The River Teign Pilgrimage - walking from source to sea to build a well in Mali

Here in the West Country we are blessed with an abundance of water! In Mali, Africa, it is a daily struggle to extract enough for the basic needs of a family, the water table level being very deep.  Long journeys to the nearest well are often undertaken by children.

In order to build one well in Mali, it is expensive, even with the whole community turning out to help. Seedlings, a fellowship group from the Whiddon parishes, were aware of the work of The Joliba Trust, founded by Chagford resident Caroline Hart. They wanted to find a way to contribute to a community who work so hard to support themselves. So the idea of a ‘river journey’ to support building just one well, was ‘floated’. It is also Caroline’s local river. The 40-mile river journey from the Teign’s source to the sea will take place over two weekends, following the river through woodland and meadow, through the rocky Teign gorge, meandering by small hamlets and encompassing industrial townscapes and finally following The Templer Way along the Shaldon estuary shoreline to the river bridge connecting Shaldon to Teignmouth, where the journey will officially end at the lovely church of St. Peter sited along the riverfront.  For those who wish to enjoy the experience of the full coastal view, it is not far to the height of Shaldon Ness. So approximately 10 miles each journey, or drop in or out at lunchtimes!

The first weekend will see the walkers travel from the Teign Clapper Bridge to Doddiscombsleigh; the second weekend will be from Doddiscombsleigh to Sheldon via Chudleigh.

A spokesman for the group said: ‘Please sponsor us, walk with us - some of the way, all of the way - or if you can offer to transport some walkers back to their cars at the end of a section, that would be most welcome.’

To express an interest, pick up a sponsor form or check how to sponsor online, please email teignpilgrimage@outlook.com