14/02/15 - Free Hugs and other Spiritual Encounters

Distance - 6.5 Miles
Walk Inspiration - Jarrold 21, Walk 14
Geocaches - 4

We pull into the carpark of our haunted hotel and Sonia checks in our location on Facebook.  Within moments, someone has replied to the status condemning the town as being "Chock full of Ar**holes".

A walk that takes in the sights and an evening investigating the pubs, should allow us to determine if our online tripadvisor is in anyway correct.

We start in the shadow of St John the Baptist's Tower, which we can also see from our room.  Not being a watch wearer, I enjoyed its chimes in the morning, telling me its another 90 minutes until breakfast.  With reminders every 15 minutes, in case I nodded back off and missed it.

Bong.  15 minutes break.  Bong.

We get our first glimpse of the town and the front of the George and Pilgrims where we are staying.  Its been a tough one knowing whether to book here or not.  The reviews have been mixed to say the least, but in the end, the prospect of the oldest pub in the South West, where Henry VIII climbed the same spiral staircase to his digs, beat the Premier Inn hands down.

And did I say it's Haunted?  They have ghost hunting nights and even have a  photo of one in reception.  All Premier Inn have is shower gel dispensers and a Lenny Henry guarantee.

Fit for a King

We get our first view of the population.  There's an awful lot of hat wearers.  Hoodies hanging around on street corners in Baseball Caps.  A Karl McCoy lookalike in a black cowboy hat.  A more spiritually inclined older lady in a purple felt Top Hat, adorned with birds feathers.  We are seriously underdressed in our Goretex.

We get out into the countryside via Magdalene Street and spy a couple of boozers that we may or may not be brave enough to frequent on the night.  Through some minor industrial estates and out into the Somerset Plains.

There's plenty of evidence of man controlling the water here.  The Sat Nav informs us that we are a lofty 10ft above Sea Level.  One big wave and this place is gone.

Drainage Ditch - The Tor Behind

The walking is not too inspired at this stage.  We pick up the straight as an arrow River Brue and follow it eastwards to our first tourist stop - Wearyall Hill.

Is it a River or a Canal?

Wearyall Hill Conquered - a Breather before the Tor

I chose this walk as it took in Wearyall Hill.  Its here where we have the Glastonbury Thorn - a tree that magically grew when Joseph of Arimathea struck his staff on the ground when arriving by boat, carrying with him the Holy Grail.  The Puritans kicked down the original in the 17th Century.  Someone else had a go at the latest incarnation in 2010.

The Glastonbury Stump

A slippery descent from the hill, where I keep spirits up by completing a comedy tumble.  We think about stopping for refreshments at the Rifleman's Arms but the windows are that dirty, its impossible to see inside to see if it's still trading.

A quick stop off at the Chalice Well, where we are hit with the first of many smells of Jazz cigarettes. There's a musician (unsure of his jazz pedigree, the guitar is still cased up), hanging around have a toke.  We leave him to his puff, and lose ours on the climb to the Tor.

Its a bit of a lung buster, but we are allowed a breather when we meet some acquaintances who are on the descent.  As with any hill climb, the views make it all worthwhile.

Up Close

The Mendip Plains

View from the Porch

I convince Sonia that the route is down the otherside, where it looks like you are falling off the end of the world.  We negotiate it without either of us taking another tumble.  A few lanes and fields and the target is back in view.

Easy Navigation

We hit the town from the east and get to take in all its glory.  A collection of Buddhist Treatments, Tarot Readings and fine chocolatiers.

Buddhist Retreat - Somerset Branch

Temple of Love

Its not a normal high street - decidedly bereft of a Greggs.  And you have to a soft spot for a town that offers services such as these.

Even sweaty conquerors of 2 hills can have one.

With my fill of embraces, we head off to find a pub that has the Albion on.  The Duke William is perfect.  And we are already 2-0 up.

Turning into a great day.

After a delicious sandwich, where i discover a previously unknown love for Onion Mustard, we win 4-0.

Back to the hotel for a rest before hitting the nights spots.  But will we encounter any ghostly experiences?