Light on Glastonbury

After a couple of days cooped up at home I think we were all about to go stir crazy. Got to get out. Somewhere. Anywhere. Never mind the rain.

Everywhere around here is awash. If it's not flooded it is ankle deep in mud which is not fun. The path up Glastonbury Tor is at least mostly hard so it won by a mile.

I've photographed Glastonbury before several times so I was looking for something a little different and I wanted to take advantage of the bad weather. It was also mid afternoon with only an hour or two until sunset which made for some interesting light which I hoped to capture.

It had ( just about ) stopped raining at this point so I seized this opportunity of an unusual view of the Tor.

The view from the top. This is not Photoshopped in any way. The combination of heavy black clouds, rain and the occasional appearance of late afternoon winter sun combined to give some  interesting lighting effects. This one of the Somerset Levels .

Taken from inside the ruins of St Michael's church, the sun was   low and so bright reflecting off the floods.

Walking down along the shoulder of the Tor, the clouds gave way to blue sky but the light had an eerie feel which is reflected in this shot. A few moments later and the had light changed completely and the mood was lost.



And finally - a short detour to the White Spring which was open and beautifully lit with many candles. The heavy rain and subsequent  water flow meant that the entire floor was flooded and the roar of the water  meant that talking in a whisper didn't work too well.

They do not permit photography inside to preserve the ambiance (and I guess the privacy of the bathers in the healing pool) but I couldn't resist the fabulous bracket fungus just outside the door!

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.

On the Level

Despite  no let up in the strong winds this weekend I thought I'd venture out anyway as it wasn't actually raining.

A necessary trip for some new walking trousers selected the direction so it was to South Somerset we headed and the village of Burrowbridge.

I've been passed Burrow Mump many times but have never before stopped and climbed it so despite the dull day  why not now?

Mump is Anglo Saxon for Hill and the remains of St Michael's Church are now an official war memorial. The overall impression is of a minature Glastonbury Tor. The Tor itself was just visible on the horizen.

Although the views from the top are spectacular  I was unable to capture the panoramas entirely to my satisfaction.

The view to the left is over towards Athelney ( of King Alfred and the burnt cakes fame)

Swing round 90 degrees though and the view is entirely different. The wetlands are spread out below you and teeming with wildlife.





 

The church itself is now in poor condition with hawthorn bushes growing inside. Despite the howling gale the inside of the church was very sheltered and the hawthorn was even starting to put out some new leaves.

 Although some Roman   finds have been made there, nothing ealier seems to have been found. I would be very surprised though if the site wasn't in use from a much earlier date.