The Glastonbury Way

The Glastonbury Way has been developed to include places of pilgrimage in our countryside and key locations in our town centre.

Comprising a walk of approximately seven and a half miles, the route has been created using the existing long-standing rights of way that have been used for centuries. Green lanes and permissive paths have been included in the route as well as the High Street and primary roads of the town centre.

Pilgrimage is at the heart of Glastonbury, so this walk can also be a way of mindfully supporting your wellbeing and your spiritual development- the growth of love, compassion and connection. It can be helpful to set an intention before you walk.

The walk can be done in one day or in sections over a number of days.

To help you find your way, and to find all the sites of pilgrimage, a map leaflet is now available at the Glastonbury Information Centre for £2 or download The Glastonbury Way App to turn your smart phone into your own personal guide.

New bespoke benches are strategically placed for resting with a view and fifteen interpretation boards are placed throughout the route so you can read about the history, myth, landscape, spirituality and legend of Glastonbury and the surrounding countryside. All text is in large print and the boards are positioned to be accessible to all.

We want as many people as possible to enjoy the Way. The working group for the project dedicated time, thought and funding to improve the route to make it as accessible as possible within the limitations of the existing terrain. Stiles have been replaced with kissing gates; stone tracks laid where previously there was deep mud.

Although the physical access will be greatly improved, the hills of Glastonbury and the off-road nature of much of the Glastonbury Way means that wheelchair access remains a challenge on some of the route. We are aware that more still needs to be done to improve accessibility for different groups of people still not catered for sufficiently.

To that end, we are planning identification of routes with greater accessibility and to produce a map with the most accessible public spaces, and most accessible routes.

We encourage everyone to discover and explore the Glastonbury Way.

We hope you enjoy learning more of the history, myth, landscape, spirituality, and legend here in this green and pleasant land.

Respect • Protect • Enjoy • Respect • Protect • Enjoy • Respect • Protect • Enjoy

Respect Others

Consider the local community. Leave gates and property as you find them. Follow paths but give way to others where it narrows. Protect the natural environment. Refrain from BBQs or fires. Leave no trace of your visit, take all your litter home. Enjoy this special space.

Walking Your Dog

Dogs, this walk also takes you around the farming landscape. Please protect the animals by being constantly aware and keeping dogs on leads at all times. Don’t forget to “bag it, bin it”.

Flora & Fauna

The lighting of tea lights and candles is an ongoing threat to our flora and fauna. One of our ancient oaks was set on fire through carelessness. Also, metal containers left in the countryside are harmful to farm animals and wildlife and do not biodegrade. Please be thoughtful.

A centre of pilgrimage

Since time immemorial, people have journeyed to Glastonbury to immerse themselves in a deep cauldron of legend, romance, myth and history. A centre of pilgrimage for millennia, this small Somerset Market town is a powerful magnet drawing people from different walks and paths of life, from all over the world.

Pilgrimage is a wide-ranging topic, touching on many aspects of human existence and signifies not only a physical journey to a special place, but also an inner spiritual journey.

The experience can lead to a process of spiritual growth, transforming the deepest aspects of the human spirit. For some people Pilgrimage acts as a rite of passage, for others it involves seeking spiritual and/or material rewards.

Journeying to a place of special significance plays a part in almost all cultures and religions. The goal may be a site given prominence by particular events, the shrine of a saint or other significant figure, or a remarkable geographical feature.

You may find it helpful to speak to a member of the Pilgrim Reception team in the Glastonbury Information Centre about your experiences or to ask any questions about spirituality in Glastonbury.

Pilgrimage motivated by spiritual belief is still very much alive in the 21st Century.

It usually involves: