This is a 1 day (2 night) guided weekend tour centred on Sherborne, Dorset’s most beautiful and historic town. Sherborne has a variety of “old-fashioned”, specialist and artisanal shops, as well as several excellent antique shops and art galleries. Its original stone and timber-faced buildings which date from the 15th century onwards, its small courtyards, alleys and magnificent Abbey Church all give it the feel of a small cathedral town, which it once was – from about 700 AD to 1085. You should be sure to check in early on Friday to have the time to explore the town at leisure, or else opt for an extra night.
All the sites on our tour are within walking distance, and are certainly best visited on foot. Our knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide will first accompany you to the largely medieval Abbey Church, whose fascinating history she will describe. The church is widely believed to be one of the finest in the country.
Sherborne Museum, though compact, is visited next, followed by a quick look at one of England’s great “public” (private) schools - Sherborne Boys School, originally King Edward's School, founded in 1550 and built on the remains of the first abbey buildings.
Sherborne is perhaps best known for its two castles. The “Old Castle”, a kind of fortified palace, was built in the early 12th century, and belonged to the Church until Sir Walter Raleigh persuaded Queen Elizabeth 1 to lease it to him. He transformed it into a home, but then built a new residence, a hunting lodge, in the castle’s Deer Park in 1594, calling it “Sherborne Lodge”, which is the main part of today’s (new) Sherborne Castle.
Shortly before Raleigh's execution for treason in 1618, King James allowed Sir John Digby to buy Sherborne Castle, and his family have owned it ever since. In 1753 the famous landscape gardener Capability Brown created a lake beneath the castle and designed the gardens and attractive walks beside it.
So the whole of the afternoon will be spent visiting the two castles and the gardens at leisure.
Depending on the accommodation option that you choose, you will stay in a comfortable B&B, inn or hotel in the heart of Sherborne. You will be met by our guide on Saturday morning after breakfast and led on the tour, to return to your accommodation in the late afternoon.
All prices are per person per night and in £ sterling
| Duration | Accom. option | Double / twin room | Single room |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 nights | A2 | £105 | £145 |
| A1 | £140 | from £180 | |
| A2 a comfortable B&B; or simple village inn | |||
| A1 a good hotel, luxury inn or equivalent | |||
| Occasionally we may propose accommodation with a standard and price between A1 & A2. | |||
| 10% 10% discount for groups of 3 or more. For very large groups (10+), please contact us. | |||
| We can sometimes offer family rooms with special prices for children. Please give us details on the enquiry form. | |||
...You bent over backwards to ensure that our every need was met... I need scarcely say that I shall recommend Footscape most highly to those seeking a memorable, worry-free holiday in one of England's most beautiful and unspoilt areas.”
— John Stone, Canada