Let's get back to our trip....
Disney Magic 12nt. British Isles
Cruise Day 3 – Portland, England
DCL Portland excursion (PT03)
Glastonbury Tor and the Cathedral City of Wells
Tour stop #1 continues – Glastonbury Tor (11:00 am to 1:00 pm)
This iconic hill has been a spiritual magnet for centuries, for both Pagans and Christians. Tales have grown out of history, becoming blended and embellished leaving the truth, whatever it was, literally lost in the mists of Avalon.
- “Glastonbury Tor is one of the most famous landmarks in Somerset, if not the whole of the West Country
- It's not just famous because it can be seen for miles and miles around, but also because it has huge spiritual significance for many people.
- The conical shape of Glastonbury Tor is natural. Thousands of years ago it was an island. Before modern drainage, the Tor in winter would have towered above the flooded Somerset Levels.
- The terracing on the hillside has been dated to Neolithic times, around the same time as when Stonehenge was constructed. It has been suggested that the terraces form a kind of maze that guided pilgrims up the sacred hill.”
The terracing is fascinating. And we were blessed with clear skies at this point. That would soon change as the rain set in on the second group about an hour later.
This is the infamous "maze" - in case you'd care to walk it. Said to lead to a spiritual awakening.
(stock photo 1)
Legends of the Tor
"Beneath the hill, it is said, that there is a hidden cave through which you can pass in to the fairy realm of Annwn. There dwells the lord of the Celtic underworld Gwyn ab Nudd with the Cauldron of Rebirth.
Later tradition has it that here lies the Holy Grail brought here by Jesus’s uncle, Joseph of Arimathea. The Cauldron and the Grail were both the object of quests for King Arthur and his knights.
Glastonbury has a long tradition of being ‘The Isle of Avalon’ where King Arthur went after his last battle. The monks of Glastonbury Abbey claimed to have actually found his grave in 1191.
Jesus is said to have come to Glastonbury as a boy, traveling here with Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph was a tin merchant and had travelled to the South-West for this valuable metal."
Tor Features include:
hill challenge
spiritual energy
remains of St. Michael’s tower
panoramic views
(and wind!)
"Hill Challenge" is putting it mildly.
At 158 meters Glastonbury Tor measures 518 feet.
Which is deceivingly high!!
Especially when you consider the Washington monument stands at 554 ft.
And there's really nothing to hold onto as you work your way up. (this was the only resting spot on the path)
I had no idea we'd be climbing this high and therefore did not fully appreciate (nor fear) the height until we were nearing the top of the Tor.
Whoa....
The tower on the Tor is all that remains of a fourteenth-century chapel dedicated to Saint Michael, a replacement for an earlier church destroyed by an earthquake in 1275
This tower having survived the test of time, is believed to be a portal between realms.
It felt a bit creepy as I sat inside. With the winds howling all around you - easy to see why it's believed to be haunted.
All I know is this whole place was a surreal experience, right down to the sheep which seem to have an aura all their own.
It truly is an incredible place.
Next up. We visit the smallest city in England - with a quick bite to eat.