Glastonbury Tor

Glastonbury Tor is an iconic and evocative landmark offering magnificent 360-degree views of the Somerset Levels, Dorset, Wales and Wiltshire. The Tor is in Glastonbury, Somerset, and sits 518 feet above the surrounding flat land, making for a great hike.

The conical hill of clay and Blue Lias rises from the Somerset levels and was formed when surrounding softer areas were eroded, leaving the hard cap of sandstone exposed. The slopes of the hill are terraced, but the method of how they were formed remains unexplained to this day. Brimming with history the Tor has had many artefacts from human visitation that have been found, dating back from the Iron Age to Roman Eras.

Not only this but the excavations at the top of the Tor have revealed the plans of two superimposed churches of St Michael, of which only a 15th-century tower now remains. The rest of the church was destroyed in an earthquake back in the 14th-century leaving the tower to stand alone. Though now only a tower, there are carvings that survive to give some idea of how it was decorated. One of the carvings is of St Bridget milking a cow.

Glastonbury Tor is known as being one of the most spiritual sites in the country. Its pagan beliefs are still very much celebrated. As well as being an extremely spiritual site, the Tor also has been a site of religious significance for over 1000 years.

Aswell as a wealth of history, Glastonbury Tor also has an array of wildlife that roams the surrounding areas, from Badgers, Foxes and Rabbits to the Large Blue Butterfly which is very rare and is a special butterfly species. You may also see Green Woodpeckers, Swallows and Kestrels at the end of summer. A sight not to be missed so, make sure that you bring your camera and binoculars.

To find out more about the history of the Tor visit Glastonbury today, and try some of the cider and apple juice with apples harvested from the surrounding orchards.