Earth Immersion Pilgrimage: Lewes to the Sea at Cuckmere Haven

A long slow walk among extreme natural beauty – holy place hunting in the ruins of St Pancras Priory – many holy places, both built and natural – drinking wild water from various sources – afternoon yoga on Mount Caburn – packed picnic lunch – foraging and brewing wild medicinal teas – herbal first aid – evening dinner in delicious local pub (vegan food available) – evening outdoor fire – evening concert – learning and singing a pilgrim song – a night spent in a Medieval Church, where the popular TV presenter, Peter Owen Jones, is Vicar – dawn chorus meditation – organic vegan breakfast – early morning yoga in Firle church – bronze age burial mounds meditation – Berwick painted church (Bloomsbury) – wild swimming in Cuckmere Haven – sea stare meditation on private viewing platform – final sea immersion – lunch at Alfriston deli – return to London.

We were guided by Will Parsons and Guy Hayward, fountains of knowledge on the nature and history of Britain, with many years of pilgrim experience between them. Together they have set up the British Pilgrimage Trust, an amazing charity opening our eyes to the natural beauty and spiritual heritage of England. 500 years ago pilgrimage was banned by Henry VIII, and it disappeared from Britain. But today it is returning, and if we nourish it, it could grow to become a vastly powerful social, physical and spiritual movement, capable of changing our relationship with nature.

This two-day pilgrimage is part of the recently re-discovered ancient route from Chichester to Canterbury. (Learn more here).