CASTLE CARY AND ANSFORD

Castle Cary is built of 'Ham' stone from nearby quarries, which gives the town's buildings their lovely golden colour. Cloth has been produced commercially in Castle Cary since at least the fourteenth century and the work continues today with John Boyd Textiles, the only horse hair weaving factory in the UK.

The beautiful Market House dominates the centre of town, housing the Museum, two old prison cells and the Information Centre. The town has a good range of specialist shops, high quality grocers, a thriving art gallery, delicatessens, cafes and pubs.

The local community from Castle Cary and Ansford have created their very own "Insider's Guide" with everything you might need to plan a day out or even a short break, including a detailed map showing the delightful walking route from the station, great tips for eating, shopping, exploring and staying and some fascinating historical background to this lovely area.



The guide, and walking routes including the one from the station, can be downloaded at www.castle-cary.co.uk. www.visitsouthsomerset.com also has some good practical tips for visiting the area.

Maps for the route are also available at the station, and the path to town starts at the kissing gate on the far side of the footbridge.

A great deal of work went into not only mapping this route, but clearing and improving sections of it and creating a new scheme of signposts and way-marks. The project was carried out by a group of volunteers from the local community, and was recognised in 2008 in the category of Local Station Environment improvements by the national Association of Community Rail Partnerships.