You are quickly swallowed up by a large and ancient tract of cool, lush woodland, full of busy squirrels and the sound of songbirds. The route leaves the Mendip Way at the green below the towering cathedral at Wells, an appropriately spiritual start to our walk.įrom here our holy trail to Glastonbury passes out of the “City” through the Penniless Arch and Medieval Market place into the fairy-tale grounds of the Bishops Palace, following its serene moat past the sturdy castle-like walls to reach the meadows beyond There with some impressive views back over the Cathedral you bid goodbye to the bustle of Wells and enter that peace and quiet that always accompanies any walk through the rich and hidden countryside of inland Somerset. For the walker its a route that feels like your own mini quest… with its own Holy Grail to aim for right at the end of it! Route Description The one constant as you walk, is that you are always following a trail that is sweeping onwards down the ley lines towards that unmistakeable and perfect conical shaped Tor. The walk from Wells Cathedral uses the historic Monarch’s Way and takes you through shady apple orchards, over ancient wooded downs and finally along a lofty ridge that rises over the extensive Somerset Levels.

Walking in from Wells, you avoid the day-trippers by sneaking up to the Tor from the East, appropriately hobbit-like on a “back door” route through a swathe of hidden, rural Somerset. And if you are going to arrive via the Tor, then the best way to do it is by using your own two feet, following your own personal pilgrimage from Wells Cathedral to the holy ruins of Glastonbury Abbey.

One - There is no better way to arrive then by climbing over the lonely and dramatic Glastonbury Tor and pausing to drink in the views, before descending into the mystical mayhem of the town that clusters at the foot of the Tor.

11.5 miles Easy Grade Walking with three moderate ascents

Glastonbury tor walk