New Age Mixes With Age-Old in England

The morning I climbed Glastonbury Tor, a grassy, terraced mound that rises 525 feet above Somerset Plain, the English sky was blue and a stiff wind seemed almost to carry me to the ruined tower at the top. The day before, Britain had suffered its worst gale in a decade.

As I gazed across the flooded patchwork of fields, it didn’t seem farfetched that this was the site of the mythical Isle of Avalon.

Glastonbury, a small market town with about 8,000 residents, is filled with history, mystery, music and magic. Myths and legends abound in historic Glastonbury, where New Age collides with age-old at every step. Walk down the main street to enjoy some of the curious diversions: New Age bookstores, funky cafes, crystal shops, vegetarian restaurants, healing centers.

The Internet can help you find bed-and-breakfasts in the village, starting at $21.50 a night. Try the Glastonbury tourist board site, https://www.glastonburytic.co.uk.

In the center of town, in a 16th century coaching inn, is the Glastonbury Backpackers hostel, 4 Market Place, telephone 011-44-1458-833-353, fax 011-44-1458-835-988, Internet https://www.backpackers-online.com/glastonbury. Beds in dormitory rooms start at $14 per night.

A few doors away is the 15th century Tribunal House, which contains the local tourist information office. Upstairs there’s an exhibit on the excavation of Glastonbury Lake Village, an Iron Age settlement dating to 250 BC.

On 37 acres in the heart of the village are the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey. Constructed on the site of the first Christian church in England and once Britain’s richest and most splendid monastery, the abbey was devastated by fire in 1184 and then dismantled by Henry VIII.

There is a never-ending number of stories about Glastonbury. According to one legend, St. Joseph of Arimathea (a friend of Jesus) visited the site of Glastonbury Abbey. Another story says he took the chalice from the Last Supper here and buried it at what is now the site of the Chalice Well.

For some believers, this is the chalice that became known as the Holy Grail. Glastonbury also is believed by some to be the burial site of King Arthur and his queen, Guinevere.

The Chalice Well is partway up Glastonbury Tor, on which some believe energy meridians of the Earth meet. Also, some say the fields that are visible from the top of the tor contain the signs of the zodiac.

When it’s time to drop back into reality, you can drop by the Galactica Cafe, several doors from the hostel. Beside tarot card and teacup readers, there are Internet terminals you can rent by the minute.

Glastonbury is less than two hours by bus from the ancient, elegant city of Bath, known and named for its well-preserved remains of Roman baths.

The Bath Backpackers Hostel is a short walk from the rail station at 13 Pierrepont St., tel. 011-44-1225-446-787, https://www.backpackers-uk.demon.co.uk/hostel.html. It could use a paint job, but it is well located and offers daily tours to Stonehenge and Avebury for $21.50.

The 124-bed Hostelling International Bath Hostel, tel. 011-44-1225-465-674, fax 44-1225-482-947, https://www.yha.org.uk, is in an old mansion on Bathwick Hill at the edge of town (from which there is a bus to town). Beds are $16.

Unfortunately, students and youths do not get discount admission rates at the Roman Baths, but even at $11.50 per person, they shouldn’t be missed.

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Lucy Izon is a freelance writer and author of “Izon’s Backpacker Journal.” You can reach her on the Internet at https://www.izon.com.