Coldplay. Muse. Kings of Leon. Dolly Parton. Elton John. These are the names which spring to mind when Glastonbury is mentioned in polite conversation.
And yet, the annual festival, known for its mudbaths, flower garlands and sellout crowds, is actually 5 miles from the village which lends it its name – Glastonbury, and the iconic Tor which towers above the rolling English countryside.
Still, the village delivers a suitable dose of hippy peace and love, with hawkers selling hand-whittled wands and gemstone angels, a sitar-player burning incense and accompanied by his bracelet weaving pal, dreadlocked gymnasts showing off in front of the Tor, and several fluorescent orange Lib Democrat placards on the drive out.
A settlement on the Glastonbury hill has been around for a mindbending amount of time – believed to be since the Neolithic period, and certainly since around 300 BC. It’s easy to see why – it’s an unrivalled vantage point, with views across three counties on a clear day.
The site is considered to be hugely spiritual: to the pagans as it is closely associated with King Arthur and the Tor believed to be Avalon, and also to the Christians as this was the site of one of the first churches in the UK – St Michael’s Church. The first church was a wooden structure and was destroyed in an earthquake in 1275.
A new stone St Michael’s Church was built which stood until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539, and only the tower was spared. This was repaired over the many centuries, first in 1800 and then again after it was given to the National Trust in 1937. It’s incredible that something so old and so exposed to the elements still stands today, and this is thanks to ongoing conservation works from the National Trust.
It’s a good walk up there, so go prepared with your choice of footwear, and it’s glorious on a sunny day like today.
Verdict: Worth it for the views and the interesting characters who frequent the village.
A Year of Trust 