Shooting advice

Broad appeal

Sherborne and its castles are great to shoot in the spring. The trees are turning green, bluebells add colour to the woodland floor and the apple and cherry blossom is at its prime. Given blue skies and fluffy white clouds or an early start with mist hanging around the old castle there are landscape shots to be taken, close- up shots galore, and plenty for the architectural photographer. no specialist kit is required, it is a good all- round location that will appeal to a broad cross-section of photographers.

A distant view

Look to the footpaths around Sherborne for a slightly more distant view, perhaps try the small hill to the south, which gives an elevated view of the town. The small meadow in front of this hill tends to trap the mist in the early morning and there is a view through the trees toward the ruins of the old castle.

Sherborne can be shot at any time of day but my preference would be early morning for the old castle and late afternoon or evening for the Abbey.

Food & lodging

The charming eastbury hotel is in the heart of the town. There are plenty of upmarket pubs with rooms in the surrounding villages, and a great b+b in a quiet rural setting is Munden house in the hamlet of Alweston, three miles south. There is also the excellent Mitre Inn at Sandford orcas, three miles north of Sherborne.

The town is overrun with tea rooms and cafes, such as oliver’s at the top of Cheap Street. For an excellent snack or full meal try Castle Gardens garden centre next to the entrance to the ‘new’ castle.