Glastonbury in Somerset – Town, Tor and Abbey

Glastonbury is famous for the Tor, dominating the town and surrounding countryside and the music festival that passes through the area in a bustling frenzy for two weeks each year. However, there is much more to this small town.  Walking along the high street is an experience of eclectic individual shops and equally interesting people with a hint of the mystic on every corner. Ancient wells and the abbey with stories of King Arthur and Guinevere are still very much alive and flowing. Tradition has it that Glastonbury is the ancient Isle of Avalon where King Arthur lost his last battle, an idea that may never be proven.

Glastonbury Tor

Above the town of Glastonbury is the Tor. It can be seen for miles around including from King Alfred’s Tower on the Stourhead Estate over 30 miles away. The hill rises 158 metres above the surrounding flat Somerset Levels and is a combination of ‘natural hill’ and man-made terraces. Many believe there is a hidden cave under the hill through which you can pass into the fairy realm of Annwn. Whether or not this exists two wells that arise from the base of the Tor run with very different coloured spring water.

The Chalice Well has very deep iron-rich red waters and less than 100 meters away is the White Spring with its sweet-tasting calcium-rich white water. It is also believed that Joseph of Arimathea travelled to Glastonbury and left the Holy Grail in the area and later returned with Jesus while collecting precious metals from the area.

On top of Glastonbury Tor is a lonely tower. This is all that remains of the 14th Century church of St Michael that had replaced an earlier church destroyed in an earthquake.
From the Tor, it is possible to see out across the Somerset Levels to Dorset and Wiltshire as well as across the Bristol Channel to South Wales as well as the steep Mendip Hills. It is a fantastic location to watch the sunrise or sunset and is a focal point for many Pagans and Christians.

Glastonbury Abbey

Tucked down a little street, away from the bustle is a little secret which is tranquillity amid the madness. Glastonbury Abbey has been on the site in a variety of forms since the 7th century, primarily as a monastery. The monks drained the marshes surrounding the town and farmed the area. They built several structures in the area including the Abbot’s Fish House at nearby Meare, the only surviving monastic fish house in England.

Over the years the Abbey was added to and modified as the fires and fashions of time took their toll. However during the reign of Henry VIII, somewhere between 1536 and 1541 the monasteries were broken up and the buildings and land were handed over (or taken) by the Crown.

The Abbey today is surrounded by the town with high walls protecting it from the madness of everyday life. The ornate beauty can still be seen in the stonework.  Now ruined the love that was carved into the stones over 700 years ago is still there.  With myths and legends surrounding this landscape, the Abbey has its own mystical stories and feel.  Are King Arthur and Guinevere resting here or is it a story from the Dark Ages…

Glastonbury Town

Glastonbury is a small town with some eclectic shops and small cafes with a New Age focus. Wandering around is the best way to explore with a small Mural Trail that will take you around the town.

The main places to discover are the Market Cross at the corner of the main street, St John’s Church which is located halfway up the High Street and the smaller roads close to the Abbey. There is also the Somerset Rural Life Museum that takes you on a journey through the life of the town and surrounding villages. Hidden down a small alleyway opposite the Abbey are the small Almshouses and St Margaret’s Chapel, once a hospital that was built in 1444.

Wearyall Hill

Many people want to visit Wearyall Hill which is just a short walk from the centre of town with views across to the Tor. A small tree, the Glastonbury Thorn grows on this hill and was said to have originally blossomed from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea. He arrived, weary (hence Wearyall Hill), planted his staff in the ground and it immediately blossomed and then continued to blossom each Christmas and Easter. However, various acts of vandalism mean this small thorn tree is no longer growing happily on the hill. If you do want to see the Glastonbury Thorn in all its glory there are a few around town including one in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey.

Glastonbury Music Festival

Glastonbury would not be complete without the music festival that takes place each year. Despite its name, it doesn’t take place in the town but a few miles away near the village of Pilton. During the festival period, the town is very busy on arrival and departure days with diversions in place. If you are arriving in the town in late June, check the dates of the festival. Heading to the top of the Tor during festival week will allow a fantastic overview of the site and the scale of the festival.

Glastonbury Canal and the River Brue

To the south of the town on Kennard Moor Drove and the Butleigh Road are some drainage canals as well as the River Brue. This gives a clear view of the Tor and the canals with wildlife living in the reed beds.

Sharpham Road

This is the final location with easy views of the Tor. This location is a country road to the west of the Tor. It gives a clear view of the Tor and is the best location for watching the full moon rising behind the Tor. It can be a shortcut for locals so do keep to the wide verges and be aware of where you are.

Getting to Glastonbury

Glastonbury and the Tor are quite difficult to reach using public transport. It is located about 30 miles from both Bristol and Bath with a regular bus service and the nearest train station is Castle Cary about 15 miles away.
Driving to the town is much easier with the main A39 connecting the A37 to Bristol and the A36 to Bath. There are several car parks in the town and from here it is easy to walk around the town.
It is tempting to drive to the Tor but the roads are narrow and there is no easy parking around the base of the Tor so it is much better to park in town and walk the short distance to the start of the path.