Attractions and Places To See around Whitestaunton - Top 20

Donyatt Halt Records for Donyatt Halt state: "This halt, opened on May 5th, 1928, has a single platform edged with wooden sleepers, and a small wooden shelter. A pathway leads up from the platform to the road, which crosses the line by an overbridge at the Ilminster end of the platform. An ornate oil lamp stands at the top of the path and there are various posts with brackets for hanging oil lamps in winter." It would be the guard's duty to light and extinguish these lamps. Five trains a day operated in each direction taking about 45 minutes for the 15 - mile journey from Taunton to Chard, having made stops at Thornfalcon, Hatch, Ilton, Ilminster and Donyatt. Donyatt.com

great bit of downhill

The church of st Peter is of norman origin and is listed as a Grade 1 building. The Chancel ( area around the Altar ) dates back to the 14th century. The North aisle was added about a century later, but the south porch and vestry were added much alter on in the 1800's. The Church has 6 bells, the oldest dating to the 1400's The crenellated three stage tower has merlons ( Designed slits for observations or firing ) Note on my pictures what appear to be gargoyles, but in fact are actually hunky punks ( grotesque gothic decorations which serve no purpose, unlike Gargoyles which are used a drainage features for water on the roof ).

Norman castle The earthworks at the site are larger than would normally be found in a castle from the Norman period, raising speculation that it reused previously developed features. The castle was probably built by Robert, Count of Mortain in the 11th century. Archaeological evidence suggests it was built in several stages. During the first a rampart enclosing 7.5 acres (3.0 ha) was built. Soon after the Norman Conquest a smaller inner ringwork was constructed. The site was later converted into a motte and bailey, with a corner of the 20 feet (6.1 m) high motte serving as a barbican. By the early 12th century the castle was no longer in regular use. However, its use was resumed during The Anarchy, a period of civil war and unsettled government during a succession dispute between the supporters of King Stephen (1135–1154) and those of his cousin, the Empress Matilda. Continued use in the later 12th century may have been by administrators of the surrounding royal forest as a base for operations against poachers.

Castle Neroche is a Norman motte-and-bailey castle on the site of an earlier hill fort in the parish of Curland, near Staple Fitzpaine, Somerset, England. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The origin of the term Neroche is believed to be a contraction of the Old English words nierra and rechich or rachich for Rache, a type of hunting-dog used in Britain in the Middle Ages, giving a meaning of the camp where hunting dogs were kept. This also gives the site its alternative name of Castle Rache. Iron Age The reason for the construction of Iron Age hill forts has been a subject of debate. It has been argued that they could have been military sites constructed in response to invasion from continental Europe, sites built by invaders, or a military reaction to social tensions caused by an increasing population and consequent pressure on agriculture. The dominant view since the 1960s has been that the increasing use of iron led to social changes in Britain. Deposits of iron ore were separated from the sources of tin and copper necessary to make bronze, and as a result trading patterns shifted and the old elites lost their economic and social status. Archaeologist Barry Cunliffe believes that population increase played a role and has stated "[the forts] provided defensive possibilities for the community at those times when the stress [of an increasing population] burst out into open warfare. But I wouldn't see them as having been built because there was a state of war. They would be functional as defensive strongholds when there were tensions and undoubtedly some of them were attacked and destroyed, but this was not the only, or even the most significant, factor in their construction.

It's a good climb from Thurlbear Road, starting with a watersplash. Weekends will be busier with dog walkers and horse riders, so remember to let them know you're there before passing. There's also drop-ins from bandit trails crossing the path here and sightlines aren't great in the summer. After the well surfaced bridleway, it widens out into a newly made logging road up to Frost Street. It's also a great descent on a rigid mountain bike, but be like Shaw Taylor on 'Police 5', and "keep 'em peeled" This is part of the Herepath, a circular path waymarked and open to horse riders, cyclists and walkers.

Wide open fireroad descent with a couple of footpath crossing, then a steeper, well surfaced bridleway out to the road. Take this bit easy on a weekend as it's popular with horse riders and dog walkers; there's also some drop-ins from bandit trails crossing the path here and sightlines aren't great in the summer. A nice little watersplash finishes it off nicely before the tarmac. I rode it as a climb up through the woods, and it's great both ways.

Parts of the church date back to Norman times with the doorway on the south side being the best visible Norman build remaining. The Chancel is 14th century and the tower added in the 1500's. The old sandstone cross in the churchyard is from the 14th century.