Uncover the Charm of Castle Combe: The Most Picturesque Village in England
If you are an artist or writer looking for a refuge, the small village of Castle Combe could be for you. As a lovely village in southwestern England, in the county of Wiltshire, it has everything you could ask for in a fairytale setting.
There are stone houses with pointed roofs lined up along the river; there is the stone bridge between one embankment and the other, and the greenest green you can imagine draws a soft carpet between the houses and the hills.
Castle Combe, often whimsical and laughing or melancholy depending on the weather, was named the most beautiful village in England in 1962. It would be a shame if only its approximately 400 inhabitants enjoyed it.
In the last century, many tourists have joined them. The road that runs from Market Cross to the Bybrook River is as fascinating as it once was and seems to take visitors into the past, away from the hustle of modern cities. Yet we are only 10km from Chippenham, not far from Bristol and Bath.
The Britons founded a fortress here, which was occupied first by the Romans and then by the Normans, who transformed it into a large castle. In the Middle Ages, it became an important wool processing center, and the “Weaver’s Houses,” homes of the weavers, still meet in the village today.
From the second half of the twentieth century, the authenticity of Castle Combe has attracted the attention of film producers and directors, becoming the setting for various films, including the 1966 film “Doctor Doolittle,” “Stardust” with Sienna Miller, and the very recent “War Horse” by Steven Spielberg.
The houses with stone walls and natural stone roofs are so beautiful that they are considered historical monuments and have to be kept in good condition by following strict rules. Other places related to the mythical horse Joey described by the American director are located in nearby Devon, where there is a museum dedicated to War Horse.
You can savor the village on foot, listening to the gurgling of the stream and the sound of footsteps on the pebbles. Walking from the top of the hill, where the public parking is located, towards the town center, you come across the Village Pound, a typical structure of medieval British villages.
It is a stone fence situated to the right of the road, where the lambs, pigs and sheep escaped from the owners were kept until they came to claim them and paid a fine.
Continuing towards the center, we met, until recently, at the Village Museum, where it was possible to find a tourist guide for Castle Combe. The museum is currently closed, but the collection, which includes documents and objects relating to the village’s history, will soon be visible in a new location (for information www.museum.castle-combe.com).
Worth seeing is the Dower House, which bears the Scrope family crest on the entrance and is the home of Dr. Doolittle in the 1966 film of the same name.
Finally, we reach Market Cross, the ancient market hub founded in the fourteenth century. Here crowded the vendors’ wagons and stalls: chatter, commercial offers shouted in loud voices, the clamor of chickens, and the mooing of calves mingled in the morning air, together with the scents of the food and the colors of the vegetables.
For a regenerating break, you could count on the White Hart, a historic place that still serves excellent beer, wine, and local specialties. Enjoy the lovely back garden in the summer or the crackling fireplace when it’s cold outside. It is open every day from 11 am to 11 pm.
The Castle Comb church is mentioned for the first time in a document from 1291. Since then, it has changed many times. In the 14th century, the nave was made bigger, and in the 16th century, the bell tower was finished. In the second half of the 19th century, the church was in such bad shape that it needed a major renovation.
Today it houses the monument to Sir Walter de Dunstanville, a Norman knight and Baron of Castle Comb who died in 1270, and a still working astronomical clock, one of the oldest in Great Britain.
At the end of the walk, there are two bridges. The first was built in the eighteenth century to replace an older wooden structure. The second, Smart’s Bridge, was renamed Roman Bridge due to the ghost of a Roman centurion who, according to a local legend, wanders the village’s streets.
While it has little to do with Castle Combe’s enchanting atmosphere, one cannot forget the nearby motor racing circuit. It opened in 1950 and is one of the longest in the UK. It has modern sports equipment and places for people to watch sports.
Located around twenty kilometers from Bath, Castle Combe is surrounded by exciting locations and magnificent scenery. Nearby you can visit Avebury and Stonehenge and you can venture out on numerous excursions surrounded by greenery.
About 10 kilometers away is Chippenham, a pretty town that offers a large number of events and demonstrations throughout the year. Mardi Gras is marked by the Pancake Races, with people of all ages whizzing along the main street, throwing themselves the pancakes, the typical sweets made with milk, eggs, butter, flour, and sugar.
In April, there is a great beer festival. In May, the annual Folk Festival is celebrated. In November, there is the spectacular event of the turning on of the Christmas lights, with the arrival of Santa Claus and the setting up of hundreds of stalls.
The nearest airport is Bristol Airport, 45km southwest of Castle Combe.
The city is served by junctions 17 and 18 on the M4 motorway from Chippenham and Bath. Along the way, there are signs for the racing circuit, the village, and the large public car park on the top of the hill. By train from London, you can travel to Chippenham or Bath, then take a taxi or bus to your destination.
The climate is typical of England, with mild winters, cool summers, and widespread rainfall. Average temperatures in January range from a minimum of 2 °C to a maximum of 7 °C, while in July and August they vary between 12 °C and 20 °C. January is the wettest month, with an average of 15 days of bad weather, but rains are frequent even in summer.