Looking for the holy Grail - Chalice Gardens Glastonbury

After the mental strain of watching the England/Wales  rugby match yesterday, a quiet relaxing day was called for so a chance to visit the Chalice well and garden in Glastonbury.  It was early in the year enough to be still very quiet but eve now spring is definitely here. The garden was ablaze with the usual early spring flowers, daffodils, crocus and snowdrops.

The garden is a lovely peaceful place especially when almost empty of people. I'm not sure the atmosphere would be quite so calm in higher summer.

 It's not very big but there is a lot packed in, including a "healing pool" which is fed by this waterfall. 

Although you can go into the water here it looks very cold especially in February. The rocks and paving over which the water flows has been stained a deep red from iron oxide deposits.

Moving on up the hill leads one to the drinking fountain.

Archeological evidence suggests that the spring has been in use for 2000+ years and you are invited to drink from the Lion's head. The water has a curious taste but is nowhere near as strongly ( or as unpleasantly)  flavoured as the spring at Bath.

 Further up still is the Chalice Well itself with the famous ornate well cover.

Looking down into the water you can see the reflection of the bars that criss-cross the opening.

Close to the well are some niches with a shelf for candle offerings.

Finally a view of the Tor from the top of the garden.

 Although we hadn't planned to climb the Tor, it seemed a shame not to on such a lovely spring day so we left the gardens and started the climb to join the hordes on the summit.



Hordes being the word. Any calm engendered by the garden was shattered by the sheer noise and clamour of the humanity gathered at the top of the Tor! We didn't stay long before heading back down to the town and home for lunch.