Hello tail-followers! Pawlock here (the wise and worldly one) with my sidekick Fetchson (the one currently still covered in Somerset mud) reporting from our longest drive yet - all the way to Glastonbury, for the spectacular Glastonbury Carnival! 🎡🎭🐾

The Journey – Sniffing Out Dog Friendly Stops En Route 🚗🐕

We set off along the A36 and A303, the kind of roads where every second sign seems to point to somewhere a dog could have a great day out.

Places we spotted (and drooled over) on the way:

• The Three Horseshoes, Warminster – dog friendly pub with garden 🍺
• Stourhead National Trust, Wiltshire – stunning gardens and dog friendly walks 🌳
• Hauser & Wirth, Bruton – art gallery with outdoor spaces and dog friendly courtyard café 🎨☕
• The Bath Arms, Horningsham – cosy, dog friendly country pub 🏡
• The Camelot Inn, South Cadbury – near the legendary hill where King Arthur’s Camelot is said to have stood 🏰🐶

Each one made our tails twitch, but we had carnival business to attend to!

Arrival – Mud, Crowds and Cake 🍰🎪

By the time we reached Glastonbury, it was buzzing! Crowds everywhere, streets lined with lights, music and the smell of food. The car park, however, was less glamorous - let’s just say Fetchson nearly lost a paw boot in the mud.

Our first stop: The Blue Note Café, a dog friendly haven just off the High Street, where humans refuelled with tea and cake while we practiced our best “we’ve had a long drive” faces. Highly recommended - good coffee, big smiles and water bowls for weary travellers.

A Feast, a Float and a Few Barks 🎆🐾

Once suitably refreshed, we trotted off on a tour of Glastonbury’s dog friendly mystical shops, where humans browsed gemstones, incense, spell jars and witchy potions while we carried out our own highly scientific sniff investigations. Some scents whispered of ancient forests and Avalon apples, others were… far more questionable, especially in the shop that (so local legend claims) once belonged to a Victorian taxidermist, which might explain the unforgettable combination of aromas. Here, shopping isn’t just shopping - it’s following a calling, whether for a crystal, a candle, a cauldron or (in our case) a packet of chicken treats infused with “inner peace.” Fetchson is convinced he helped make a spell; I’m just hoping it wasn’t one that turns spaniels into toads. 🐸🔮🐾

Spellbound and slightly scented, we decided it was time for dinner (about time) at the George & Pilgrims Hotel, said to be the oldest pub in Somerset, dating back to the 15th century. The inn once hosted pilgrims travelling to Glastonbury Abbey, and some believe its carved stone doorway hides secret symbols linked to the Knights Templar. We didn’t sniff out any knights (not even one in shiny armour), but we did detect roast dinner, old wood and the faint possibility of someone dropping a chip. Its timbered walls have seen monks, kings and now - two muddy dogs who may or may not be lightly enchanted and definitely ready for a lie-down.

Apparently, the inn once hosted pilgrims travelling to Glastonbury Abbey, and some believe its carved stone doorway hides symbols connected to the Knights Templar.

We tucked ourselves in by the fire (wet paws optional, but inevitable) while humans enjoyed a hearty dinner and local cider. Afterwards, we braved the crowds again for the main event - the Glastonbury Carnival Procession!

The Glastonbury Carnival – A Somerset Tradition 🎭🔥

The Glastonbury Carnival isn’t just a local fair - it’s one of the largest illuminated processions in Europe, part of the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival Circuit, which dates back over 400 years!

These carnivals started as torchlight parades celebrating the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605, but they’ve evolved into massive, glittering processions of light, sound and creativity.

The floats - called carts - are works of art, built by local clubs and powered by tractors. Some are over 100 feet long and packed with dancers, lights and booming music. Fetchson found them very exciting, though he did wish the “Techno Vikings” float would turn the volume down a notch.

“Lucky I’ve got big floppy ears,” he said!

History & Legends of Glastonbury 🏰✨

Of course, no trip to Glastonbury is complete without a bit of mystical lore. The town is steeped in legend - said to be the resting place of King Arthur and Guinevere, and home to the magical Isle of Avalon.

Glastonbury Tor, the hill that rises above the town, has long been a site of myth and mystery, topped by St. Michael’s Tower. Some say it’s the gateway to another world; others say it’s where fairies live (Fetchson tried to sniff one out - no luck).

Fun fact: The waters from the Chalice Well nearby are said to have healing properties. We didn’t drink any, but Fetchson insists his paws feel better already.

A Quick Warm-Up at The Beckets Inn 🍺🔥

After the carnival, we popped into The Beckets Inn, another dog friendly Glastonbury pub, for a quick warm-up by the fire. Friendly locals, muddy footprints and plenty of tail wags.

Next Time’s Pawsome Plans 🐾

Next time, we’ll skip the long drive home and stay for a couple of nights at the Isle of Avalon Touring Park, a dog friendly campsite just outside town. It’ll give us time to:

• Visit the Hundred Monkeys Café (dog friendly, veggie-friendly, cake-heavy).
• Stop by the King Arthur’s Arms, a cosy dog friendly pub for a post-walk pint.
• Explore Glastonbury Tor at sunrise for those magical misty views (and maybe meet an Arthurian squirrel).

Useful Info 🐶💡

• Parking: Limited during carnival weekend - arrive early and wear boots!
• Noise: Carnival floats can be loud - consider a quieter viewing spot for sensitive ears.
• Dog Friendly: Many cafés and pubs welcome dogs, especially off the main drag.
• Stay Longer: Somerset has plenty of dog friendly places to stay, including campsites, inns and cottages nearby.

Final Paw-Prints of Approval 🐾

Glastonbury  is magical, muddy and full of mischief - everything we love in a day out. The carnival is a sight to behold, the locals are friendly and the tea and cake were top-tier.

Two glowing tails of approval - and next time, we’re staying for the weekend!

Pawlock & Fetchson – sniffing out the UK, one pawprint at a time. 🐶🐶