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Near Godney on the Somerset Levels, just 3 miles north west of Glastonbury, close to the old course of the River Brue, stood an Iron Age Village - Glastonbury Lake Village. Perhaps just 7 groups of houses stood there housing 100 people. The village was built in about 300BC, and around 100 AD was occupied by the Romans, who abandoned it due to the rise in  the water levels.

On my recent visit to neighbouring Lower Godney, the rain water made lakes  on the fields surrounding the swollen waters of the River Sheppey, providing the setting for  the car park that belongs to THE WILLOWBRIDGE. A mixture of bed and breakfast accommodation a Visiting Britain four star, with its own version of the Neolithic ’Sweet Track’ - one of the oldest engineered roads known to man and the oldest timber track way in Northern Europe. ‘The Green Mile’ at WILLOWBRIDGE being just 307 metres long, packed with hardcore, gravel and topped with wood chippings. I was encouraged to jog around it in the company of a black German ‘micro’ pig called Daisy, housed in the WillowBridge Animal Sanctuary. I wandered if the 39^th century Neolithic man entertained tourism travel along the network of paths that once crossed the Somerset levels.

WILLOWBRIDGE may not have Hilton esq proportions - just 5 luxury rooms with French windows opening out onto the banks of the River Sheppey. Lower Godney is hardly the Mecca for tourism but nearby Glastonbury certainly is.

What do you see in Glastonbury today ? Glastonbury Tor, Chalice Gardens, the Tribunal (mediaeval building now housing the Tourism Office ), Glastonbury Abbey ( once the richest in the land ). The world famous Festival attracts thousands, a large proportion camping in the fields of Pilton where the event is staged. Towering over Glastonbury - 518 feet to be precise - the 14^th century church Tower of St Michael - one building of a once cluster of monastery buildings founded in 9^th century AD. For around 5,000 years the Somerset levels were under sea water and Glastonbury was a rocky island that would have been cut off from the mainland by high tides. There is  a story that ships from the Mediterranean area came to ports such as Axbridge and Cheddar in 800BC for lead and silver. Today large areas of the levels are only a few feet above sea level. One of the Glastonbury traditions is that to renew and fulfil its spiritual purpose it must once more become an island.

On visiting this future island,  the tourism traveller would find accommodation around the Tor aplenty. I give you a small selection. At the bottom of the High Street rests a 15^th century purpose built Inn called the GEORGE AND PILGRIM, in which apparently, King Henry VIII stayed during the Dissolution. It has four poster bedrooms, and is situated well for business meetings for 50 people and functions for up to 90 guests. The Chalice suite is licensed for Civil Ceremonies. The bar is a popular place for locals and visitors alike.

NUMBER  3 HOTEL is a small hotel in Magdelene street. A small Bed and Breakfast, unique in that the peaceful Georgian Town House  was built within the original boundaries of Glastonbury Abbey. A beautiful walled terrace garden gives  views of the Abbey ruins.

HILLSIDE Bed and Breakfast , as the name suggests is located on the side of Glastonbury Tor. It is a Victorian building and offers accommodation at the main house, the Hillside annex, or the Hillside flat. There are views over the Somerset levels. There is the availability of self catering as well as being a venue for meetings. Easy walking to The Abbey and the Chalice Gardens are bonus points too.

The HAWTHORN HOTEL is located in Northload street, two minutes walk from the Abbey. It has several times winner of the Sharwoods Curry Pub of the Year Award.

CHESTNUTS  is situated in Bove Town, and has stunning views over the Vale of Avalon. It is an Architect designed house, and stands on a positive Ley Line. It has its own in house Complementary Therapist making a whole range of holistic therapists available to the traveller.

At the bottom of the island near the water front would be found a TRAVELODGE - I guess you know what you get and the price is very competitive. But that would not bother those who visit for the beauty, spiritualism and legend that is Glastonbury.