St. Michael's Tower

The tower rises from Glastonbury Tor like something from a medieval fever dream - 522 feet of genuine Somerset, visible for miles across the Levels. What you're actually climbing is the 15th-century church tower of St. Michael, all that remains after the original building fell into ruin centuries ago. The walk up takes twenty minutes or so, depending on fitness and how many times you stop to catch your breath on the steep grass slopes.

Once you reach the top, the views justify every step. On a clear day you can see across the Somerset Levels toward Dorset, and the tower itself rewards closer inspection - proper medieval stonework, a small arched doorway, narrow windows that once looked out over an entirely different England. It's not a museum or an exhibition; it's just the thing itself, standing there. History without the gift shop.

Walkers and photography types will get the most from this. Kids manage the climb fine, though younger ones might need encouragement on the steeper bits. The National Trust manages access, and there's no charge to climb. Allow an hour if you're taking it slowly, half that if you're just going up and down.

Glastonbury itself sits just south, and the campsite options nearby - Bobsfield and Orchard Farm - both rate highly. Either would work well as a base for exploring the Tor alongside the town's odd mix of pilgrimage sites and New Age shops. The walk's better in autumn or spring when the grass isn't waterlogged and you're not melting in the sun.