I had pre-booked a train to Castle Cary several weeks in advance, but ended up not needing it. Decided on a lark to use it anyway - though I no longer had accommodation booked. So glad I did. Arriving at 7:19pm on a Monday bank holiday as a single woman, cold, windy, rain imminent, I called the listing for Lower Cockhill Farm self-catering cottages in a Castle Cary info brochure at the station office. Yes, Anthea (the lovely, cheerful host) could put me up in The Ancient Barn for 3 nights. The 15th century barn, now self-catering cottage, had heated flagstone floors, a great shower, a comfortable brass bed (there was another bedroom as well), a complete kitchen and flat screen TV.

And so began a marvelous stay down a country lane, about a mile from Castle Cary which was an absolute delight to explore. A small, lovely heritage village with a shop for everything you might need/want for a stay in the lovely Somerset countryside. And, I could walk along the lanes and... more