
WALK 5
GLASTONBURY (EAST)
Glastonbury Abbey and Tor and a defensive earthwork
Complex route and steep climbs but terrific views
Distance 10.6 Km/ 6.7 miles
Total ascent/descent 131m
www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/23903814
Rewritten May 2024 Comments to [email protected]
1 From the bus-stop (GR499 388) go S along Magdalene St (ie away from market cross). Pass the Abbey(1) ruins on L and at mini-roundabout go ahead (SP Frome). Where road bends sharp L go ahead into Butleigh Road. Descend gently, ignore first L and go second L along the pedestrian/cycleway along Bretenoux Rd. After 450m turn L into Chalice Way [1.2Km]
2 (GR506 380) Ascend gently along Chalice Way for 100m and just beyond Dunkerton Close go R through gap to road with playground on L. Follow road 600m to junction and continue 100m to sharp L bend.
3 (GR512 378) Go over stile on R then ahead over second stile. Keep hedge on L, cross stile to second field and go straight over and through a narrow enclosed path to a double gate and bridge. Continue across third field to cross stile by large grey house. Pass to L of building, then ahead keeping hedge on L. At gateway follow track and then bear to R of farm buildings to reach a gateway. Go ahead with hedge on L past sports pitches ignoring wooden bridge on R. At end of field go L through gateway and after 20m bear R along grassy track to pass through edge of deciduous wood. At end of the woods, go L 150m with hedge on R to end of field, cross stile on R then bear 45 degrees R to the R end of hedge. Cross track and go along field with hedge on L. Go ahead over stile and bear 45 degrees R 250m across field to gateway by electricity pole into track. [2.7Km]
4 (GR530 378) Continue along track 300m and where it goes sharp L, continue ahead through metal gate, keeping hedge on L. After 200m where hedge ends, go through gap and go 90 degrees R and follow fence as it bears L then R to small ridge known as Ponter’s Ball(2). Descend to locate a stile and go ahead 150m passing to L of cattle trough to a pedestrian gate. Bear slightly L 250m to a Bristol gate, then bear L along hedge 80m to another Bristol gate. Continue 100m along track to reach a road and go L 200m to the busy A361 [1.4Km]
5 (GR537 380) Cross with care, go L for 30m and take enclosed path on R. At end of path, go through gate and go diagonally to far L corner of the field to pass by the end of Ponter’s Ball(2). Cross double stile and go 300m diagonally across large field aiming for the large barn to locate a concrete track. Cross the fence and follow the track 400m across two fields and follow as it bears 90 degrees R the 500m to large barn. Bear R past barn and at far end go L 100m to road by Norwood Park Farm(3). Go R 75m then L past pair of cottages (Gog & Magog) and climb for 1.1 Km to a junction [2.9Km]
6 (GR515 388) Go ahead 100m then L on track to Glastonbury Tor(4). Follow the path as it climbs steeply to the summit with far-reaching views. (Orientation table) [0.5Km]
7 (GR512 386) Descend by a less steep path via two gates and a short track to road. Go L 30 metres then R into Chilkwell Street. After 300m at mini-roundabout (if time divert 50m L to Somerset Rural Life Museum(5) go ahead passing the Abbey walls on L. Ignore Silver St, but take L turn down High St 400m to reach Market Cross. The bus-stops are to the L [1.9Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 6.1 Km/ 3.7 milesFollow to end of point 2. Continue along road for 700m to reach the A361. Cross with care, go L 270m then R (SP Ashwell Farm). After 250m bear R and then L into Basketfield Lane rising to junction at end of point 5.
For car travellers:
Pay parking in front of Glastonbury Abbey or free on-street parking in Benedict Street
Alternatively, park with care in Challis Way and start the walk from point 2.
Refreshments:
Many options in Glastonbury
1 Glastonbury Abbey dates to the 7th Century and by the time of the Domesday Book (1086) was the richest in the country. It was rebuilt following a fire in the 13th Century but dissolved in 1539.
2 Ponter’s Ball is a defensive linear earthwork almost 1 mile long thought to be from the Iron Age.
3 Norwood Park Farmhouse is grade II* listed and the list description indicates that construction started about 1480 of a residence for the abbots of Glastonbury
4 Neolithic flint tools found at the Tor suggest the site has been visited and occupied throughout human prehistory. An earthquake destroyed a mediaeval church in 1275 and a second church was built in 1360s. The last Abbot of Glastonbury, Richard Whiting, was executed here. Only the tower remains.
5 Rural Life Museum, established in 1975, explores the social and agricultural history of Somerset. It is housed in buildings surrounding a 14th Century barn
2 (GR506 380) Ascend gently along Chalice Way for 100m and just beyond Dunkerton Close go R through gap to road with playground on L. Follow road 600m to junction and continue 100m to sharp L bend.
3 (GR512 378) Go over stile on R then ahead over second stile. Keep hedge on L, cross stile to second field and go straight over and through a narrow enclosed path to a double gate and bridge. Continue across third field to cross stile by large grey house. Pass to L of building, then ahead keeping hedge on L. At gateway follow track and then bear to R of farm buildings to reach a gateway. Go ahead with hedge on L past sports pitches ignoring wooden bridge on R. At end of field go L through gateway and after 20m bear R along grassy track to pass through edge of deciduous wood. At end of the woods, go L 150m with hedge on R to end of field, cross stile on R then bear 45 degrees R to the R end of hedge. Cross track and go along field with hedge on L. Go ahead over stile and bear 45 degrees R 250m across field to gateway by electricity pole into track. [2.7Km]
4 (GR530 378) Continue along track 300m and where it goes sharp L, continue ahead through metal gate, keeping hedge on L. After 200m where hedge ends, go through gap and go 90 degrees R and follow fence as it bears L then R to small ridge known as Ponter’s Ball(2). Descend to locate a stile and go ahead 150m passing to L of cattle trough to a pedestrian gate. Bear slightly L 250m to a Bristol gate, then bear L along hedge 80m to another Bristol gate. Continue 100m along track to reach a road and go L 200m to the busy A361 [1.4Km]
5 (GR537 380) Cross with care, go L for 30m and take enclosed path on R. At end of path, go through gate and go diagonally to far L corner of the field to pass by the end of Ponter’s Ball(2). Cross double stile and go 300m diagonally across large field aiming for the large barn to locate a concrete track. Cross the fence and follow the track 400m across two fields and follow as it bears 90 degrees R the 500m to large barn. Bear R past barn and at far end go L 100m to road by Norwood Park Farm(3). Go R 75m then L past pair of cottages (Gog & Magog) and climb for 1.1 Km to a junction [2.9Km]
6 (GR515 388) Go ahead 100m then L on track to Glastonbury Tor(4). Follow the path as it climbs steeply to the summit with far-reaching views. (Orientation table) [0.5Km]
7 (GR512 386) Descend by a less steep path via two gates and a short track to road. Go L 30 metres then R into Chilkwell Street. After 300m at mini-roundabout (if time divert 50m L to Somerset Rural Life Museum(5) go ahead passing the Abbey walls on L. Ignore Silver St, but take L turn down High St 400m to reach Market Cross. The bus-stops are to the L [1.9Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 6.1 Km/ 3.7 milesFollow to end of point 2. Continue along road for 700m to reach the A361. Cross with care, go L 270m then R (SP Ashwell Farm). After 250m bear R and then L into Basketfield Lane rising to junction at end of point 5.
For car travellers:
Pay parking in front of Glastonbury Abbey or free on-street parking in Benedict Street
Alternatively, park with care in Challis Way and start the walk from point 2.
Refreshments:
Many options in Glastonbury
1 Glastonbury Abbey dates to the 7th Century and by the time of the Domesday Book (1086) was the richest in the country. It was rebuilt following a fire in the 13th Century but dissolved in 1539.
2 Ponter’s Ball is a defensive linear earthwork almost 1 mile long thought to be from the Iron Age.
3 Norwood Park Farmhouse is grade II* listed and the list description indicates that construction started about 1480 of a residence for the abbots of Glastonbury
4 Neolithic flint tools found at the Tor suggest the site has been visited and occupied throughout human prehistory. An earthquake destroyed a mediaeval church in 1275 and a second church was built in 1360s. The last Abbot of Glastonbury, Richard Whiting, was executed here. Only the tower remains.
5 Rural Life Museum, established in 1975, explores the social and agricultural history of Somerset. It is housed in buildings surrounding a 14th Century barn