The historic Dunster castle, now managed by the National Trust overlooks the beautiful village & surrounding area. Dunster castle has been a strategically important fixture to the exmoor landscape for the last 1000 years. It has a dramatic hill top location that overlooks Exmoor & the Bristol channel. Punching the skyline with it's turrets and towers Dunster castle has a fairy tale feel to it.

Of course being from Somerset the castle still has connections with Arthurian legend. Dunster castle has seen its fair share of wars over the years from when the castle was seiged in 1138 and reduced, through to the civil war in
1642-49 when Dunster castle was besieged for months. The castle in Dunster has been undergoing substantial renovation over the years. Surrounded by sub-tropical gardens and overlooking Dunster deer park. The home of the show ground and fairs. One highlight during the year is the week long archery contest. This boasts the largest longbow competition in the world. You'll be transported back to days of old when you see the traditionally dressed archers with yew in hand. Dunster castle is also Home to the National Collection of strawberry trees and England's' oldest lemon tree.

Dunster castle has been owed by two main familes over the years. Firstly the Mohuns who built the first proper castle on the site in 1066.  Making Dunster a very early castle as many Castles throughout Europe were built in the following 3-4 centuries.

By the Mid twelfth century Gesta Stephani described dunster castle as "...impregnable defences... inaccessible on the one side where it was washed by the tide and very strongly fortified on the other by towers and walls, by a rampart and outworks. In 1374 the castle was purchased by the Luttrel family. They owned it until 1976 when they donated it to the National Trust.

Dunster castle is now a key visitor attraction in Dunster and hosts regular events throughout the year as well as being available for event hire.

Dunster castle limits its opening hours so that the castle can be preserved and cleaned to ensure that it is in perfect condition for future generations to enjoy. Please check opening times to avoid disappointment.

Check opening times here.

The gardens are open throughout the year.

The castle is currently undergoing major reconstruction of the roof resulting in a portion of it being covered by scaffolding until 2009. This does mean however that the trust will be looking to run hard hat scaffolding tours of the battlements. Read more about the Dunster Castle renovations here.

Check opening times here.