Aspects of Avalon

The Tor dominates the surrounding countryside. Surprisingly, it's often not so visible in the town, for instance it is almost invisible from the Abbey, where it is hidden by the rounded bulk of Chalice Hill. It rises majestically from the Somerset Levels, and there is a symbiotic relationship between the Tor and the Chalice Well. The Tor is surmounted by the ruined tower of St Michael's Chapel. How do you like your ascent, steep or less steep? Many visitors to Glastonbury want to climb the Tor, and there are good views to be had over the Somerset Levels from the top. There are two routes - a steep route from Stone Down Lane approaching from the north-east, and and less steep route that starts from Wellhouse Lane very near the Chalice Well approaching from the west. The steep route ascends roughly the left-hand side in the header image here, the route from the Chalice Well ascends the right-hand side. You start from roughly 20m at the Abbey car park and the top is 158m. In summ...

 The High Street is a fascinating, otherworldly place, with interesting nooks and crannies. It's more Harry Potter than normal British high street. It reflects the rich heritage of the town as a spiritual centre in the past, and a different kind of spirituality now. Unusually, most of the shops are independently run, and this diversity gives the High Street an old-world charm. Let's face it, there's not much need for a chain of crystal shops,  most of what's sold isn't to be found in most High Streets.  The High Street at night. More night photos here You don't come to Glastonbury High street to pick up your daily supplies. You come here for crystals, esoteric books, sound bowls, Goddess paraphernalia and spiritual supplies.  Glastonbury draws in visitors from all over the world, though particularly from Europe. More recently it is the site of the first modern Goddess temple in recent years, but all sorts of spiritual traditions are catered for.  

The Egg Stone by the back of the Abbot's Kitchen in Glastonbury Abbey is widely known and easy to visit. There's an even bigger one on Glastonbury Tor which sits high up on the south side of Glastonbury Tor. It isn't visible from the top due to the lie of the land, despite being about twice as big of  the Abbey stone. Egg Stone on the south side of Glastonbury Tor This isn't an ancient megalith, rather a natural phenomenon called Tor Burrs of hardened material being ejected from the softer ground. There are a few smaller stones of a similar material by the side of the tourist path coming up from Fair Field starting from Wellhouse Lane A smaller pair of these stones by a low bench and one by the side of the path The Egg stone at Glastonbury Abbey behind the Abbot's Kitchen is a rather smaller affair than the Tor Egg stone The Egg Stone behind the Abbot's Kitchen at Glastonbury Abbey

With all that water, Chalice well is quite a sensory garden as well as a visually attractive and peaceful pace to reflect. It is an interesting listening experience, and let’s start off with a musician’s insight into the wellhead at the top of the gardens, furthest away from the main road. Chalice Well wellhead the sound of the Wellhead If you get it to yourself take a listen to the sound of the water in the well-head, there is a distinct tone to it. Your browser does not support the audio element. Steve Gardiner, a musician, wrote 1 that he hears mainly overtones 7 and 9 in the sound of the wellhead, with a fundamental between E flat and D. Not having his perfect pitch I analysed the peaks of the recording at 109Hz and 139.2 Hz. Dividing these by 7 and 9 respectively give 15.57 and 15.5 Hz for the fundamental, which is pretty close and within the experimental error. That gives me a fundamental of half of B 0 . I am intrigued as to whether this changes over ti...

Glastonbury is no clone town, and that's clear in the shop displays, particularly at night. You won't necessarily get something practical, but it's very otherworldly. Even the pub's a bit Harry Potter at times George and Pilgrim, which used to be the pilgrim's inn when the Abbey was a going concern

  It was a cold and snowy start to Imbolc, when around twenty hardy souls joined the pilgrimage from the Chalice Well to Bride's Mound. Sleet at Chilkwell Street gathering at the Market Square Conditions improved by the time we got to the Market Square, where Serena paused to tell us more about the history of the walk, before moving on along Porchestall Drove, to enter Beckery from the north. stone marking the erstwhile site of Bride's Well Followed by a brisk walk to Bride's Mound itself, the location of the old stone chapel though now only the underground foundations remain, covered by the grass. Imbolc ceremony on the Mound The ceremony was a welcome opportunity to enjoy some warming primrose country wine brought by Serena who initiated the bottle with a libation to Bride

  This seat usually looks over a field. The you turn round and see that the river is well higher than the seat at the moment... That's why the embankments are there. The monks did reroute this somewhat, in mediaeval times so the route isn't natural