Family-friendly Glastonbury Tor Circular Walk

Located on a 17th Century farm at the foot of Glastonbury Tor, and surrounded by the kind of green and pleasant fields that would inspire poetic folk like William Blake, I’ve said it before, that The Middlewick Cafe can lay claim to having one of the finest views in all of Somerset. Which is a big claim, until you realise it’s sat in the shadow of the one place that might gazump it – Glastonbury Tor itself. Lucky for us, this walk gives you both!

Quick summary: The Middlewick to Glastonbury Tor walk is a 2.6-mile circular route starting at The Middlewick Farm Shop and Café, climbing through orchards and Paddington Farm to the summit of Glastonbury Tor before looping back past the ancient Gog and Magog oaks. It takes around 1 hour 20 minutes, suits those looking for walks with kids in Somerset, and ends with cake. You get the Tor’s famous 360-degree view and the quieter, greener side of one of Somerset’s most-visited sites.

Rising dramatically out of the Somerset Levels, Glastonbury Tor is an iconic Somerset landmark. Steeped in centuries of myths of King Arthur, the Holy Grail, pagan ley lines and ancient folklore, this distinctive conical hill is capped by the 14th-century St Michael’s Tower.

Not far way, nestled in the hamlet of Wick right beneath Glastonbury Tor, The Middlewick is a 16-acre historic farmstead turned sustainable rural haven. Owned by Jill and Jonathan since 2011, this former dairy farm has been thoughtfully-transformed with serious eco-credentials. Alongside charming holiday cottages, there is an indoor pool, a spa set in shepherd’s huts, plus a farm shop and café championing local Somerset produce.

The Middlewick makes the perfect starting point for a scenic family-friendly circular stomp, that leads to the top of the Tor for 360 views and then back down, past ancient ‘Oaks of Avalon’, Gog and Magog. It’s about 2.6 miles and takes around 1h20, so very doable with kids.

Back at The Middlewick you can tuck into a well-earned refuel – everything from lunch and coffee, to cakes and snacks. Plus a corner dedicated to selling local produce.

Love Somerset? Why not follow me on Instagram, or join the Down Somerset Way Facebook group?

Before You Go: A Note on Navigation

On all the Somerset walks featured on this website, I have used the OS Maps app, but it is a good idea to have an Ordnance Survey paper map as well (see above – Somerset is not renowned for its phone signal!).

The Route: Step-by-Step

1. Start by parking your car at The Middlewick Cafe.

2. As you leave the farm, head towards the footpath that leads into the orchards (by the tyre and reception). Go in spring or early summer and you’re walking through a riot of apple blossom. By autumn the trees are heavy with fruit. 

3. After passing through the orchards, follow the track,. The footpath continues through neighbouring Paddington Farm, a working farm with an outdoor classroom you’ll pass on your left. From here the path climbs a slight hill with the Tor and a few houses on your left, and increasingly wide views opening up across the Somerset Levels on your right.

4. Follow the road around to the left. At the fork in the road, you can head on into Glastonbury town centre (depending on what mystical vibes you’re feeling at the time), or follow the road round to the left towards the Tor (you will see it in the distance).

5. There is a bench at the edge of the road in front of the Tor.

Once you reach the bench, turn left along the road until you get to the Glastonbury Tor National Trust sign and a fence. The path here leads up towards the Tor.

Climbing the Tor

Follow the right-hand path (don’t take the willow archway) and follow the waymarked paths carefully – so as not to cause any damage to the natural habitat – and wind your way up Glastonbury Tor. The final approach is the steepest part of the whole walk, but it’s mercifully short, and the reward at the top is that 360-degree panorama that’s launched a thousand Instagram posts – on a clear day you can see the Mendips, the Quantocks, and out towards the Bristol Channel.

The Return Loop

Come back down the same way as you went up. When you get back to the road next to the National Trust sign, turn right and carry straight on, down Stone Down Lane.

Do not take Basketfield Lane. Instead, carry on straight along the track until you see a path on your left which leads to a field. Turn right and cross the field towards the Old Oaks Touring Park and the ancient, sacred trees, Gog and Magog.

The Legends of Gog and Magog

The two ancient trees at one end of the field are believed to be over 1,000 years old and the last surviving Avalon Oaks, a group of ancient oak trees that were mostly felled in 1906. Magog, a remarkable living link to the medieval landscape, is still alive, although its companion, Gog, died after being damaged by fire in 2017.

Nearby Wick has evidence of ancient settlement, including Roman pottery, while the medieval lanes lead towards Norwood Park, once the largest deer park belonging to Glastonbury Abbey, with around 800 deer recorded there in 1535. The site is considered a place for spiritual reflection, and visitors are encouraged to respect the fragile trees.

Oak trees were sacred to the Druids, adding another layer of folklore to the site. The names Gog and Magog have also appeared in the Bible, Quran and medieval legends, sometimes as fearsome cave-dwelling giants.

Follow the footpath left past the trees (which are fenced in for protection), across the field, then cross the stream, and follow the footpath all the way back to The Middlewick Farmshop & Café.

Where to Eat or Drink Afterwards: Post-Glastonbury Tor hike refuel

The Middlewick café does a brunch menu alongside lunch, coffee and cakes, with organic and vegan options if that’s what you’re after. It’s open daily from 8:30am to 4pm (brunch until 3pm, coffee and cake until close), with seating for 70 inside and another 70 out on the patio or in the garden.

There’s also a small farm shop corner given over to local produce, which is a nice way to take a bit of the walk home with you. And if you fancy making more of a stay of it, there’s holiday accommodation on site, plus a spa!

Need More Inspiration? Nearby Places to Visit

If you’ve got energy left after the walk, Glastonbury town centre is a short drive or a longer stroll away, with Glastonbury Abbey’s ruins and the Chalice Well both worth building into a fuller day out – see my 13 Best Things to Do in Glastonbury guide for the full rundown.

Further afield, if you’re basing yourself in the Somerset Levels for a few days, my River Parrett Trail Langport Walk is a very different, flatter alternative for when everyone’s legs need a rest from hills.

And if this walk’s whetted your appetite for more Somerset hill views, you’ll love this Ham Hill Country Park Circular Walk or this Queens Arms Corton Denham Ridge pub walk 1.9 miles.

For the full spread of what the county has to offer beyond this one walk, my 50 Best Things to Do in Somerset guide is the place to start.