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 – 19th century Market House, 18th 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). Is it any wonder it was voted the Best Place to Live across the Muddy counties in 2024. Want to see what all the fuss is about? Read on.</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">Burnt Honey</figcaption></figure>



<p>New kid on the block: Edwardian cheese-making factory turned beautifully restored restaurant and working creamery at the railway station. <a href="https://thenewtinsomerset.com/TheCreamery" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Creamery</a>‘s interiors celebrate railway’s Golden Age and the food is pure Somerset, with sausages, burgers and steak from <a href="https://thenewtinsomerset.com/">The Newt in Somerset</a>&#8216;s butchery, soft cheeses from their water buffalo and hand-crafted cyders. </p>



<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>). </p>



<p>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 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>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="818" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/09/407350382_18408956452053699_1517772056481054191_n.jpg" alt="Article homeware store in Castle Cary Somerset" class="wp-image-101235" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/09/407350382_18408956452053699_1517772056481054191_n.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/09/407350382_18408956452053699_1517772056481054191_n-800x639.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/09/407350382_18408956452053699_1517772056481054191_n-1000x799.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/09/407350382_18408956452053699_1517772056481054191_n-400x320.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/09/407350382_18408956452053699_1517772056481054191_n-768x614.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Article</figcaption></figure>



<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>(café, restaurant, food market, 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-prices">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES</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. Average house prices come in at £369,833, with detached homes sgoing 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/8/2024/10/00-castle-cary-Brookhampton-Farm-North-Cadbury-35-1000x667.jpg" alt="castle cary somerset" class="wp-image-101974" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/10/00-castle-cary-Brookhampton-Farm-North-Cadbury-35-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/10/00-castle-cary-Brookhampton-Farm-North-Cadbury-35-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/10/00-castle-cary-Brookhampton-Farm-North-Cadbury-35-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/10/00-castle-cary-Brookhampton-Farm-North-Cadbury-35-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/10/00-castle-cary-Brookhampton-Farm-North-Cadbury-35.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A 4-bed attached family house just South of Castle Cary, <a href="https://www.lodestoneproperty.co.uk/property/picturesque-family-home-in-a-popular-village/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">£975,000. </a></figcaption></figure>



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



<p>Toybox Nursery is Ofsted Good. 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 Good. For independents, head five minutes down the road to King’s Bruton, a co-ed for ages 13 – 18 years. 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>, Catholic all-rounder <a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/downside-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Downside School</a>, Millfield Prep and Senior are all around 13 miles away, All Hallows is 10 miles, and <a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/muddy-best-schools-hazlegrove-prep/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hazlegrove Prep </a>about 6 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><em>View the full <a class="" href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 300 Best Places to Live</a></em>.</p>


Castle Cary

See more in Somerset & Bristol