When It Comes To Castles, Nunney Is Small But Beautiful

Nunney Castle - small but beautifully formed

Whenever you visit a new place on holiday, there's always the same problem as to how you are going to fit everything thing that you want to do into such a short period of time. A holiday should be a time for relaxation, and if you have already driven some distance to reach the holiday destination, do you really want to be spending more time behind the wheel, ticking off places that will be on you “must see” list.

Perhaps what  you are looking for is a place to visit for a short day trip, somewhere that will provide you with something to interest you, yet encourage you to slow down and take time to pick up the flavour and atmosphere of the locality.

An increasing number of you are spending time in the beautiful county of Somerset. So often have we dashed through the county, probably ticking off the junctions on the M5 motorway as we head to the higher profile holiday destinations of Devon and Cornwall.

Junction 21  showing Weston-Super-Mare - not long now to the signs for Highbridge and Burnham -   look there goes Bridgewater - not too far to Taunton and a break at the services and the first “Welcome to Devon” sign coming up shortly - when to you think we'll hit our first queue ?– phew, you get worn out just reading it.

This is why Somerset has an increasing popularity. From the rugged beauty of Lorna Doone's Exmoor to the wonderful Blue Flag beaches of the north coast, it has everything to match its more famous South Western partners. Beautiful little cities such as Wells with its magnificent cathedral and the wonderful west front with over three hundred statues, and a host of family orientated attractions will provide a holiday to remember.

Want to go back with one particular memory ? Why not go back home and say that you visited the smallest castle in England. That's certainly what the residents of the pretty little village of Nunney will tell you.  We all know that Windsor is the biggest, but the smallest? - what's this all about?

Dating from the fourteenth century, the castle, for that is indeed what it is, was built by Sir John Delamere, from money that he quite likely earned fighting in the Hundred Years War.  Complete with the almost compulsory moat,  it was dramatically  altered in the late sixteenth century,.

Ownership had past down to the Catholic Prater, family, who like many of the Catholic faith sided with the Crown. Regrettably this proved an unfortunate move, and in a battle fought in September 1645, the north wall was breached, and surrender ultimately followed.

After much neglect, culminating in the 1910 collapse of more of the north wall, the property is now in the care of English Heritage, and is well worth a holiday visit. It doesn't take up too much time out of your day, and will encourage you to slow down and “take the air”.

The younger members of your family group will also like the chance to see the ducks that wander the streets near to the river. If you are holidaying at the right time of year, you may be lucky enough to be in Nunney, when the flower show and Street Fayre are on. In this modern world, Nunney, like so many other small villages has an excellent web site listing what's what in this vibrant little Somerset community.

After all of this, you should bow to the inevitable, and enjoy a relaxing lunch at the local pub, the George, a seventeenth coaching inn with splendid lunch and dinner menus and excellent local ales.