for this walk and, to stay within our timings, we will walk at a relaxed and yet steady pace. There are some steep steps, hills and a variety of surfaces. We may be able to accommodate additional access needs for this route, contact us to discuss in detail.

Can I bring my dog? Sadly not - we can’t accommodate dogs on our guided pilgrimages. However, if you have a registered assistance dog, they are welcome.

What is my ticket price paying for, in addition to admission? After costs, 50% of funds raised from this limited space event are donated to Wild Church. The remainder funds the team at British Pilgrimage Trust (a registered charity) to spend more time making it possible for thousands of pilgrims to make pilgrimage themselves by engaging with our ever-increasing range of free resources. For more details about our charitable activities, please check here.

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