Glastonbury Tor Circular

With steps and kissing gates along the way, it’s not a walk that is suitable for wheels.

We start our walk in the car park by Glastonbury Abbey. The ruined monastery, now a grade I listed building and scheduled ancient monument can be visited – the ticket office is just behind us. With the ruins behind us, we turn left out of the car park and walk along the pavement, past the Abbey Park & Playground on our left. The road turns round to the left, Bere Lane, and we follow it – ahead of us we see the Tor which is where we’re heading.

We turn right, following the main road as it becomes Chilkswell Street. On our left we see the Chalice Well Gardens – this is a beautiful spot that offers a moment of peace and reflection as a designated World Peace Garden. Christian mythology implies that this is the site where Joseph of Arimathea placed the chalice that caught the drops of blood from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Whilst there is normally a small fee to enter the Chalice Well Gardens, there is often free entry on special days such as the solstice, beltane and samhain where you are invited to join group meditation.

Just past Chalice Well we turn left on to Wellhouse Lane and then we immediately turn right (look for the stone plaque at ground level) along a track that takes us up to the start of the trail up to the Tor. We go through a gate and follow the well worn path to our right up to another gate. From here we follow the path and steps as we wind our way up to the top. There are benches along the way – that offer a welcome break from the climb.

The myths and legends continue on the Tor. Not only is this hill said to be the cradle of Christianity in England, it is also reputed as being the burial place of King Arthur. As you climb and look at the surrounding countryside of the Somerset Levels, this is the land that is also referred to as Avalon – the mystical lands that are associated with the legends of King Arthur and the Holy Grail (the Chalice Well).

At the top of the Tor is all that remains of St Michael’s Church – a roofless tower. This has been a place of pilgrimage for Christians and others since at least the 11th century. The views from here are breathtaking – with Wells to the north, the nature reserves of the Levels to the West. You can also see Worthy Farm – the Pyramid Stage is a permanent structure and can be seen from the Tor (as we descend – at the top of the steps look directly ahead of you and it’s there). This is also a place many come to for both the winter and summer solstices to watch the sunrise.

We go down the other side of the Tor to the one we came up – this is a steeper, stepped path so please do watch your step, especially in wet weather. We go through a gate, along a path and then come to the road. Here, to your right you will see the marker for the end (or start) of the Syren’s Walk – an eight mile walk between Wells and Glastonbury, with chime markers like this on each of the mile marks along the way.

At the road we turn left and follow the road, taking care should any vehicles come this way. To our left we are offered some great views of the Tor. We pass a road on our right and then take the second gate on the right (the first is to a sub station) to cross a field towards another gate. Going through, we follow the path through the trees and past an orchard on the right.

The path takes us onto Chalice Hill and Bushy Coombe – an information board offers more information on the mythology of this land and what we can see around us.

Continuing to follow the path downhill, we eventually come out on to Dod Lane. As we pass through the gate and onto the road, on the left you’ll see some Tibetan Prayer Wheels that you are invited to turn as you pass (turning them in a clockwise direction is said to send prayers out into the world.

At the end of Dod Lane, we turn right along Chilkwell Street which becomes Lambrook Street. A left turn takes us on to the High Street and a range of independent, new age shops and a noticeable aroma of patchouli in the air. There are plenty of places to stop for refreshments along this road.

On the right you’ll see the War Memorial, a celtic cross, located in front of St John’s Church. Along the way you’ll notice various murals on the sides of buildings and small alleyways that take you to more shops of curios.

As the High Street goes round to the left, becoming Market Place, we find ourselves back at Glastonbury Abbey once more and back to where we began.