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Around the Levels and Moors

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Around the Levels and Moors Around the Levels and Moors 1 Westhay Moor 74 6 Burrow Mump 84 Somerset as it might have looked in A circuit around one of the most King Alfred’s day, with marshes and distinctive hills in Somerset: river, reedbeds all teeming with wildlife rhynes and the briefest of climbs 2 Glastonbury Tor 76 7 Langport and Muchelney Abbey 86 Arguably the most famous hill in Across the Levels to Britain’s only England with possibly the finest thatched two-storey, medieval, view from the top. Don’t miss it! monastic toilet block 3 Compton Dundon 78 8 Curry Rivel and the monument 88 A gentle ramble to a peaceful reserve William Pitt knew how to show his and, if you’re lucky, one of the rarest gratitude. Enjoy his gift and the views butterflies in the country it affords over the Levels below 4 Bruton 80 9 Cadbury Castle 90 The town is sprinkled with star It may never have been Camelot, dust these days but the countryside but it’s still the stuff of legend around it is Somerset to the core 10 Stembridge’s orchards 92 5 Castle Cary 82 Savour some of Somerset’s sweetest Explore the quiet lanes and paths cider country and detour to visit an around an historic and bustling town artisan cider maker 11 Ham Hill and Montacute 94 A charming ramble through old quarries to the top of a ‘pointed hill’ 73 2 AROUND THE LEVELS AND MOORS Glastonbury Tor Distance 7.5km Time 2 hours 30 available for public parking for a nominal Terrain pavements, paths and quiet roads fee. Otherwise, from Glastonbury’s High Map OS Explorer 141 Access buses from Street, put St John’s Church on your left Bristol, Wells, Yeovil, Bath and Taunton and head up to the junction where a right turn, and 700m of pavement, will bring Let’s face it, you cannot visit this part of you to the entrance to Draper’s factory Somerset without climbing to the top of across the road. what is probably England’s most iconic From the car park, turn right to pass hill. Glastonbury Tor, rising like a beacon Chalice Well and then left into Wellhouse from the Levels, is steeped in myth and Lane soon after. Take the footpath on the legend and is a place of pilgrimage for right which leads up the hill past a both Christians and pagans alike. You National Trust sign; it’s a steep climb, but might have to work hard to reach the top, on a firm path with steps to help. The Tor but you’ll certainly be awe-struck when has been a place of pilgrimage since you get there. Neolithic times and thousands of people If arriving by car, head for the Draper make the climb to the top each year, drawn Sheepskin factory just off the A361 from either by its religious significance or just Shepton Mallet (BA6 8DB). The company is by the outstanding views. based close to the Tor and has a small area The summit is more than 150m above the surrounding countryside and on a clear day the views in every direction are breathtaking. A topograph just over the summit points out the highlights and 76 GLASTONBURY TOR in good visibility you might even be able As you start to walk downhill, look to make out the main stage at the ahead where the old oaks, Gog and Magog, Glastonbury Festival site some 8km away, are visible in the hedgeline. Gog is in a on roughly the same bearing as Cranmore pretty bad way, not helped by a fire in 2017, Tower. The tower on the tor is all that although Magog still shows visible signs remains of a 14th-century church which of life. Known as ‘The Oaks of Avalon’, was demolished during the Dissolution of they’re believed to be 2500 years old and the Monasteries in 1539. At the same time, may once have been part of an avenue Thomas Cromwell had the last Abbot of which led up the tor. Glastonbury, along with two monks, Once through the gate, a short detour hanged, drawn and quartered on the left will take you to the oaks but to tor for treason. continue the walk, turn right. Follow the From the summit, with your back to the path behind the caravan site to Stone path by which you arrived, take the steps Down Lane. Cross and continue on a path on the right-hand slope down to the through several fields. Go right when you bottom of the hill. Go through a gate reach Gipsy Lane, walking uphill past the where a concrete path leads to a road. Glastonbury Spring Water Company before Turn right along Stone Down Lane for turning left. After 150m, cross a stile by a 100m, continuing ahead when the road National Trust sign and bear right to walk bends sharply right. After a further 200m, around the bottom of the hill. turn left onto a permissive footpath and Keep the hedge to your right until you then right on reaching a field. Now keep reach Stone Down Lane. Turn left and close to the left-hand margin with walk along the lane back into town, or glimpses of the low-lying orchards, fields head back over or around the tor to and houses at Wick through the hedge. retrace your steps. Glastonbury Tor 77.
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