Adult Only Touring Caravan Park & Camping
Self-catering Holiday Lodge Accommodation For hire
Sparkford Somerset
VISIT CASTLE CARY DURING YOUR STAY AT LONG HAZEL PARK, CARAVAN PARK & CAMPSITE
Our nearest town, Castle Cary, is just 4 miles away. Castle Cary is a traditional Somerset market town and one of the most important in the South West, with a direct train link to London. With a bus route from our caravan park and campsite in Sparkford to Castle Cary town, it's well worth a day trip to visit small independent shops, cafes and restaurants and take in the architecture and history.
Castle Cary is thought to have been occupied since the Middle Ages, appearing in documents under different names associated with the River Cary. The name "Castle" comes from the Celtic word "Caer", meaning rock or castle. The town's castle was besieged by King Stephen in 1138 during his struggle for the throne of England, with a second attack taking place in 1152. In 1890, an excavation of the site found evidence of a large stone tower and stones from the tower were used to build other buildings in the town.
Castle Cary is built around a 19th Century Market House, which houses the local market on Tuesday mornings. It is made of local yellow Cary stone and is a Grade II listed building. It is built in a Flemish style, replacing a former house of 1616 and likely uses the old columns. The Market House was built in anticipation of the opening of the original Castle Cary railway station.
The modern market features local Somerset vendors, with a heavy focus on local cheeses, ciders, baked goods and fruit and veg. It is ideal for picking up gifts from your stay in Somerset, but equally great for making a special meal back at your tourer or cooking on the BBQ.
Situated in the centre of Castle Cary is an historical temporary lockup, The Round House. Opened in 1779 and built for the cost of £23, the lockup was usually used for unruly drunks and children above the age of seven who were not at Sunday school. It is said that the last prisoner held in the lockup managed an escape through the drain.
This is thought to be one of only four remaining cylindrical lockups in the UK, with the roof shaped in a similar style to a policeman's hat. The lockup is just 10ft tall and 7ft in diameter. It is also licensed as a wedding venue.
Follow the signs for the community Moat Garden to the site of the old Castle Cary castle. You will find historical earthworks remaining, with views across to Glastonbury Tor; Wiltshire and the Somerset Levels.
The garden has a wheelchair accessible pathway and is a community project.
If you carry on up past the garden, you will find the castle remains and some great walks across country, including the Monarch's Way and the Macmillan Way.
The Newt country estate is situated at Hadspen, just outside of the town of Castle Cary. The original house was built in the 17th Century and remodelled in Georgian times and sits within over 300 acres of farmland, formal gardens and woodland. The gardens are the sponsors of the Chelsea Flower Show.
RHS membership holders can visit for free on Tuesdays, or annual memberships can be purchased when visiting which allows entrance to attractions including the Roman villa and museum, built next to an original Roman excavation site.
Castle Cary is also the closest train station to Glastonbury Festival and is on the main line between London Paddington and Penzance in Cornwall, as well as having local regular trains to Weymouth, Plymouth and Bristol.
A day out to Somerset's county town of Taunton or to Bath is also a great way to explore locally.
Our local bus from Sparkford runs to Castle Cary frequently throughout the day and takes just under 20 minutes. Bus passes are also accepted. Our nearest bus stop is just 100 yards from our entrance.
Castle Cary is home to an intersection of three famous walks:
The Monarch's Way is a 625 mile long route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester. It runs from Worcester to West Sussex via Castle Cary.
The Macmillan Way is 290 miles and links Boston, Lincolnshire to Abbotsbury in Dorset.
The Leland Trail is a 28 mile footpath in Somerset running from King Alfred's Tower to Ham Hill Country Park near Yeovil.
Visit one of the last horse hair textiles companies in the world. Situated in Castle Cary's town centre, John Boyd Textiles opened in 1870 and still use the original looms to weave their horsehair fabrics.
Castle Cary had been an established textile town as early as 1327 and was famous for the production of linen fabrics. The development of horsehair textiles led John Boyd Textiles to be one of the largest employers in Castle Cary, building many of the existing buildings.
The textile mill is still running and offers tours of the mill by appointment.
Castle Cary is home to a weekly local market every Tuesday from 8:30 - 13:00. You'll find stalls including plants, fresh flowers, locally made bread, cheese and cider, as well as lots of lovely bits to bring back and cook in your 'van.
Castle Cary's Vintage Market is held on the first Saturday of every month from March through to September. The market has a wide collection of vintage and retro textiles, books, china, rugs, pictures and toys.
Visit local distillery Somerset Spirit Co, who use local milk and Glastonbury spring water, together with locally grown botanical plants to produce vodka and gin. Take a group tour of their distillery and enjoy their bar.
Enjoy the Somerset Wine Company and their next door neighbours, Pinsents deli who host a secret wine bar and pizza on Thursday evenings.
Local pub The George are open all week for great food, but also hold a senior special on Tuesday, market day, offering classic dishes.
