To feel weird in Glastonbury

[Wellsbells]

I moved about a half hour’s drive from Glastonbury a few years ago but have only visited the town itself once. I hated it. It just felt uncomfortable and a bit sinister, and I couldn’t wait to leave. I’ve not felt that way anywhere else, I mean there are places I like more than others of course but this was just a really strong sense of “I want to get out of here”. Would be interested to know if anyone else has felt this way? Or about anywhere else?

We walked up the Tor. I felt a sea change in me. I’m open minded. But I also know it was just a change in blood pressure with the exertion and elevation reaching the top.

‘ The only Zen you can find on the tops of (the Tor) mountains is the Zen you bring up there with you’ Pirsig

I am fine with Glastonbury, Bath, Exeter, Taunton and Avebury but had a bit of a nightmare once with DH trying to get through Bruton and Castle Cary.

Google maps went very weird and we went round in a loop 3 times and sort of lost an hour. Always go wrong getting out of Bruton but never like that again. Luckily no DC with us and we laughed about it but I think I would have been pretty stressed if DC were there.

I found Glastonbury more disappointing than anything - the final scene of Merlin sums it up for when I've visited.
Walsingham - I really liked, has a mellow feeling for me.

Oxford (I lived there for 3 years), but the centre and North do feel "sleepy and soporific" to me.

Lewes also feels a bit threatening at times- but I don't know if that is partly because of the bonfire groups?

I think I've read a thread on here before about places that have made MNers feel uncomfortable, and G was definitely a place mentioned by a number of people. Have a search :)

It's the people that make it oppressive for me. I'm very crunchy but look normal and feel very judged when I'm there. Everyone performs their alternativeness so self-consciously. I find it dull and exhausting.

Yes, this is exactly it. It's the fake ness.

Most of the shops in Glastonbury are purely for tourists though? People like to buy tat when visiting, they don’t care if it was made in China, all they care about is that they bought it in Glastonbury? We don’t really go for the shops, there’s only a few we go into, dd collects crystals and I like the clothes shop and they usually give me a free gift or discount. We stay on the outskirts but not far from the tor and chalice well, we also visit surrounding areas as well as the nature reserve.

I agree with you op

@chaosisaladder

You’ve clearly never been to Methyr Tydfil

Now be fair there was a warning by Asda for while saying welcome to Merthyr, if you don't belong, don't be long

@LokiDoki75 There is actually a really old and quite well-known oak tree near St Peter's Church... I can well imagine the shop woman. Bit yokel. But most people are very nice!

I love Scarborough and always feel at peace there.

Dover on the other hand really creeps me out. Visited a few years ago and spent maybe three hours there before hightailing it back to Canterbury! I felt almost squashed, if that makes any sense. The A2 has always been a bit spooky to me too.

I’ve only been once. Loved the Abbey, but couldn’t wait to leave the town itself.

Penzance felt the same.

Matlock Bath is my ominous place. Spent a long weekend at a Landmark Trust property near there. Such a strange vibe to the town. Hope to never go back.

@Squiffany

I’ve only been once. Loved the Abbey, but couldn’t wait to leave the town itself.

Penzance felt the same.

The cafe opposite the Abbey does an awesome full English breakfast though.

I felt weird when we went to Portland for a weeks holiday about 6 years ago. No idea why but felt depressed the whole time there. Others have said the same. Its a shame as its beautiful in parts. Hope don't offend anyone x

Bodmin jail, I couldn't wait to leave, I felt panicky and sad while we were there. It got more and more oppressive until I almost felt desperate, I'd never go back there it was a horrible feeling.

Also Jaywick. Had a friend who lived there in one of the prefab type houses and I used to have visiting. The entire place is run down and filled with rubbish so it's no surprise it creeped me out!

21 Humber Ave
maps.app.goo.gl/vz8q5JbwR8zTYJPP8

I'm glad someone mentioned Bath because I really disliked it and thought it was just me! I never felt like that anywhere else, it just seemed bleak

Having grown up near Glastonbury and taken part in a LARP where every week everyone goes to a church hall and ends up in a different world full of wizards etc, I'd say that in Glastonbury the LARP is just happening the other way round - that is why you bump into so many obvious wizards with charity shop jumpers in over their robes having conversations about ley lines in the queue at Sainsbury's, they are not all very good at staying in character. :-) (Note this is not my actual literal opinion)

ihatefish, I came on to say Edinburgh, as
well. For me its a combination of the louring buildings, the cold and the fakeness, it brings on the boak. Leith and Gorgie are fabulous, as are areas out of the town centre, they feel real.

@WingingItSince1973

I felt weird when we went to Portland for a weeks holiday about 6 years ago. No idea why but felt depressed the whole time there. Others have said the same. Its a shame as its beautiful in parts. Hope don't offend anyone x

I go to Portland a lot, as a child I found it grey and boring but now I find it interesting, there are some great places to visit there but also some odd places like the old prison.

As a child I experienced heavy dread visiting Bury St Edmunds and was desperate to
Leave.

Lovemusic33 We stayed on the first part of the island which was quite grey but the other side with the lighthouse was better. Just felt odd. My daughter lives in Bath and we love it there. Absolutely beautiful buildings sort of remind me of some streets in Paris. I agree about Boscastle too. We went just after the flood but I think it was all the witch craft etc that made it feel odd x

BestZebbie, what's a LARP? A Long Acting Role Play?
I love the idea of wizards coming to Asda in a jumper, trying to blend like in and act like an accountant.

@QuestionableMouse Jaywick has had some bad press the last few years but it would depress me to visit there. Sad about that as its not the residents fault x

Boscastle feels like it’s in another country, we have been a few times and I does have a weird feeling too it, I always thought it was just the feeling of loss from the floods because we visited a couple years after it happened but it does just feel like a odd place tucked away at the bottom of a steep hill.