The best walks and hikes around Castleton

Historic castles, landscaped gardens and a lovely lake

Many of the best hiking routes around Castleton explore Sherborne Castle and Gardens, with gorgeous lakeside strolls and historic sites to discover. Sherborne Old Castle’s evocative ruins stand on the northern side of the lake. Once the fortified palace of Roger de Caen, it was captured by Robert Earl of Gloucester in the 1140s, during the Anarchy, a civil war that raged between 1138 and 1153.

Sherborne Castle, often referred to as Sherborne New Castle, stands proud on the southwest side of the lake. This 16th-century Tudor mansion was originally constructed by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1592, before the Digby family added four wings in the 1620s.

The gardens were designed by the legendary Capability Brown and remain largely unaltered today. Open to the public from late spring to late autumn, there’s a wonderful 42 acres (17 ha) of gardens to explore and they give way to a further 1,000 acres (405 ha) of gorgeous parkland.

Vast panoramas from the Sherborne Escarpment

There are some lovely hikes around Castleton to the north, along the Sherborne Escarpment. Objectives include the Beacon, a small hill above the tiny village of Corton Denham, and Holway Hill with its adjacent woodland nature reserve. Holway Wood’s narrow stretch of mature and recently planted woodland rewards with exceptional views across Somerset to landmarks like Glastonbury Tor.

Spring is arguably the best time to roam here, when the woodland is carpeted with bluebells, while primroses and pink purslane add yet more splashes of colour. Bird lovers will be in their element, with great spotted woodpeckers, treecreepers, song thrushes and tawny owls among the species that are present all year round.

The historic market town of Sherborne

Sherborne town is also a fantastic place to explore, or somewhere to put your feet up after long walks around Castleton’s countryside. The town is renowned for its historic buildings, such as its almshouses and the impressive Sherborne Abbey. Many of its mediaeval and Georgian buildings are hewn from a characteristic ochre-coloured hamstone, giving it a timeless appearance. Sherborne station can be accessed via direct trains from Salisbury and Exeter.