KAYAK Best B&B Award 2023
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On the edge of Castle Cary and in the heart of beautiful Somerset countryside
Castle Cary is a wonderful historic market town regarded as the gateway to the West Country. The house is on the edge of town and is within walking distance of Cary's centre, its market square, historic buildings, station, eateries and shops, which makes it perfectly located to enjoy both the joys of town and the surrounding countryside. We back onto farmland owned by the spectacular country estate The Newt In Somerset, the entrance for which is a mere mile away. The land is also the site of Cary's original castle and is crossed by the Macmillan Way, founded by and named after a Cary former resident.
Breakfasts so good even the dog wants some
We are known for our fabulous hospitality and the delicious breakfasts we have on offer. We make our own home-made muesli and granola which is seriously popular, and supply an excellent range of cereals, delicious yoghurt, fresh artisanal bread from Lievito, fruit and juices. We include as much local produce as possible and from our garden.
We also make wonderful compotes, home-made jams and provide fresh free-range eggs. Martin’s scrambled eggs are legendary and his coffee is superb. Our croissants are baked fresh.
You can also book in for a full English breakfast with delicious bacon and sausages from our local butcher in Cary, The Thoroughly Wild Meat Company, for £10 per head. We can cater for most dietary requirements, just let us know if you have any intolerances or allergies in advance.
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Great rooms and a warm and friendly welcome
Ellesmere is a family house and has a lovely friendly feel. All our rooms are individually decorated with quirky touches and all the things you need to make sure your stay is a good one. The house spans three floors and was built in the 19th-century by a Victorian industrialist. You can still see the traces of his legacy - a small, carved wooden door is in the kitchen where the butcher would leave his deliveries. Much of the door furniture is original as is the stained glass above the front door and there is a still-working servants bell - excellent for persuading children to come downstairs. Melanie, a journalist by training, and Martin, a long-time exhibitor at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, have maintained the house's original ethos and offer a warm welcome all year round. Their aim is for everyone to have as happy a stay as possible and to make people feel at home.
We are foodies and a font of knowledge on all the places to eat and drink in the area. We have some amazing places to head to from Michelin star fayre to good local pub food from The Bay Tree just 100 yards on from our front door. Hauser & Wirth's Roth Bar & Grill is one of our favourites in Bruton. For inspired dining we recommend The Clockspire, Milborne Port, our top treaty choice with wonderful staff and service and The botanical Rooms at The Newt. Michelin-starred Osip in Bruton has been written about in superlative tones by the food critics. Less well known but equally excellent is its fab wine bar and bistro sibling The Old Pharmacy next door. There are some excellent pubs and brasseries around too, including The Queen's Arms in Corton Denham and the newly restored Three Horseshoes in Batcombe run by chef Margot Henderson of The French House in Soho fame. There's also The Red Lion at Babcary, The Orchard Inn at Galhampton and The Montague Inn, in Shepton Montagu, a big favourite with our guests. Another popular destination is The Bradley Hare at Maiden Bradley and also The Bath Arms, next door to the Longleat Estate. Just ask us and we'll help you choose and book a table for you. See our where to eat page for further ideas and information.
We are spoilt for choice for places to visit here. The Newt In Somerset, just off the A359, opened to great fanfare in May 2019. It lived up to expectations, rapidly becoming one of the most significant gardens and grounds to have been created in 200 years. Its new Roman Villa, a replica of an original which once stood on the site, opened in Summer 2022 and has become a must-see venue. The Newt now sponsors The RHS Chelsea Flower Shower. Other amazing attractions nearby include the internationally acclaimed contemporary art gallery, Hauser & Wirth Somerset in Bruton, with its garden created by the Dutch designer Piet Oudolf. The legendary Stourhead House & Gardens is a Capability Brown masterpiece and there are plenty of other sights including Glastonbury Tor, Haynes Motor Museum, Fleet Air Arm Museum and many guests love using us as a base to head to Bath or Stonehenge as well. Contact us for further ideas.
Shop and seek out excellent fashion designers, farm shops, and local cheese and cider producers
Somerset is a haven for amazing cheese and cider producers, including legendary cider baron Julian Temperley. In 1989, Julian's farm was granted the UK's first ever full cider-distillery licence, and in 2020 Julian's fashion designer daughter Alice Temperley moved her emporium to nearby Ilminster. For cheese lovers, the Westcombe Dairy farm shop is a taste-bud treat. Other cheese favourites are Montgomery, and Godminster. For a one-stop pitstop, head to Pinsents, Castle Cary, which stocks a good range of local produce. Charles Dowding is another well-known figure for his salad leaves and his no dig approach to growing vegetables. He runs popular courses on the subject. Cary's fab local Bailey Hill Bookshop stocks his books. We have wonderful farm shops in the shape of Teals on the A303 near North Cadbury; Kimbers in between Bruton and Wincanton; Durslade, Somerset's answer to Daylesford, at the Hauser & Wirth Somerset; and The Newt's own shopping Emporium at its base just outside Castle Cary. And let's not forget the joys of Bath, a train stop or 50-minute drive away.
Lock Up With Us
For an arresting stay!
Castle Cary itself is a great place to explore. Its lock up in the middle of town has the design of the original policeman's helmet for the classic Victorian police force of Robert Peel. Keys to enter it are at the museum. The town also has one of only two remaining horse hair fabric factories in the world, the John Boyd Textile factory, the other being in Paris. Cary is also the birthplace of Douglas Macmillan, founder of Macmillan nurses and the Macmillan nursing trail.
