Winding up the Tor

an afternoon in Glastonbury

By The Bimbler

Sometimes I need to get out of Dorset just to walk a different landscape and being within an hours drive, Glastonbury is a favoured go to destination. I first met Lee many years ago and he knows many of the less trodden paths in the area that visitors generally don’t know about. Because he’s an accomplished drummer and likes to give it full volume on his African Djembe they’re also mostly places out of earshot of sensitive townsfolk!

One such place is under the the biggest and most majestic Lime tree I’ve ever seen, I suspect the huge canopy helps to absorb some of the Bass that would otherwise travel for miles.

One of the low lying branches in this Lime tree is super springy and just right for lounging in, but being something of a spiritual hotspot Glastonbury also attracts more earnest visitors than I so you never have to look far to find votive offerings dotted around the place

Reaching 518 feet Glastonbury Tor is the most iconic hill on the Somerset Levels and is capped with remnants of 14th century St. Michaels Church. Before that it had a wooden church in the same spot and in Celtic Mythology had a strong connection with King Arthur.

Anyway not wanting to over-exert myself on the way up it seemed prudent to stop and heed this sage advice… and drink tea

Nobody really knows why but the Tor has spiral paths winding up and around it’s contours. Most visitors are oblivious to this and walk up the concrete steps to the top but taking the twisting path is far more interesting, even if you have no intention of reaching the summit.

As you wrap around the Hill the view constantly changes and reveals different perspectives of St Michael‘s Tower

and you’re always at eye level with the local flora. I like to try and learn the name of a new plant each time I go out, particularly anything that can be eaten or used medicinally.

After a pleasant walk and on the way back into town I spotted this lovely old carving. Nobody complained about the drumming so on this occasion I think we did indeed ‘commit no nuisance’.