Dunster Castle (National Trust), Dunster, Exmoor National Park

Dunster Castle (National Trust), Dunster, Exmoor National Park

[Main photo: looking down the main street in Dunster village. Luttrell Arms to the left. English Heritage’s Yarn Market to the right and the National Trust’s Dunster Castle ahead]

 

Large and impressive National Trust property on the eastern border of Exmoor National Park

Dunster Castle is a large and impressive National Trust property overlooking the pretty village Dunster on the eastern border of Exmoor National Park. In addition to the castle, there are extensive gardens providing amazing views of the local area. The National Trust property is surrounded by Dunster Estate which is managed by The Crown Estates.

The castle is close to Minehead and Dunster Beach on the Somerset coast. It’s a great day out.

 

Location of Dunster Castle

Dunster Castle is located on the eastern border of Exmoor National Park near Minehead and the Bristol Channel coastline.

We’ve positioned Dunster Castle on Google maps. Zoom in on the ‘Satellite’ setting to see its location.

 

Directions to, and parking at, Dunster Castle

Follow the A39 to the eastern border of Exmoor National Park. Dunster village and Dunster Castle are by the road.

If you’re coming from the heart of the national park, drive the A396 to the village and castle.

You can also take the West Somerset Railway to Dunster Station. It’s then a short walk to Dunster.

 

Dunster Castle

Dunster Castle sits near the top of a steep hill on the floodplain of the River Avill which rises by Dunkery Beacon on the national park’s high moor.

The castle occupies the site of an earlier Saxon hillfort.

The below information is taken from an information board within Dunster Castle. It outlines the history of the castle up to 1976 when it was gifted to the National Trust. 

‘Before 1066 - Hill fort occupied by Saxon Thegn Aelfric on area now known as the Keep Garden.

1066 - William de Mohun granted Dunster Estates by William the Conqueror after fighting with him at the Battle of Hastings. He builds classic Norman motte and bailey castle.

1376 - Elizabeth Luttrell buys Dunster for approximately 5000 marks (£3333) from Joan de Mohun.

1617 - George Luttrell employs William Arnold to demolish medieval buildings in Lower Ward and construct a new Jacobean Manor.

1645 - Castle besieged for six months by Parliamentary forces during English Civil War.

1650 - After the Civil War, the Castle is still seen as a threat so Parliament orders for its destruction. Curtain wall, bastion towers, upper castle and its shell are demolished. Order then withdrawn and mansion and gatehouse spared.

1720 - Dorothy Luttrell … levels the Keep into a bowling green.

1755 - Henry Fownes creates a new 348 acre Fallow Deer Park.

1775 - Henry Fownes Luttrell commissions Porlock artist, Richard Phelps, to build Conygar Tower and Lawns’ and Lovers’ Bridges over the River Avill below the castle.

1868 - George Fownes Luttrell employs Anthony Salvin to enlarge and remodel the Castle in a medieval style.

1949 - Geoffrey Luttrell sells the Castle to pay death duties on condition he remains as tenant. Major part of estate sold including 8000 acres of farmland and forest, 21 farms and the villages of Dunster, Carhampton, Withycombe and Rodhuish.

1954 - Geoffrey Luttrell repurchases the Castle and 80 acres of surrounding land, including Home Farm (now Castle Estate Yard and Courtyard Cottages.)

1976 - Lt Col Sir Walter Luttrell gives Castle and 28 acres of surrounding park to National Trust.’

 

Dunster Castle points of interest

Look out for The Leather Gallery. The leather hangings in one of the castle’s upper rooms ‘are arguably the rarest and most important pieces in Dunster’s collection. They are the only collection of leather hangings of this type in the United Kingdom’. (Source: Dunster Castle and Gardens National Trust guidebook)

 

Dunster gardens

The castle is surrounded by many gardens and heavily wooded walkways.

The Keep Garden tops the hill on which the castle sits.

Lawn’s Bridge, Marshall’s Bridge and Lovers’ Bridge span the River Avill on the eastern side of the castle.

 

Dunster village and Dunster Estate

Dunster National Park Visitor Centre

Dunster Yarn Market, Butter Cross and Gallox Bridge (English Heritage)

Dunster Gardens and Dovecote

Conygar Tower

The tallest tree in England

Dunster Estate (The Crown Estate)

Dunster Station and the West Somerset Railway

Dunster Beach

West Somerset Coast Path

 

Other historical and cultural attractions in the Dunster Castle area

Cleeve Abbey

Coleridge Cottage

 

Other gardens in the Dunster Castle area

Knightshayes

Cothay Manor

Hestercombe House & Gardens

 

Other attractions in the Dunster Castle area

South West Coast Path

Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

 

Villages and towns near Dunster Castle

Dunster

Minehead

Watchet

Porlock

Porlock Weir