We have devised a ten-mile walk through the parish from Chilton Polden to Glastonbury Abbey. Much of the area was shaped historically by the Abbey and its estate, and pilgrims would have travelled along the Polden Hills on the way to the Abbey.
The route starts at Chilton Polden church, and goes along obvious paths to Ashcott via the churches in Edington, Catcott and Shapwick. This is similar to the route many pilgrims would have taken, although from Ashcott they would have continued along the hills through what is now Walton and Street to cross the Brue at Pomparles Bridge. Our route from Ashcott goes along lanes down to the Levels below Sharpham, through the southern edge of the Ham Wall nature reserve, across the Brue at Cradle Bridge and on into Glastonbury and the Abbey. It's possible to do this walk comfortably within a day, taking the 75 bus back to the Polden villages.
Practicalities
- The full route is about 10 miles long. It’s realistic to do this within a day, with suitable reflective breaks along the way.
- An alternative would be to do it in two halves, splitting the route at Ashcott.
- Some have done short sections between the churches.
- If you do the full walk to Glastonbury, you may want to take the bus back. The 75 bus, from Wells to Bridgwater, goes through Glastonbury and all the Polden villages mentioned in the walk, but operates only once every two hours. (Bus times)
- A slightly less pressured way would be to park in Glastonbury, take the bus to Chilton Polden, and then walk back to the car.