Glastonbury Tor is majestic and almost intimidating when you see it from the base. It looks like
both a pleasant hike and as if it's on a distant peak.
Approach it from the quiet side--away from the center of Glastonbury town--to see rabbits and
birds, and more yellow flowers than you can count. Late morning is perfect when the sun is shining, to
get the most expansive view of the landscape.
On a warm day, it's a good idea to carry some drinking water; on a chilly day, you'll need a
windbreaker. There are a few benches to pause at, and savor the
view from atop Glastonbury Tor. Bring plenty
of film in your camera, because you'll be enchanted by the patchwork of colors that surround you.
When you reach the top of the Tor, the tower is very old and rather empty. It's the
remains of the Church of St. Michael, and there's a carving on the building
that apparently shows St. Michael weighing souls. There are probably earlier legends that
this refers to as well, because the spiritual history of Glastonbury dates to the time
of Christ, if not earlier.
The remains of the church are interesting, but not the reason to climb the Glastonbury Tor.
Instead, this is a hike into the distant past... into the realm of legends.
When the light hits the Tor just so and the wind seems to whisper words
you cannot quite catch, this can be a magical, perhaps sacred place.
Is this the hill which conceals Merlin's crystal palace, where he works his magick
even today? Is this the legendary island of Avalon, once surrounded by water, where
Arthur retired to be healed and await the return of Camelot?
Are the red spring and white springs which emerge at the foot of the Tor,
symbolic "dragons" of Merlin's legends?
Whether or not you believe in magic, the view from the top makes the
climb worthwhile. No doubt you can reach the top and descend again in less time,
but allow a full hour or more for this adventure, so you can enjoy every moment of it.
Hike down the path towards the town, and savor an early lunch at Rainbow's End,
17a High Street, where the food is delicious and disappears early.
