Happy Holidays! Getting Away From It All In Glorious Glastonbury

I don't know about you but it seems like the effect of all this sunshine is going to my head, and no I don't mean sunstroke. I mean that for the first time EVER, I actually feel as though I would probably be very happy to stay at home this summer and not venture far to partake in that all important annual activity - Holidaying.

I just feel that when you work all year round, live the daily grind and watch your hard earned cash trickle away like a BP oil leak as you keep up with the Cost of Living, having a summer break is, in my opinion darned important.

And for me, I have never really felt like I am on holiday unless there are at least a couple of hundred miles between me and my front door. If there is a stretch of sea between us also, even better.

So contemplating the happy task of holidays this year, I was thrown a rather challenging proposition by my Other Half in an attempt to preserve funds. Stay at home.

I can't repeat my initial response to that suggestion. But giving myself a bit of time to think about it, I started to realise that the thought of remaining here in the Glastonbury area for my holiday was actually quite nice.....

So what to do? Well Glastonbury is, of course, heaving with tourists and holiday makers in the summer. And you can't blame them when there is such an abundance of attractions and places of interest nearby. Accommodation opportunities vary but there are some good campsites locally situated which offer some excellent facilities. The Isle of Avalon Touring Caravan park is situated just a short walk away from the town on the road towards Godney. And if you fancy a stay away from families and children, then the Old Oaks Touring Park in Wick is an adults only camping ground perfect for a peaceful stay in the shadow of the Tor. Both sites offer tent pitches as well as campervans etc.

There are many places to rest your weary holiday-making head in town;  pubs such as the famously haunted George & Pilgrims and the lovely Who'd A Thought It offer B&B and for travellers on a budget, the Glastonbury Backpackers offers dorms from £14 a night. Many other B&B's can be found too, with more luxurious accomodation to be had at Magdalene House B&B and Number 3, both on Magdalene Street.

Apart from the usual sightseeing opportunities within the town, such as the Tor, Glastonbury Abbey etc, there are some lovely excursions out of town to be had. With such an amazing landscape around us, no holiday maker would want to miss out on a trip to one of our wonderful nature reserves or a walk across the countryside to a rural pub. The Rose and Portcullis at Butleigh is a lovely little place to escape to for a home cooked lunch and a pint of real ale. Maps for local rambles can be found at the Glastonbury Tourist Information centre in the High Street.

As for wining and dining, Glastonbury offers some great opportunities for lazy lunches with the family. The Hundred Monkeys offers inventive, tasty dishes made with locally sourced and organic ingredients and La Terre is a recently opened cafe / evening bistro which specialises in Mediterranean fare. Just off the High Street you'll find a couple of places such as Hawthorns where you can sample some lovely dishes from their creative menu which includes a regular Curry Night. Over the way is Knight's Fish and Chip Restaurant, which has an indoor seating area as well as a takeaway. For those of you who are self-catering, the newly re-furbished Co-op supermarket in the High Street gives you everything you need to cater for yourself as well as an abundance of other grocers such as Stephens Butchers, Earthfare Wholefood store, Burns the Bread and Artisan delicatessan.

Don't miss the chance to nip over to Street and spend an hour in Clarks Village where you'll find well-known shops selling discounted products. Names such as Monsoon, M&S, Whittards and Billabong all have outlets here so go and grab a bargain to take home with you.

For a full range of all services, accomodation and attractions on offer for you to enjoy on holiday, check out our directories at the top of the page!

So if you're local you may well want to consider taking a week off and just enjoying what we have on our doorstep? Treat each day as if you were away somewhere, plan an excursion, pack a picnic, switch off the mobile and off you go. Lovely!

But if the lure of a foreign land is all too much for you, or the draw of the Cornish Coast is more than you can stand, then don't forget our local travel agents to book a bargain with. Thomas Cook in Glastonbury High Street regularly feature offers in their window display, while in nearby Street, independent agency Travel Angels now situated at the end of the High Street in the area known as The Golden Mile, has all manner of offers for short breaks, cruises, flights and package deals. First Choice are also situated down the way in the High Street.

Are you planning on staying at home or venturing away this year? Are you saving money by forfeiting a holiday abroad or do you hate to travel overseas? Let us know!

Anyway, better dash, got to read my guide to Morocco.....well you didn't really think I was going to give in did you.....?

Photo by mollypop