The Path of Holy Thorns
A Glastonbury Pilgrimage
A 3.5-mile pilgrimage to the famous Glastonbury Holy Thorn trees, known for miraculously flowering at Christmas and May.
The Holy Thorns of Glastonbury are Hawthorns (Crataegus) with the miraculous distinction of flowering twice a year: once in May, along with all other hawthorns, but also once again at Christmas.
These trees have long been considered unique to Glastonbury (though they have now spread throughout the world). The second flowering of these Hawthorns has become a central myth in the story of Glastonbury and England, the trees being taken as proof for various ideas , from justifying monarchic lineages, calendar reform, religious in/tolerance, and the authority/antiquity of the English church. Most commonly, these trees are taken as proof that Glastonbury is the ‘holiest earth in England’.
The origin of Glastonbury’s Holy Thorn is unclear. Earliest historical references to these botanical miracles are only five hundred years old. But legends go far deeper than written word, and popular belief is that the first Holy Thorn of Glastonbury was planted by Joseph of Arimathea when he visited England as a tin-trader, 31 years after the birth of Jesus. Joseph is said to have landed on Wearyall Hill, to the south of Glastonbury Tor, and planted his walking staff into the ground, which flowered into the Holy Thorn. It is unclear whether he brought Jesus with him, or the holy grail, or Mary Magdalene. Choose your legend!
Though these trees and their Christmas blooming have formed an integral part in England’s myth, and have been embraced by Church and State, Pagans and Christians and Druids alike, the Holy Thorns have also been the target of attack throughout history.
The most recent violence was in 2010, when vandals destroyed the Wearyall Hill thorn, which had been planted in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain.
Worldwide dismay and condemnation followed. The Council and other groups attempted to replant the thorn, but to no avail. The vandals struck again, and again.
Glastonbury was left with a gap in its mythos, a broken shrine and despoiled sanctuary.
The legend of the Glastonbury Holy Thorn has proven controversial over the centuries.
Until 31 August 2023, on the feast day of Joseph of Arimathea, when the Holy Thorn on Wearyall Hill miraculously reappeared.
Replanted by anonymous benefactors, the new thorn was apparently watered in with water drawn from Jospeh of Arimathea’s holy well in Glastonbury Abbey.
Since then, thousands of pilgrims have made the journey up Wearyall Hill to pay respects to this young thorn, which has now been thriving for one year without trouble.
And more miraculously than that, as well as its Christmas flowering, this Holy Thorn has even begun to flower a third time - on St Jospeh’s Day in late August!
In celebration of this miraculous first anniversary of the return of the Wearyall Hill Holy Thorn, this pilgrimage route offers a path to the nine accessible holy thorns growing in town - those that flowered at Christmas 2023.
The result is a 3.5 mile journey on foot through Glastonbury’s sacred landscape, beginning at the Abbey and culminating on Wearyall Hill.
Pilgrimage Practicalities
The Path of Holy Thorns is an easy, family-friendly pilgrimage, suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
No specialist hiking equipment is required. A lot of local pilgrims do it without shoes at all!
Access to some of the sites is not free. Full access to the pilgrimage will cost approx £20 per adult - £11 to the Abbey, £4 to the Tribunal, and £5 to the Chalice Well garden. A child under 16 will cost £4.50 (with a paying adult).
The route takes you to a number of the ancient holy places of Glastonbury, and you can add extra loops if you choose - like climbing up the Tor!
There is food and drink available throughout - including a Michelin-starred restaurant - as well as toilets, public and cafe/venue.
I recommend offering 3.5 hours to this pilgrimage, because it is not a race, and there is a lot to see and soak up. You may choose to bathe in the white and red springs. You may meet old friends while wandering up the high street, or get waylaid by the shops. Why hurry? The thorns will wait for you…
If you want to learn more about the Glastonbury Thorn trees, there is no better resource than Adam Stout’s excellent book.
Maps and Route Files
Download the GPX Route here:
A GPX route is a digital file that can be opened in any mapping app or software, and will show an accurate track that can be followed.
Simply download the GPX file and ‘open with’ your favourite mapping app.
I recommend ‘Memory Map’ as a personal favourite.
