Description of a visit to Glastonbury Tor, located near Glastonbury, England, in the county of Somerset during a recent “Mysteries of England” tour.
It was the fourth day of the 2019 Megalithomia Mysteries of England tour, and I was looking forward to visiting Glastonbury Tor. Just what exactly is a Tor? Merrian-Webster defines “Tor” to mean a high craggy hill.
See related blog post: Adventures in England
We were visiting various sites in the Somerset area, and Glastonbury Tor was a relatively short distance from our “home-base” in nearby Amesbury, Wilshire County.
See related blog post: Adventures in England – Amesbury
As I stood at the base of the Tor, looking up to the top, I realized that I had not during my pre-vacation research checked its height. Note: Checking after the fact – the reported height is 518 feet which equals 0.09811 miles.
I had some doubts as to my ability to make it to the top, but I proceeded to make my way up the Tor. My thought process was that I could, at any point, stop and return to where I started.
It was a beautiful day, sunny but not too warm – perfect weather for climbing a very steep hill. Climb it I did – to the top of the summit! Our route up the Tor consisted of a series of step-like wooden squares of various sizes (to accommodate the terrain) filled with gravel. The last few yards of the path were paved.
Adventures in England (from a personal perspective)
I stopped to rest for a minute from time to time on the way up – grateful that there was enough room on some of the “steps” for me to invite fellow hikers to “go ahead” of me on the path. I did not want to hold anyone up!
The dogs accompanying their humans were having a great time running back and forth as their friends made their way to the top.
My reward for climbing the Tor was to see the ruined tower of what had been the Church of St. Michael and a fantastic 360 degree view of the Somerset countryside! It was well worth the climb.
There is a substantial body of information on-line about Glastonbury Tor. A lot is known, but much still remains shrouded in mystery. Following are a few facts – to whet your appetite for learning more.
Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor has long been a landmark – and no wonder as it dominates the landscape. Evidence has been found that the Tor has been visited by humans since Neolithic (latter part of the Stone Age) times.
The Glastonbury Tor has also long been linked to many different myths – including that of King Arthur and the Isle of Avalon. Other associations include the Tor being the home of the King of the Otherworld and the land of the fairies.
Glastonbury Tor has been managed by the National Trust since the early 1930’s.
Church of St. Michael
All that remains of the Church of St. Michael, situated on the top of Glastonbury Tor, is a ruined and roofless tower. The tower, which is a “nationally significant archaeological site”, has special protections in place.
The stone church, built in the 14th Century, replaced a church on the same site said to have been destroyed by an earthquake in 1275.
The Church of St. Michael survived until 1539 when, like other churches in England, it was demolished during King Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries. Only the tower, which has undergone some repair over the years, survived.
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Have your visited Glastonbury Tor? What was your experience? What would you add?
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