Glastonbury isn’t just about dancing in the mud in front of the Pyramid Stage; it’s also a town jam packed with interesting things!
Enjoying a history dating back thousands of years, Glastonbury is associated with all sorts of myths and legends, King Arthur and the Holy Grail amongst them. It must also have the most number of crystal shops in Britain and there can’t be many other places where you can shop for witch spells, models of wizards and herbal remedies in several stores on one street!
We spent an enjoyable time wandering in and out of the ever so alternative stores and exploring the atmospheric nooks and crannies and impressive architecture that lines the main streets.
The hippy nature of Glastonbury means us veggies are well catered for and we enjoyed a yummy cheese and spinach cannelloni at the Hawthorns, a friendly pub just off the high street.
After lunch it was time for Glastonbury Abbey.
Founded in the 7th century and enlarged in the 10th, the abbey was one of the richest and most powerful monasteries in England by the 14th century. But Henry VIII sealed its fate in the 16th century and the building was destroyed.
The abbey may now be in ruins with vast spaces where nothing remains but it’s still spectacular. Large sections of the walls are still in place which indicate just how large it was. The abbey is a photographer’s dream which meant Nina was in her element!
After a few hours at the abbey and as the sun set we set off on a stroll to the mysterious Glastonbury Tor, a hill overlooking the town topped by St Michael’s Tower.
A flock of sheep greeted our arrival as we climbed the winding paths up the hill. Check out our Facebook Live video and see just how windy it was!
We weren’t disappointed when we got to the summit as we were greeted by stupendous views of Glastonbury and the county of Somerset.
After taking in the vista we skipped back down the hill and then went in completely the wrong direction! Good old Google Maps came to our rescue though and we found our way out and avoided having to spend the night with the sheep!
We had some time before our bus back to Bristol so popped into The George and Pilgrim for a pint. Dating back to the 1400s (yes, 1400s), the building retains much of its original features including its dark wood beams. The pub’s hotel also has a room where it is said Henry VIII watched the burning of the abbey in 1539. We promised ourselves that we’d return one day to stay in that room.
If you’d heading to Worthy Farm this year for the Glastonbury Festival we’d highly recommend ditching Coldplay, Adele and friends for a few hours and heading into town. You won’t regret it!
Also read about a great museum to visit in Glastonbury.
