Glastonbury 09.04.2007

We left fairly early on Monday morning and headed to Glastonbury to see the main attractions on offer.

First off we parked the car in one of the central parking areas, and headed off for a walk towards to Glastonbury Tor, situated about 20 minutes walk away.

Glastonbury Tor

The Glastonbury Tor is one of the most famous and sacred landmarks in the West Country. The summit rises to 158m and on a clear day you can see three different Counties. Of course when we got there on Monday morning, there was thick low cloud limiting our views! It has been a place of pilgrimage for over 10,000 years, and in 1275 St Michael’s Tower was constructed to replace a previous church that sat atop the Tor, and that is the structure you can see in the photos.

Heading back to Glastonbury

Chalice Well

Heading back towards the town centre, we next visited the Chalice Well, which contains the ancient red spring of Avalon, and is noted as ‘a natural sanctuary of peace and healing’. The natural spring that flows through the gardens contains high levels of iron, leading to the red staining of the rocks. It was a very tranquil setting where you could bring a picnic and relax on the grass, or walk around the gardens and enjoy the flowering plants, and the quietness of nature. We then stopped for lunch in the Town Centre, and to rest the feet from the walking…

Chalice Gardens, with the Tor in the background

The Well

The Well and surrounds

The Lion's Head, where you can drink the water

Glastonbury Abbey

The major tourist attraction in Glastonbury is the main Abbey Ruins that cover a large area of the town centre. Fenced off of course, so you have to pay to enter, we entered and spent the rest of the afternoon walking the grounds enjoying the remains of the large abbey and other remaining structures on the site.

The other structures onsite included the Monk’s kitchen, the Reredorter (Monk’s toilet – with running water!), Pumphouse, and the Lady Chapel. An orchard is still present on the site, along with ponds and wildlife areas also.

First construction dates back to the 7th Century, and since then over time it was extended and rebuilt. In 1536, during the 27th year of the reign of Henry VIII, there were over 800 monasteries, nunneries and friaries in Britain. By 1541, there were none. More than 10,000 monks and nuns had been dispersed and the buildings had been seized by the Crown to be sold off or leased to new lay occupiers. Glastonbury Abbey was one of principal victims of this action by the King, during the social and religious upheaval known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

More info can be found at the following website: http://www.glastonburyabbey.com/

The site of King Arthur’s tomb

St Patrick’s Chapel The Abbot’s Kitchen – now used for live performances such as singing

Newquay, Tintagel 08.04.2007

Sunday morning we left from the pub in St Agnes and drove towards Newquay. On the way we came across a local ‘Cyder Farm’, and we arrived just in time for them to open. So breakfast consisted of about 10 different alcoholic samples of the locally made produce, varying from sweet fruity wines to dry Cider to a cider spirit mixed with apple juice (otherwise it would be too strong they tell us!). We purchased a bottle of their wine which we shall no doubt enjoy later on during summer.

Cider Testing!




Part of the Cider Farm


Some of the Farm Animals on display for the kids

Newquay is one of the big surf spots in the southwest, and hence over the Easter weekend it was pretty busy. We drove through the town and it felt a lot like Voctor Harbour with the surfing culture and a generally young population walking about the streets. Being as there was not too many places to park, we grabbed a Cornish Pasty (as we were in Cornwall) then drove on to Tinagel.

Surfs Up in Newquay

Tintagel

Tintagel Main Street

Tintagel is famously known as the birthplace of King Arthur, although an ‘Arthur’ may never have come to Tintagel, however Tintagel was at the time the stronghold of the Kings of Cornwall.

Tintagel Old Post Office
We walked right past the old post office without even realising it the first time! It is a National Heritage Property hence our Aussie Membership provided free entry to this site. The old post office is over 600 years old and is a traditional Cornish Longhouse. It is situated on the main street of Tintagel nestled amongst the tourist shops and pubs. The rear garden is very well restored and is a great feeling ‘enchanting cottage garden’. The old Victorian style post office is now only there for display, and you can walk through the building along narrow corridors and up unusual spiral staircases and some almost vertical steps to get into loft areas. The roof comprises nailed thin tiles and the roof does not lineup straight, as it sways in and out along the roof line. It really was a great feeling little building with lots of character. The furnishings inside were generally from the 16th Century.

Old Post Office






Note the Roof curving in - looks like it is going to collapse!




Cottage Garden

Tintagel Castle
The Tintagel Castle was built around 1233, and is located on an outcrop of land that would have been defended easily if ever attacked. Only partial remains of the Castle still stand, and most of the buildings are long gone. Footprints of some of the associated buildings are still visible by the low walls still in place, including much of the Chapel floor plan and praying rooms. The Castle itself can be more likened to two large courtyard buildings, one located high upon the mainland. With the island courtyard being the only entrance to the small island of land it protects.

As far as Castles go it had great views of the surrounding coast, but I am not sure calling it a Castle does some of the other Castles we have seen justice. The artists reconstruction of what could have been here 800 years ago certainly made for interesting viewing.

Walk down to the Castle Site


Some of the remaining walls in ruin


Walking past the Island Courtyard


The old Chapel


Mainland Courtyard


Views over the Coast


The only entry to the Island Courtyard


The narrow steps up to the Castle were the only way up and made defending the Castle easy.

After enjoying some more local bakery delights in Tintagel, we headed back home in preparation for the next day in Glastonbury.

Eden Project 07.04.2007

We picked up the hire car early on Saturday and first completed some food shopping and stocking up on the beer! This is a lot easier when you have a car, compared to walking with a carton for fifteen minutes, as I have done before.

The Eden project was first on our list of things to see this weekend, and after a 3 hour drive we arrived at the site. The Eden project is the result of an old open cut mine that has been revamped to show what can be done to revegetate barron land, and to educate people on other climates and plants. It contains walk-in biomes, which one contains tropical plants and the other contains Mediterranean type plants.

Outside of the biomes, are numerous walking paths meandering around the valley showcasing local and imported species of plants to see. As it is Spring in England, most of the flowers were in bloom and there were great colours on show.

From the website:
‘The Biome conservatories containing plants from the rainforests and the warm temperate regions of the earth... What's it all about. A green theme park? Eden is about connecting plants, people and places.’

More can be found at:
http://www.edenproject.com/index.html

The Tropical Biomes

A Bio-fuelled Model T Ford











Inside the Tropical Biome - An Eco Surfboard.
Balsa wood is used for the core of the board and is grown within the Biome. The baord is wrapped in hemp cloth and plant based resin, with the logo printed onto the hemp using natural dyes. This board (unlike firbreglass ones) can be composted at the end of its life.


Tropical Waterfalls


Warmer climate Biome

After enjoying the afternoon at the Eden Project we drove north towards Newquay, and found a room for the night at one of the local Pubs, the Peterville Inn.

Peterville Inn