HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Local knowledge: Somerset 1 As old as the hills Since Neolithic times, people have been making good use of Somerset's wonderful natural resources. It's still possible to see at first hand how the county's earliest residents survived and adapted over the millennia, and how they have reacted to climatic and historical events through the ages. 1 The oldest skeleton in Britain More than 40,000 years ago, caves gave Somerset's earliest ancestors the shelter and warmth they needed to survive. These cathedral-like caves and Britain's largest gorge are million-year-old Ice Age river beds, and their prehistoric residents have left behind an invaluable insight into this early period. Clues such as flint, fur, fat, gut, meat, fish, fruit, grain, leaves, branches and mud, left behind by our ancestors, give us some idea how they hunted, what they ate and what they wore. Along with more than 7000 flint items, Gough's Cave is the site of the oldest complete human skeleton yet discovered in Britain. Cheddar Man is 9000 years old and DNA tests in 1997 established that he has at least one direct descendant in Cheddar. A guided tour will introduce you to the life and times of Cheddar Man. The Caves and Gorge Explorer Ticket (£8.90 adult, £5.90 child) gives access to all of the major attractions in the gorge. 2 Deep in to the Stone Age Another impressive and important attraction is Wookey Hole, a series of caves which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, just a few miles from Cheddar. Stone Age people sheltered here and fed themselves by herding animals over the cliff for food. Animals such as the woolly rhinoceros, red deer and mammoth were all part of their diet. Later, the Celtic tribes who moved into the area farmed the fertile valley floor and sheltered in the caves; the Romans then mined the hillside for lead, and built a villa overlooking the valley. There is also a guided tour available, deep into the caves. 3 Wattle and daub This centre provides a fascinating reconstruction of prehistoric Somerset. The wattle-and-daub thatched huts give an insight into the lives of the county's early inhabitants. There are living-history days and craft demonstrations such as coracle building. History here is definitely alive and kicking. 4 English Gothic The cathedral is a magnificent example of early English Gothic architecture and its collection of outstanding medieval sculptures of kings, saints, angels and biblical characters is believed to be the largest of its kind in the world. In 909AD the minster church of St Andrew became the first Wells Cathedral. It was named after the three springs in the grounds of the Bishop's Palace. The current building was begun in about 1180 in a site north of the old, and dedicated in 1239, although work continued until 1508. Its West Front is 147ft wide and its central tower is 182ft. There are three services each weekday, and four on Sundays. 5 A place of legends Glastonbury was once an island called the Isle of Avalon. It is a natural phenomenon which rises 500ft and can be seen from many miles away, from whichever direction you approach it. When the sea lapped at its base 2000 years ago, the island must have seemed very mysterious; to many, it still retains a spiritual attraction. Avalon derived its name from the Celtic demi-god Avalloc, who ruled the underworld. It is also linked with Arthur, the legendary king of England. He is believed to have been buried at Glastonbury Abbey (see No. 6). Later, the tor acquired a Christian focus and formed part of the medieval pilgrimage route. You can walk up to the top of the tor to take in its atmosphere and spectacular views, and visit the 14th-century Chapel of St Michael there. 6 Glastonbury Abbey Spend an afternoon wandering around the ruins of the medieval monastery, where it is said that Joseph of Arimathea settled with 11 followers in 63AD. It is even said that he buried the Holy Grail near the tor on Chalice Hill. King Arthur was also supposedly buried at the abbey, A church was founded here in about 600AD. The Saxons built a permanent place of worship 120 years later, but it burned down in 1184. It was rebuilt, and survived until Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in 1539. 7 Mud horse catches fish Glastonbury has a superb, free-entry museum which records the more recent history of the county. In the 14th-century Abbey Barn and farm buildings surrounding the courtyard there are displays of tools and farming techniques in Victorian Somerset. Willow growing, peat digging and cider making are among the rural activities which are demonstrated at the museum. Mud horse fishing is another of the more unusual activities on show. Fishermen used a 'mud horse', a sled with a curved bottom, to avoid sinking into the mud off the Bristol Channel, so that they could reach their nets safely. 8 Mosaics and militaria The county museum in Taunton has sections on archaeology, geology, industrial and natural history, and also houses the Somerset Military Museum. There is a collection of items from prehistoric and Roman sites, including the Shapwick hoard of 9238 coins, the largest collection of Roman silver denarii found in Britain. You can also see the Roman mosaic from Low Ham. Children who love dinosaurs will be fascinated by the ichthyosaur or sea serpent. HOME PAGE | TOP OF PAGE GREAT ESCAPES   Old as the hills  Natural pleasures  Food, glorious food ARCHIVE   Previous trails FACTFILE: PLANNING Tourist information Cheddar Tel 01934 744071 Wells Tel 01749 672552 Glastonbury Tel 01458 832934 Taunton Tel 01823 336344 Refreshments Wookey Hole Restaurant Wookey Hole Caves, Wookey Hole, Wells BA5 1BB Tel 01749 672243 Attractions Cheddar Caves and Gorge Cheddar BS27 3QF Tel 01934 742343 Wookey Hole Caves Wookey Hole, Wells BA5 1BB Tel 01749 672243 Wells Cathedral Chain Gate, Cathedral Green, Wells BA5 2UE Tel 01749 674483 Glastonbury Tor near Glastonbury Tel 01934 844518 (N Somerset Property Office) Glastonbury Abbey The Abbey Gatehouse, Magdalene Street, Glastonbury BA6 9EL Tel 01458 832267 Rural Life Museum Abbey Farm, Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury BA6 8DB Tel 01458 831197 Peat Moors Centre Shapwick Road, Westhay, Nr Glastonbury BA6 9TT Tel 01458 860697 Somerset County Museum Castle Green, Taunton TA1 4AA Tel 01823 320201 HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Contact Practical Motorhome Best viewed in screen resolution 800 x 600 using I.E.4 or Netscape 4 or later.