CASTLE CARY AND ANSFORD

Castle Cary is a pretty, honey coloured market town, with a very good range of quality independent retailers. It's about a mile from station to town, but there are usually Taxis at the station (or numbers to ring, if not). If you feel fit, the path to town starts at the kissing gate on the far side of the footbridge.

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 following are links to PDFs for planning your visit:

Detailed map including walking route from station

Introduction, very useful tips and contacts

Eating, shopping, taxis, staying

History, museum and countryside

Front and back page, annual events, location/getting there

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 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 restaurants.