glastonbury tor to stonehenge uk pilgrimage

“Being this close to the Tor, the myths of fairies, dragons and druids that seemed absurd in London suddenly weren’t so unbelievable.” Beltane I’m never particularly keen to linger inside. It’s open to the sky and has an insidious smell of damp. There’s a slightly eerie feeling to the tower. The tower is a remnant of the mediaeval church of St Michael which stood on the summit of the Tor until 1539 when it was demolished as part of the dissolution of the monasteries. I’ve yet to do that but one day I hope to be there to experience it. It’s traditional to climb the Tor to welcome the sunrise on a number of important dates including the summer solstice. The Tor is a place of pilgrimage to many and I’ve met people chanting as they sat in the tower or meditating on the grass. I’ve been up on autumn afternoons as the light faded and on a summer’s day during the Festival when I could see the massive encampment of tents stretching away to the west. No two visits to the Tor are the same and that’s one of the things which keeps me going back. It definitely always seems to be windy on the summit even when there’s not even the faintest breeze at the bottom. The residents of Glastonbury say that the Tor has its own weather system. These are steeper than the path but there’s something to be said for getting the climb over more quickly. One of my favourite walks in Glastonbury is over Chalice Hill and then round the back (as I think of it) of the Tor and up the steps.

There’s a good number of handily placed seats on the path which climbs up from the White Spring and excellent excuses for stopping and looking at the spectacular views across the town and over the Somerset Levels. I’ve been up the Tor many times and, whichever way you approach it, it’s a stiff climb.

Glastonbury tor to stonehenge uk pilgrimage