The castle is lovely and grounds are absolutely stunning. Although the structure and landscaping…read moreare lovely, our tour guide felt the need to weave her strong political views into most topics. Examples would be regarding a pitcher/jug that is displayed in one of the glass cases. She said the pitcher "should not be here" and if she had her way "it would be returned" because it was "stolen from a masque." She also said when referring to Dr. Edward Jenner being the first to develop a successful vaccination for small pox that "it really is a question if he were the first." She said he barely beat Africa and Turkey in this world altering vaccine. To which doctors to whom was she referring to in Africa or Turkey? She made a comment of, " My grandfather always said, 'Whatever horrible acts done have been done have been done by the English first.' and I firmly believe this." She was also railing against the decisions of the monarchs before the addition of the parliament. Then she went on to say she wished she could get rid of the current government. A guide should concentrate on the facts and remove biases. It is quite distracting and unnecessary.

What can you say about one of the oldest inhabited castles in the world which is still owned by the…read moresame family from 900 years ago. You have to go. Its where Edward II was murdered with a red hot poker up his fundament .

WOW! One of the best FREE things you can do on UK roadtrip...assuming you're in good health! There…read moreare two ways up, and easy way and hard way...we unfortunately took the hard way up, and the easy way down, but at least we can say we did both! It's a short hike either way but still wear good shoes, bring water, maybe food, sunglasses, and hat if its a sunny day. The wide panoramic views at the top are incredible on a clear sunny day. The tower is interesting though not completely amazing. It's more decorative than useful to be honest...I feel sorry the workers/slaves who had to haul up the stones so many centuries ago.

I've been a fan of Arthurian legends for as long as I can remember, and Glastonbury Tor standing…read moretall in my mind ever since playing "Conquests of Camelot" on my Tandy 386 back in the 80s. The solitary tower became, in my impressionable mind, not only a concrete symbol of the Arthurian mythos, but a tangible link to the stories that shaped my childhood, fostered my creativity, and sculpted my personality. I hoped to one day see it in person; to stand in its shadow, and absorb the impression of its history, and the aura of its legends. Glastonbury Tor is one of the proposed locations of the mythical Isle of Avalon, the "island in a sea of mist" upon which King Arthur was buried. There is some precedent for this belief, as the valley surrounding the hill is regularly filled with a thick white fog, as far as the eye can see. The hill of Glastonbury rises from this sea of roiling white like an island, with the lonely tower at its apex standing like a grave marker. And below, at the base of the Tor, within the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, lie the graves of the man who inspired the legends of Arthur and Camelot. Truly, if there is an Avalon, this is it. As a child, I never thought I would actually see the day that I'd be standing atop that hill, 25 years later, my epic quest (journey? pilgrimage?) complete. Overwhelmed by this fabled obelisk, with its magnanimous legacy promising that the stories I had idolized contained at least a grain of truth, I wept tears of joy and contentment.

The ancient County Town of Somerset has a church worthy of its status and history, famous for its…read moresplendid tower, which is a landmark for miles around. The early history of the church is obscure: Taunton was the home of a great Augustinian Priory under the control of the Bishops of Winchester, who were also Lords of the Manor until the 19th century. The town that grew up alongside the castle and Priory looked to the Priory for many of its spiritual needs, but the townspeople probably had their own church on the present site from at least the 11th century onwards. However, the first recorded mention of the church is in the 13th century, and foundations of that age have been found during various archaeological excavations. In 1308 the church became independent of the Priory, and over the next two hundred years was rebuilt into the form we see to-day. From the outside and particularly from the perfect view between the Georgian houses of Hammet Street the dominant feature is its tower. Somerset is famed for its huge towers, built in the 15th and early 16th centuries on the wealth that came from the wool trade. They are divided into the Wells group, with vertical emphasis, and the Taunton group, with horizontal emphasis. Unsurprisingly, St Mary's belongs to the latter group, and is the grandest by far. At 163ft, (50m) it can be seen for miles. It is built in a striking red sandstone, with window openings and tracery in golden Ham stone. Constructed in 1514, the present tower is actually a copy (albeit an exact one using much of the original materials) completed in 1862, after the original became unsafe. The other external feature is the generous south porch, dating from 1508, and decorated with elaborate niches, although the statues are Victorian replacements for those destroyed in the Reformation. Indeed, much of the decoration in the church had to be replaced, following extensive damage during the Commonwealth period Taunton was a staunch Puritan town. The interior is splendid the plan is almost square, thanks to its generous double aisles, giving the impression of a forest of columns. The oldest elements are the arcade arches at the east end of the nave, which date from the late 13th century. Otherwise, most of the fabric dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. Of particular note is the 15th century carved wooden roof, with its gilded angels a Somerset tradition. There are more angels carved on the nave capitals and corbels. Although most of the furnishings are Victorian, there are some attractive memorials: on the north wall, an almost life-size statue of Robert Graye, (1570-1635), flanked by columns and topped with a arched pediment, recalls a famous son of Taunton and a generous benefactor, who built almshouses for the poor in East Street, which are still in use to-day. The windows in the north aisle contain fragments of brightly coloured mediaeval glass. Another benefactor was Richard Huish, (d. 1615), and his plainer but still attractive memorial is found on the South wall. At the west end of the inner aisle, is a stone memorial to Thomas More, (d. 1576), second owner of the Priory following the Dissolution. To-day it provides the backdrop to the small shop, selling cards and fairly traded items. Opposite, in the North Aisle, is a small but lively café, apparently catering to a regular group of pensioners. Finally, this church has a personal connection, which makes it especially interesting to me: my Great-Great-Great Grandfather and Grandmother were married here, in July 1828.

This is the largest church in Somerset, situated right in the centre of its county town, Taunton…read more I can thorougly recommend this as a place to get married! The church is really spacious and so you can have as many seated guests as you can wish. They will organise beautiful flowers for you and, of course, the photographs look great with such an amazing place in them. The vicar has changed since we got married and so I can't say what he is like but our day was really special.

****WARNING--Do not ever pay to do this hike. It is a free hike****…read more There is this ridiculous business called, Jacob's Ladder that charges £5 for what looks like is supposed to be the Cheddar Gorge trail. It's very, very misleading. I think it's exceptionally dishonest and demonstrates very poor business ethics. If you want to do the hike for free, just take one of the other several entrances. One entrance lies across the street from Gorge Cafe. Alternatively, you can just drive past that ridiculous tourist town, continue a bit into the mountain, and about a mile up there's also free parking and two other (free) entrances for the hike. Again, the fact that Jacob's Ladder is there to appear that there is a mandatory charge for the hike is ridiculous. My girlfriend and I were so pissed that we wasted pounds to do a hike that should've been free. The hike is so beautiful! It's very long if you choose to stop and enjoy the scenery a couple times, perhaps play with some goats. Just kidding, they're scared of everything and if your corner them they will probably charge are you. Still fun to watch though. I would recommend bringing a small backpack with at least a couple liters of water. There's also blackberry brambles everywhere. Enjoy the hike.

The Bishop's Palace is a MUST SEE! This beautiful historic palace has been the residence of the…read moreBishops of Bath and Wells for over 800 years since construction began in 1210. The palace has evolved through the centuries with incredible additions especially the defensive walls, and surrounding moat, and gate house, creating an almost magical Disney-Grimm's Fairy tale and magical castle story book setting. The state rooms and commons are fun and amusing to wander, as they are a bit more modern and humble. I'm not normally a garden guy, but the palace gardens are 14-acre gardens tranquil retreat featuring numerous varieties of flowers, and include a reflecting pond and ancient wells. £20 for a combination ticket to the Bishops Palace and also Wells Cathedral, well worth it. But if you're short on time and/or money, you can at least see the other moat and some of the inner walls for free.

The Bishop's Palace and accompanying Bishops House at Wells in the English county of Somerset, is…read moreadjacent to Wells Cathedral and has been the home of the Bishops of the Diocese of Bath and Wells for 800 years. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. It offers gorgeous grounds and gardens, the moat, walls and you can even go inside the home. Come also to see the swans.

Other than the castle, the village itself has a very inviting feel about it. You enter the castle…read morefrom the little square where there are a few shops and a monument in the middle. The square is very small! I don't know; I just found the place really calm and peaceful - most likely not this way during the tourist season but on a cold wet November late afternoon the atmosphere was at its best. The village isn't very big, so worth a little wander around and perhaps a stop in a pub and some of the shops.

Such a beautiful village - it hasn't changed much since I used to visit it over 40 years ago. The…read moreCastle is always worth a visit - you get in free if you're a National Trust member, and the parking at the visitor centre at the entrance to the village is also free to members. Try getting there early-morning before the crowds. Interesting little shops and the National Trust Tea Rooms does the best cream tea ever - sit in their garden overlooking the Castle. There's also a model village. The steam train runs from the Park & Ride at Norden (just before Corfe Castle village), stops at the village before chugging through the Purbecks onto Swanage. A good day's fun!

'Y Garreg Siglo' in Welsh, a great place to visit, not far from Pontypridd Hospital and with a…read moremarvellous view over the town. The central stone is over 5 feet high and placed there in Neolithic times. It does indeed 'rock' slightly back and forth if you sit or stand on it and push a bit! The stone circle surrounding it is much more recent, having been arranged there only one or two hundred years ago (there appears to be some dispute about the exact date). There are various other stones dotted about the Common. There are several places to park nearby along the road side.

Located on the coast of North Somerset, Burnham is a small, old-fashioned seaside resort…read more It's only real claim to fame is its unique lighthouse, built in 1832 in wood and on legs. Now a listed monument, it still functions as a lighthouse, although these days its light is automatically controlled. One of a pair, the other one is a more traditional 'pillar' lighthouse inland - ships had to line up the two when entering the River Parrett to avoid grounding on the area's notorious sand-banks. You can even stay for a unique holiday in the pillar lighthouse - see their wonderful website at http://www.lighthouseholiday.com . (Make sure you have the sound on)!

Glastonbury Abbey is a historically significant and legendary site of a once powerful and wealthy…read morechurch...now just in ruins, big ruins! And also the supposedly burial site of King Arthur, but that is up to your own imagination. But still it's extraordinarily picturesque and incredible site to imagine what it once was in its hey days. There are acres and acres to explore, lots of greenery, lots of ruins, lots of exhibits, and a couple ponds. A few locals hanging out, and a few hippies. Adults: £12 / $16...seems about right.

After 6 years as a member, I was refused entry for forgetting my card -- no offer to look me up,…read morejust told me I could purchase a new card which I don't need. The staff were rigid, robotic, and completely lacking in empathy. The Abbey has sadly lost its soul -- it's now run like a military checkpoint. This rigid, petty approach is deeply disappointing. The Abbey used to feel spiritual and welcoming -- now it's cold and unkind to the very people who support it.