Enjoying Your Stay at Castle Hall

Extraordinary holidays, celebrations &adventures

Enjoying your stay at Castle Hall

Everything you need to get the most out ofyourstay

Arrival ...... 3 Where We Are 3 Check in and check out 3 Getting to us 4 Directions to Castle Hall 4 Cooking & dining - chef services 5 Cooking & dining - great places to eat & drink ...... 6 Cooking & dining - shopping for food ...... 7 Things to do - activities and pampering ...... 8 Top things to do with children 10 Top places to visit & shop nearby ...... 11 Useful information ...... 12 Floor Plans ...... 14 Guest reviews ...... 15

Page 2 kate & tom’s kateandtoms.com Telephone: 01242 235151 | Email: [email protected] Arrival

Where We Are

Property Name: Castle Hall Address: Sparkford, Near Yeovil County: Somerset Postcode: BA22 7LD

Check in and check out

Check in time: 5pm Contact name for check in: Tony Contact number for check in: 07971 234 333

Check out time for 2 night weekend bookings: 10am Check out time for 3 night weekend bookings: 10am Check out time for 7 night week bookings: 10am

Page 3 kate & tom’s kateandtoms.com Telephone: 01242 235151 | Email: [email protected] Getting to us

The best postcode to use with Satnav is: BA22 7LD

Nearest Train stations and distance: Castle Cary, BA7 7PE (a 13 minute drive)

Taxis are available: Number Seven Taxis. Tel: 01963 351015. Craig’s Taxis. Tel: 07563 612473. Cary Cabs. Tel: 01963 351168. 1 Cares Cars. Tel: 07749 740118.

The nearest airport is: Bristol International Airport, BS48 3DY. (Approximately a one hour drive)

Directions to Castle Hall

Arriving by Car

Travelling from London Follow the A303 through Wincanton, then at the next roundabout take the 2nd exit and follow the road through Sparkford. When the road splits towards the end of the village high street, bear left, following signs for South Barrow and Lovington. The road should cross under the A303, then you should take the next left and follow the drive up to Castle Hall.

Follow the drive all the way to the front of the house and carry on to the bungalow and park up in the car park.

Travelling from Exeter Follow the A30 out of Exeter, continuing on as it becomes the A303. You should pass the Podimore roundabout and service station. 4 miles after Podimore, at the next roundabout, take the 3rd exit, following signs for Sparkford. When the road splits towards the end of the village high street, bear left, following signs for South Barrow and Lovington. The road should cross under the A303, then you should take the next left and follow the drive up to Castle Hall.

Follow the drive all the way to the front of the house and carry on to the bungalow and park up in the car park.

Page 4 kate & tom’s kateandtoms.com Telephone: 01242 235151 | Email: [email protected] Cooking & dining - chef services

You’ll find our top recommendations below. If you do discover any other gems please do let us know and we will share them with other guests visiting the property.

Catering and Drop-off meal service

Parsnip Mash Ltd. Tel: 01275 795812 / 07976 431705 or email: [email protected]. www.parsnipmash.co.uk

Jump Event Catering. Tel: 01672 810305 / 07989 884310 or email: [email protected]. www.jumpevents.co.uk

Levant Catering. Tel: 01963 350248 / 07779 093020 or email: [email protected]. www.levantcatering.com

Page 5 kate & tom’s kateandtoms.com Telephone: 01242 235151 | Email: [email protected] Cooking & dining - great places to eat &drink

There are many excellent dining places nearby and we have listed a small sample below. The best food locally is found in the excellent dining pubs but if you want to travel a little further there are some award-winning restaurants to choose from.

Pubs The Catash Inn, Cary Road, North Cadbury, North Cadbury, BA22 7DH. Tel: 01963 441531. Visitors to this warm and welcoming village local recommend the wonderful food and the pub skittle alley. www.marstonspubs.co.uk/thecatashinn

The Mildmay Arms, High St, Queen Camel, BA22 7BJ. Tel: 01935 850456. A gem of a village pub, with friendly service and tasty, traditional food. www.mildmayarms.co.uk

The Kings Arms, Charlton Horethorne, Sherbourne, Dorset, DT9 4NL. Tel: 01963 220281. Tony and Sarah have art on the walls and a croquet lawn, as well as great local beers, exotic menus and most ingredients are locally sourced. Charcoal oven cooked meals a speciality! www.thekingsarms.co.uk

The Queens Arms, Corton Denham, Somerset DT9 4LR. Tel: 01963 220317. Renowned for their homemade pork pies and cured ham, ‘dippy egg and local asparagus’, and scrumptious puds. www.thequeensarms.com

The Stapleton Arms, Church Hill, Buckhorn Weston, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 5HS. Tel: 01963 370396. Comfortably informal and always has new surprises on the menu to tempt the palate. www.thestapletonarms.com

Restaurants Always advisable to book in advance!

At The Chapel, High Street, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0AE. Tel: 01749 814070. Not to be missed, but you have to book. An old Methodist chapel with mediaeval origins has been successfully converted into a sophisticated restaurant with views of Bruton’s ancient dovecote. The day starts with breakfast from 9am onwards, moving seamlessly into lunch at noon, leaving plenty of time to return for a memorable evening meal. www.atthechapel.co.uk

The Old Inn Restaurant, Holton Nr. Wincanton, BA9 8AR. Tel: 01749 814070. A delicious range of fish and steak dishes, and the worlds most efficient wood burner in the bar! www.theoldinnholton.co.uk

Page 6 kate & tom’s kateandtoms.com Telephone: 01242 235151 | Email: [email protected] Cooking & dining - shopping forfood

Best Local Supermarkets Morrisons, Lysander Road, Yeovil, BA20 2AU. Tel: 01935 412119.

Waitrose, Chantry Fields, Gillingham, SP8 4UA. Tel: 01747 826200.

Sainsbury’s, Ludborne Road, Sherborne, DT9 3ND. Tel: 01935 816486.

Local Produce There are plenty of village shops and farmers’ markets in the area selling excellent local produce.

North Cadbury Village Stores, 6 Woolston Road, North Cadbury, Yeovil, BA22 7DW. Tel: 01963 440201 or email: [email protected]. Fantastic for Somerset cheese.

Red Barn Farm Shop, Hinton Farm, Hinton, Mudford, Yeovil, BA22 8BA. Tel: 01935 850994. www.redbarnfarmshop.moonfruit.co.uk

Bramble & Sage Farm Shop & Deli, Home Farm, Sutton Montis, BA22 7HF.

Wincanton Farmers’ Market, 12 Market Place, Wincanton, BA9 9LP. Held in The Bear Inn, situated on the main high street on the first Friday of every month. www.somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk/markets/wincanton

Wells Farmers’ Market, Wells Town Hall, Wells, BA5 2RB. Held every Wednesday, 9.00am to 2.30pm. www.somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk/markets/wells

Sherborne Farmers’ Market, found at the bottom of Cheap Street, Sherborne, DT9 3BJ. Held every third Friday of the month from 9am to 1pm. www.dorsetfarmersmarkets.co.uk

Major supermarket online orders

Waitrose - www.waitrose.com

Sainsbury’s - www.sainsburys.co.uk

Tesco – www.tesco.com

Page 7 kate & tom’s kateandtoms.com Telephone: 01242 235151 | Email: [email protected] Things to do - activities and pampering

We strongly advise that all extras and activities are booked as early as possible after booking to avoid disappointment. Our top recommendations for activities and pampering are below.

Activity Centres Xtreme Offroad, The Showground, Shepton Mallet, BA4 6QN.Tel: 01934 741582. Offers 4x4 driving, stock car racing, buggy racing and quad biking as well as clay pigeon shooting, air rifle shooting and archery. www.xtremeoffroad.co.uk

Kayaking Kayaks 2 Hire, The Boardwalk, Street, Somerset, BA16 0AJ. Tel: 07967 661442 / 01458 841046. www.kayaks2hire.co.uk

Horse Riding Pevlings Farm, Cabbage Lane, Horsington, Templecombe, BA8 0DA. Tel: 01963 370990. www.pevlingsfarm.co.uk

Fishing Viaduct Fishery, Cary Valley, Somerton, TA11 6LJ. Tel: 01458 274022. www.viaductfishery.com

Falconry Mere Down Falconry, Manor Farm, Manor Road, Mere, Wilts, BA12 6HR. Tel: 01747 824913 / 07742 998571. www.meredownfalconry.co.uk

Golf Wheathill Golf Club, Wheathill, Lydford-on-Fosse, Somerton,TA11 7HG. Tel: 01963 240667. www.wheathillgc.co.uk

Yeovil Golf Club, Sherborne Road, Yeovil, BA21 5BW. Tel: 01935 422965. www.yeovilgolfclub.com

Pampering My Personal Sanctuary. Tel: 01625 540 557 or email: [email protected]. www.mypersonalsanctuary.co.uk

Jennifer’s Mobile Beauty. Tel: 07850 535234 or email: [email protected]. www.jennifersmobilebeauty.co.uk

Wine Tasting Thirty Fifty. Tel: 02082 880314 or email [email protected]. www.thirtyfifty.co.uk

Page 8 kate & tom’s kateandtoms.com Telephone: 01242 235151 | Email: [email protected] Things to do

Hot Air Balloon Rides Aerosaurus Balloons. Tel: 01404 823102 or email: [email protected]. www.ballooning.co.uk

Scuba Diving Scuba Troopers, 15 Chepstow Court, Lyde Road, Yeovil, BA21 5DN. Tel: 01935 422016. www.scubatroopers.co.uk

Paintball Sedgemoor Splat, Ivythorn Farm, Ivythorn Lane, Ivythorn, Near Street, BA16 9RH. Tel: 07818 428808. www.sedgemoor-splat.co.uk

Pottery Ridge Pottery, Queen Camel, BA22 7NF. Tel: 01935 850753. www.mud2fire.com

Page 9 kate & tom’s kateandtoms.com Telephone: 01242 235151 | Email: [email protected] Top things to do with children

Our top recommendations for outings with children are below.

Wookey Hole, Wells, BA5 1BA. Tel: 01749 672243. Hunt for the Wookey Witch at Wookey Hole Caves, Britain’s most spectacular caves. Explore the Valley of the Dinosaurs featuring King Kong, uncover the wonders of the Magical fairy garden, and don’t forget to visit the Victorian Penny Arcade, the Magical Mirror Maze with Hall of Crazy Mirrors, the Cave Museum and the Pirate Zap Zone. www.wookey.co.uk

Longleat Wildlife Park, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7NW. Tel: 01985 844400. Go walkabout in the UK’s first walk-through meerkat enclosure, hand feed the Rainbow Lorikeets and enjoy the antics of the monkeys in Monkey Temple at Longleat Wildlife Park. www.longleat.co.uk

Haynes Motor Museum, Sparkford Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 7LH. Tel: 01963 440804. A must for motoring fans, this museum houses the UK’s largest exhibition of classic cars and bikes. www.haynesmotormuseum.com

Gartell Light Railway, Common Lane, Yenston, Templecombe, BA8 ONB. Step back in time to a more leisurely age and ride through the beautiful Blackmore Vale countryside along the route of the old Somerset and Dorset Railway. www.glr-online.co.uk

Stourhead gardens, Stourton, Near Warminster, Wiltshire, England, BA12 6QD. Tel: 01747 841152. The jewel in the Stourhead crown has to be this world-famous 18th-century landscape garden. A magnificent lake shimmering with reflections of classical temples, mystical grottoes and rare and exotic trees. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead

Glastonbury Tor, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 8BH. Wander to the top of this iconic landmark for magnificent views of the Somerset Levels, Dorset, Wiltshire and Wales. Famous as a pagan holy site and for its connections to King Arthur, the Tor is a beautiful place for a relaxing walk. www.glastonburytor.org.uk

Page 10 kate & tom’s kateandtoms.com Telephone: 01242 235151 | Email: [email protected] Top places to visit & shop nearby

Wincanton Our nearest town and just eight miles from the house, here you will find pretty much everything you need for your stay. Supermarket shopping can be done at Morrison or Lidl on the outskirts, while in the centre of town there is an excellent deli providing all sorts of treats, Clementina’s containing the eclectic range of stock that a hardware shop should hold, and the excellent and ever cheerful butcher, Andrew Barclay, at the top of the High Street.

Sherborne and Castle Cary The lovely abbey town of Sherbourne is around nine miles from the house and the attractive Castle Cary is five miles; both are an easy drive away and have a good range of small individual shops, ideal for browsing and buying a present or two. Don’t forget to find the lock-up in Castle Cary and meet Ethlebert and Ethlebald, King Alfred’s eldest brothers, buried in the same grave in Sherborne Abbey. Both towns have very helpful tourist information offices filled with ideas for things to do and places to visit in the area.

Bath With its Roman and Georgian heritage, a visit to Bath is a must if you haven’t been previously. It’s oozing with history, has an excellent theatre, Costume Museum, Assembly Rooms (once presided over by the exacting Beau Nash), Pump Rooms where you can have the dubious pleasure of trying the waters; Roman Baths (a wonderful natural spa for swimming), many fantastic shops and even boasts a Jamie Oliver bistro. If you don’t feel like driving the 30 odd miles, try catching the train from Castle Cary. If driving, though, the Park and Ride is certainly worth seriously considering.

Somerset Is the true home of Cheddar Cheese and international award-winning cheese makers abound locally - Montgomery, Westcombe Dairy, Quicks and Keens to name but a few. Dorset Blue Vinney, (unique in the world) is made just across the border by the Davies family. Somerset also produces wonderful cider, Kingston Black from Julian Temperley being one of the best.

Wells Is the smallest city in England and its cathedral is arguably the most beautiful building in Europe. The graceful scissor arch dates from the 14th century and was built hastily to hold up the tower when it was in danger of collapsing and remains to this day.

Page 11 kate & tom’s kateandtoms.com Telephone: 01242 235151 | Email: [email protected] Useful information

Castle Hall at a Glance

Bedrooms and Bathrooms • Sleeps up to 26 • Twelve bedrooms, of which six have ensuite bathrooms • Four shared bathrooms • One of the bedrooms is bunk-style, perfect for a group of children • Some of the bedrooms can be made up as twins • Downstairs bedroom and WC

Cooking and Dining • Dining table seats 20 comfortably and extends to seat many more • The large salon can seat up to 100 • Fantastic chef available for a special meal or throughout the weekend • Drop-off meals available • Large kitchen with an AGA and commercial cooker • Dishwasher and American-style fridge freezer • Walk-in pantry, stocked with organic essentials • A good pub, two miles away • Good dining nearby • Online deliveries

Things to Do Inside • TV, DVD player and hi-fi system in the lounge • Collection of books, DVDs and games • Wi-fi • Bedrooms have a TV and a DVD/CD/MP3 player • Spacious yoga room (teacher available) • Cosy library • Fireplaces and log-burners dotted around the house • Cellar • Large function barn for events • An onsite event organiser and party planner is available to assist you

Things to Do Outside • Twenty-three acres of gardens, lawns and orchards

Activities • Country pursuits available nearby, including clay pigeon shooting and fishing • Bicycles are available to use • Horse riding • Rock climbing • Special relaxation rooms for pampering and beauty treatments at the house

Page 12 kate & tom’s kateandtoms.com Telephone: 01242 235151 | Email: [email protected] Useful information

Children Welcome • Growing collection of books and DVDs • Games room • Creche • Two baby cots available • Two high chairs available

Top Things to Do for Children • Haynes International Motor Museum • Wookey Hole Caves • Longleat Safari and Adventure Park

Where We Are • The postcode is BA22 7LD • The nearest town is Castle Cary, five miles from the house • The nearest station is Castle Cary, thirteen minutes’ drive away • The nearest airport is Bristol International • Taxis available • Parking for plenty of cars

About Your Booking

Payment process • We take a one third deposit at the time of booking • The balance is due three months before the date booked

Cautionary deposit • £500 refundable deposit

House restrictions • Pets are welcome with prior permission, but pet bedding is not provided and they are not allowed upstairs • Smoking is not permitted

Arrival and Departure • Check in 5pm • Check out 10am

What’s included • Linen • Utilities • Wireless broadband • Two baby cots and two high chairs • Towels can be provided on request • Access to the log store is available at £75 for a weekend • Extra housekeeping available on request

Page 13 kate & tom’s kateandtoms.com Telephone: 01242 235151 | Email: [email protected] Floor Plans

Page 14 kate & tom’s kateandtoms.com Telephone: 01242 235151 | Email: [email protected] Guest reviews

This wonderful home receives fantastic feedback from our guests.

“Wow! I now have the house I have always dreamed of owning” Thomas

“The house’s beauty and grandeur stunned our whole group, and what the event team created in the dungeons was never to be forgotten. Great, no, fantastic place to spend your 40th!!” Sandra

“Dad’s 70th birthday was perfect with a fantastic meal prepared to perfection by the Castle Hall team!!” Jason

“…even in the rain this place worked for ALL of us, great mix of modern and old decor along with the soon to be famous dungeons…” Henny

Page 15 kate & tom’s kateandtoms.com Telephone: 01242 235151 | Email: [email protected]