Candy Cottage

Candy Cottage is located in Thornford, a small, attractive village about 3 miles from Sherborne. It is a self-contained wing of the owners home which dates back to 1640. Close to open countryside there are many walks to discover and thankfully a couple of those can be to the local shop and pub.

The accommodation at Candy Cottage comprises of an open plan living area with the centrepiece being an inglenook fireplace containing a wood burning stove. There is a Freeview TV, DVD player and a library of books and games. The kitchen has electric oven and ceramic hob, microwave and fridge. There is a dining area with table and chairs for two. Up steep, twisting, cottage stairs to the double bedroom. There is also a luxury bathroom with free-standing roll-top bath, shower cubicle, basin and toilet.

There is roadside parking for 2 cars and the cottage accepts one well behaved pet. Your fuel, power, bed linen and towels are all included in the price.

Sherborne

Sherborne is a market town on the River Yeo on the edge of the Blackmore Vale and the Somerset border. Full of medieval buildings, Sherborne is a popular tourist attraction for a number of reasons.

Surrounding Villages

Some beautifil villages to explore around Sherborne include Milborne Port, Poyntington, Nether Compton, Bradford Abbas, Thornford, Longburton and Alweston.

Events

In the month of October, a unique festival, the Screen Bites Food Film Festival, runs across a number of venues and links food based films with local food with tastings and the ability to buy produce. Another event in October is the Pack Monday Fair that dates back to medieval times and covers four of Sherborne's streets with food stalls and traders while a funfair is held on the edge of the town. There are many events that happen throughout the year at Sherborne Castle (see below) so again check here for events closer to your time of travel. The Sherborne Literary Festival is in the middle of October and is run for 5 days and will appeal to all lovers of books with writing workshops, talks by famous authors and children's events.

Activities and Attractions

Sherborne Castle and Gardens was built in 1594 by Sir Walter Raleigh, a stunning castle in stunning surroundings. There are 42 acres of gardens and a 50 acre lake created in 1753 by Capability Brown, the celebrated garden designer of the time and gardens themselves are now Grade I listed. The castle itself has been open to the public since 1969 and houses collections of art and furniture as well as the castle itself which has been added to over the centuries in a sympathetic way such as the hexagonal turrets. The Castle holds a variety of events throughout the year including firework extravaganza, country fairs, classic car rallies and even wine fairs. The castle and gardens are open from April until October.

Sherborne Abbey, founded in AD 705, was developed from a Saxon cathedral and is today one of England's most beautiful parish churches. People come for many reasons, some the music, some the bells with the heaviest peal of eight bells in the world and others for the amazing architecture including the amazing fan vaulted ceiling. Others will lap up the history. There are two Saxon kings buried at the Abbey and there are rich histories all the way to the present day. Close to the Abbey is the small but perfectly formed Sherborne Museum full to the brim with local history. Sherborne also has another castle, this time lying mostly in ruin, but a fascinating history with great views over the surrounding countryside.

Eating Out

With over 40 places to eat out in Sherborne alone you will always find something that appeals or fits the budget. There is a large variety of foods available from traditional British, French, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Bangladeshi and Thai. Travel to the outlying villages and there are further good pubs and restaurants to explore as well as tea rooms and cafes.