04/01/2021
Motorhome holiday ideas for Somerset 2021
As the nights get lighter, many motorhome users are thinking about their next holiday. In this post, we’ll learn more about traveling by motorhome in Somerset to destinations they may not have thought about before.
Why Mendip in Somerset?
Somerset is an interesting county with ancient gorges and hills, historic towns and events that attract visitors from all over the world. Mendip is an area that covers the towns of Glastonbury, Street and Wells offering tourists so much to see and do.
Facilities in the area are excellent and many also cater motorhomes. West Country Motorhomes based in Somerset and Wiltshire is an ideal company for anyone looking to buy or rent a motorhome for holiday in Somerset. They’re easy to locate, have a good range of options to suit all travelers, and can offer advice for any novice motorhome users.
A great place to stay!
Situated in foothills of Glastonbury Tor is The Old Oaks, a camping and glamping site. Popular with visitors this site has been operating for around thirty years and brings a multitude of visitors to the area. It’s close to the town of Glastonbury and around forty-five minutes drive from the M5.
The Old Oaks has around eighty-eight touring pitches set over fifteen acres, in three different categories. Whether you choose a Standard, Super or Premier pitch they all offer privacy and grass areas. Pitches throughout the site also provide Electric, water and waste hookup, . There are plenty of amenities at The Old Oaks including a shop and off-license with food, drink and gift items. There are two shower blocks with toilets, two laundries, and two dishwashing areas. The site also provides baked goods and breakfast boxes if required and there’s a Tourist Information area complete with a book exchange, sofas, and a pool table. You can even hire a fire pit and dogs are also welcome.
The site is in a tranquil location and has its own coarse fishing lake, access to local countryside walks and of course the impressive view of Glastonbury Tor. The Old Oaks is also a good location for the local Bath and West Showground which hosts many events such as local agricultural shows.
Glastonbury
The Old Oaks sits right next to one of the most fascinating ancient monuments Glastonbury Tor, and it’s free to access. The view of the surrounding area from the top are stunning, and the tower of St Michael at the top tells visitors all about the earthquake that struck the area hundreds of years ago. Close by are Gog and Magog two old oak trees that feature in well-known Glastonbury folklore.
Glastonbury high street, filled with an eclectic mix of shops and cafes, is within walking distance. The ruins of Glastonbury Abbey and the Abbots Kitchen are a must visit, this once great building was razed to the ground by Henry VIII, and the site is impressive and shows what it would have been like in its glory days. Another interesting place to visit is Chalice Well, an ancient site that has received visitors for thousands of years, and has stunning views of the Tor. For anyone interested in learning more about life in Somerset, there is also the Somerset Rural Life Museum.
The surrounding areas
The local City of Wells is only a twenty-minute bus ride away. Wells is famous for its large Cathedral, it has an interesting clock with what is thought to be the second oldest working mechanism in the world, and if you’re lucky you may even meet the famous cathedral cat who wanders the building. Next to the Cathedral is Vicars Close a street originally created for the Cathedrals choir, and now thought to be the only complete medieval street remaining in the UK. Close to the Cathedral is the Bishops Palace, the eight-hundred-year-old home and gardens of the Bishop of Baths and Wells. The Palace is surrounded by a moat complete with swans. Wells also has a long shopping street, and a market is held every week on Wednesdays and Saturdays, selling popular local produce and other goods. The City also has an excellent museum where you can learn more about the historical and archaeological finds of the city and its surrounding areas. Wells is also now a very popular film and TV destination, and there are even tours available of some locations used.
The Old Oaks is also a short bus ride away from Cheddar Gorge and caves and Wookey Hole Caves. Cheddar Gorge is the UK’s largest gorge and various caves have produced artifacts from pre-history to Roman times. The small town of Street, home to the Clarks family, is also accessible by bus from The Old Oaks and Clarks Village has lots of great shops to explore, most notably the Clarks shoe factory outlet.
Mendip is an area steeped in folklore and history whilst surrounded by beautiful countryside. It’s a great place for South-West motorhome visitors to stay and explore this interesting part of Somerset.
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