Wincanton

Wincanton is a charming hillside market town, equidistant between London and Plymouth and the north and south coast.

Elegant Georgian houses and coaching inns record the towns importance as a staging post on the main London to Plymouth road. In the 17th century as many as 17 coaches a day stopped here and several of the inns are still in existence.

Today Wincanton is probably best known for its racecourse and it seems likely that Wincanton was the scene of some of the earliest steeplechases. The original racing site, close by, held races at the beginning of the 19th century.

Wincanton is also home to the only Discworld Emporium in the entire universe where all manner of wonderful objects inspired by the writings of Terry Pratchett are created.

It is just a short drive to Moldrams Ground Nature Reserve, an important wildlife habitat. The reserve has a nature trail which explores the site and identifies features of interest. Moldrams Ground is close to the village of Pen Selwood where Kenwalh, King of the West Saxons, fought and defeated the Britons in 658AD.

Beautiful panoramic views across the Blackmore Vale can be found from nearby Bayford, Stoke Trister and Cucklington.