The best walks and hikes around Holnest

Welcome to Old Sherborne Castle in Dorset—or what’s left of it! Built in the 12th century by Bishop Roger of Salisbury, it was less of a humble church retreat and more of a flashy, heavily armored "fortified palace" to show off his immense wealth. Centuries later, the famous explorer Sir Walter Raleigh rode past, instantly fell in love with it, and leased it in 1592. Legend says he was so utterly distracted by its beauty that he actually fell right off his horse. Raleigh tried to modernise the place, gave up, and just built a nicer mansion nearby instead. During the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell turned up, testily dubbed the stubborn Royalist stronghold "malicious and mischievous," and thoroughly blasted it to pieces after an 11-day siege. Today, it’s a beautifully romantic, broken-down ruin perfect for a peaceful picnic—assuming Cromwell doesn't show up to ruin the vibe again!

Welcome to Sherborne Castle, Dorset’s ultimate architectural plot twist! In 1592, Sir Walter Raleigh fell so madly in love with the 12th-century "Old Castle" that Queen Elizabeth I snagged it for him. But instead of renovating, Raleigh built a fancy new pad nearby. Legend says a terrified servant saw Raleigh smoking tobacco there, assumed he was combusting, and doused him with a glass of ale! Later, Oliver Cromwell blew up the old castle, and Capability Brown added a massive lake. Today, the same family has lived there for 400 years, presumably avoiding smoking inside.

You can see where Raleigh attempted to add modern windows to the ancient stone walls before he gave up and moved next door. ​It’s a perfect spot for a walk where you can practically hear the echoes of the 1645 siege.

The "OG" castle met its dramatic end during the English Civil War. Because it was a Royalist stronghold, Oliver Cromwell’s forces besieged it twice. After an 11-day pounding by heavy artillery in 1645, the castle finally fell. To ensure it couldn't be used against them again, Parliament ordered it to be "slighted"—essentially a polite 17th-century term for "blown up with gunpowder." ​What to See Today ​Now managed by English Heritage, the ruins offer a fantastic look at medieval military engineering mixed with Tudor home improvement attempts. ​The Great Gatehouse: Much of the impressive gatehouse still stands, giving you a sense of just how intimidating the entrance used to be. ​The Southwest Tower: You can still explore parts of the towers and see the scars left by the Civil War cannons. ​Wildlife and Views: The ruins are surrounded by deep ditches and high banks that now serve as a haven for local birdlife and offer sweeping views of the Dorset countryside. ​Raleigh's Legacy:

Sherborne's Old Castle is the original 12th-century powerhouse of the area, built not by a king, but by Roger de Caen, the Bishop of Salisbury. In the medieval world, being a Bishop apparently required a massive fortress to protect your "piety" (and your tax revenue). ​The Rise and Fall of a Fortress ​The castle was designed to be an architectural flex, featuring a unique diamond-shaped courtyard and high-end defensive walls. It served as a grand episcopal palace until it caught the eye of Sir Walter Raleigh in the late 16th century. Raleigh tried to renovate the place to suit his Elizabethan tastes, but eventually found it too drafty and "old-school," leading him to build the "New" Castle across the way.

Sherborne Castle & Gardens, often called the "New Castle," was built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 after he decided the neighboring 12th-century ruins were a bit too "medieval chic" for his tastes. Today, it remains the private home of the Wingfield Digby family but is open to those who want to see how the other half lived during the Tudor and Georgian eras. ​The Castle Interior ​The house is a grand H-shaped mansion that has managed to hoard four centuries of high-end decor. It’s essentially a very large, very expensive time capsule. ​The State Rooms: Features a blend of Tudor architecture and 18th-century "upgrades," including ornate white marble fireplaces and Georgian sash windows. ​Art & Porcelain: The walls are lined with nationally important collections of fine art and furniture that make a modern IKEA catalog look deeply upsetting. ​The Family Museum: Located in the cellars, this museum covers the castle’s "Great Stories," including Raleigh’s local legacy and the 1753 transformation of the grounds.

Sherborne is so fancy it has "spare" castles. Sherborne Old Castle started as a 12th-century fortified palace for a bishop who clearly valued "defense" over "patience." Fast forward to 1592, and Sir Walter Raleigh moves in. He tried to modernize the drafty ruins but eventually gave up, presumably after realizing medieval plumbing is just a hole in a wall. ​He built Sherborne New Castle nearby—a chic Elizabethan mansion. During the Civil War, Parliament got annoyed and "slighted" (read: blew up) the Old Castle. Now, the ruins serve as a romantic backdrop for the New Castle’s "Capability" Brown gardens.

The Pageant Gardens bandstand is the spiritual home of "aggressively pleasant" afternoons. Built to commemorate the 1905 Sherborne Pageant—a massive theatrical flex involving 900 locals in tights—this octagonal masterpiece is where brass bands go to battle the sound of falling leaves. ​It’s the ultimate Victorian stage for looking dignified while holding a tuba. Surrounded by pristine lawns and flowerbeds that would make a perfectionist weep, the bandstand serves as a reminder that nothing says "British Summer" like listening to The Liberty Bell while your ice cream melts at a record-breaking 18^\circ\text{C}. Pure, unadulterated whimsy.