Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>Cary, as the locals call it, is a pretty market town in South Somerset with historic buildings – 18th century Market House, 19th century lock up and thatched George Inn – and a fab collection of indies supplying all you desire. You need never leave (although if you do, the connections are good).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-castle-cary-burnt-honey-50167499_423583864012149_183086870110396990_n.jpg" alt="Castle cary burnt honey somerset" class="wp-image-100375" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-castle-cary-burnt-honey-50167499_423583864012149_183086870110396990_n.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-castle-cary-burnt-honey-50167499_423583864012149_183086870110396990_n-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-castle-cary-burnt-honey-50167499_423583864012149_183086870110396990_n-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-castle-cary-burnt-honey-50167499_423583864012149_183086870110396990_n-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-castle-cary-burnt-honey-50167499_423583864012149_183086870110396990_n-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-castle-cary-burnt-honey-50167499_423583864012149_183086870110396990_n-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-castle-cary-burnt-honey-50167499_423583864012149_183086870110396990_n-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hot honey halloumi flatbread at Burnt Honey</figcaption></figure>



<p>For a little taste of Australian café culture, head over to <a href="https://www.burnthoney.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Burnt Honey</a>, where Jessy cooks up brunches and lunches like avo and feta stack, acia bowls, Cocacabana salad and satay chicken burgers (The name? From one of their favourite sauces, a burnt honey caramel used at a café just north of Sydney). Middle Eastern-inspired takeaways from <a data-type="URL" data-id="https://levantcatering.com" href="https://levantcatering.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Levant</a> (as seen in <em>Escape to the Country</em>). Get your wine from the<a href="https://somersetwinecompany.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Somerset Wine Co</a> (watch our for their  pizza and wine nights too). Rumour has it that historic pub <a href="https://thegeorgehotelcastlecary.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The George</a>, in the centre of town, has been bought by uber-rich The Newt, so watch this space. The nearby <a aria-label="The Alhampton Inn (opens in a new tab)" href="https://alhamptoninn.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alhampton Inn</a> is a first-rate, proper local with good food including wood-fired pizzas from Café Luna. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<p>There are a good selection of cut above indie shops including the excellent <a href="https://baileyhillbookshop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bailey Hill Bookshop</a>, <a aria-label="Pinsent (opens in a new tab)" href="https://pinsentsdeli.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pinsents</a> deli (brilliant coffee, salads, Scotch eggs), a wine shop, ironmongers, butcher, lifestyle and homewares boutique <a href="https://www.articlesomerset.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Article </a>and the <a aria-label="David Simon Contemporary  (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.davidsimoncontemporary.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">David Simon Contemporary </a>art gallery. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/loulabelledoesvintage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LoulaBelle Does Vintage</a> in Pithers Yard.  Browse the stalls of the vintage market the first Saturday of the month from March to September, an excellent food market under the columns of Market House every Tuesday and head to the supermarkets in Shepton Mallet, or the Waitrose in Gillingham, any day of the week. Swanky farm shop <a href="https://teals.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Teals </a>(cafe/restaurant, foodmarket,homewares,) is in nearby South Cadbury.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING </h2>



<p>All sort of complementary health therapies and Pilates in Pithers Yard, yoga classes, GP and dentist in town. Get your walking shoes on: the Leland Trail, the Macmillan Way and Monarch&#8217;s Way are all close by. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>There&#8217;s a great community feel here, with lots of clubs and groups to get involved with (amdram, music, assorted sports, bellringing&#8230; twiddlywinks) and, as with many Somerset towns, the annual illuminated carnival is an autumn highlight. Somerscience is a new rural science and tech fest that take place every year across Castle Cary and Bruton. There&#8217;s a community library.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/12/newt-6a.jpg" alt="parabola garden at the newt" class="wp-image-38202" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/12/newt-6a.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/12/newt-6a-150x113.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/12/newt-6a-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/12/newt-6a-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/12/newt-6a-667x500.jpg 667w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Newt in Somerset</figcaption></figure>



<p><a href="https://thenewtinsomerset.com/">The Newt in Somerset</a> country house hotel and spa with gorgeous grounds including a reimagined Roman villa, open to the public (and 267 varieties of apples) is on the edge of town. All of <a aria-label="Bruton (opens in a new tab)" href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/somerset/bruton/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bruton</a>&#8216;s attractions including a Michelin restaurant and renowned art gallery are very handily right on your doorstep (but you&#8217;re not paying through the nose to live there). </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<p>Slope over to Bruton for a dollop of big name contemporary art at Hauser &amp; Wirth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-price">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE</h2>



<p>The town boasts some attractive period properties, some of which are clever contemporary conversions of former industrial buildings, as well modern and new builds. The average house over the past year was £369,833, with detached properties selling on average for £617,184, semis at £329,643 and terraced at £241,995. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-castle-cary-Corner-Cottage-Alhampton-1-1-1000x667.jpg" alt="House for sale in Castle Cary, Somerset" class="wp-image-94701" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-castle-cary-Corner-Cottage-Alhampton-1-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-castle-cary-Corner-Cottage-Alhampton-1-1-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-castle-cary-Corner-Cottage-Alhampton-1-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-castle-cary-Corner-Cottage-Alhampton-1-1-768x513.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/00-castle-cary-Corner-Cottage-Alhampton-1-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A <a href="https://www.lodestoneproperty.co.uk/property/charming-3-bedroom-cottage-with-ancilliary-accomodation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3-bed cottage</a> with a 1-bed &#8216;bothy&#8217; in Alhampton, a stone’s throw from Castle Cary. £665,000</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p>Toybox Nursery is Ofsted &#8216;Good&#8217;. Independent schools Millfield, Hazlegrove and All Hallows all have nurseries. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>There&#8217;s a state primary and Ansford Academy is &#8216;Good&#8217;.  For independents, head five minutes down the road to King’s Bruton, a co-ed for 13 to 18 year olds. Outstanding for its music (and much else), <a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/wells-cathedral-school-wells/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wells Cathedral School</a> is 13 miles away; Millfield Prep and Senior are a similar distance. <a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/muddy-best-schools-hazlegrove-prep/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hazlegrove Prep </a>is about 6 miles and All Hallows 10 miles. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>Castle Cary was a textile town as far back as the 14th century. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="John Boyd Textiles (opens in a new tab)" href="http://johnboydtextiles.co.uk/" target="_blank">John Boyd Textiles</a>, established in 1837, still weaves horse hair fabric (using hair from the tails of live horses) on original looms and is one of the last surviving horsehair weavers in the world.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>Hop on a train from the station on the edge of town to get to London Paddington from 1 hr 32 mins or leave from Bruton or Templecombe to get to Waterloo in around 2 hrs.</p>



<p>View the full <a class="" href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 260 Best Places to Live</a></p>


Best Places to Live: Castle Cary

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