Where can I find food and drink?
Light refreshments, including hot and cold drinks to take out are available from the Camellia
From fortress to family home
There’s been a castle here for over
1000 years, starting as a Saxon
stronghold and developing into a
comfortable Victorian country house.
The 13th century gateway is the oldest
surviving part of the castle, and you
can still see the ruined curtain wall,
partly demolished in 1650 following the
English Civil War. The building we see
today was remodelled by Anthony Salvin
between 1868—1872 for the Luttrell
family, who lived here for 600 years.
Going underground…
Descend into the cavernous, vaulted
reservoir under the Keep Garden and
find out more about this unusual feat
of Victorian engineering.
Dunster Watermill
Discover the impressive 18th century
Working Watermill. The mill is a
rare surviving example of a double
overshot mill, with two working
waterwheels. There are two floors
to explore along with an external
viewing platform to get closer to the
waterwheels which run daily.
Antony and Cleopatra
Look out for the star crossed lovers
Antony and Cleopatra on the rare,
late 17th century leather hangings in
the castle. The leather hangings are
believed to be the largest and most
complete of their type in the world.
House on the South Terrace, whilst cold drinks and ice cream are available from the Stables
Shop. Temporarily re-located to the Tenants’ Hall you can enjoy light lunches, snacks and hot
and cold drinks in the Tearoom.
Where are the toilets?
The main toilets are by The Stables, all have baby change facilities. There are limited toilet
facilities at the castle.
Where is the shop?
The shop in the historic 17th century stable block, has a wide range of gifts and souvenirs
including many local products. There is a shop in the watermill with the chance to purchase
the organic flour produced.
Where can I take my dog
Dogs are welcome in the garden and parkland on short leads, but not on the lawned areas.
Dog waste bins are provided
Where can I get a guidebook?
To get the best from your visit, a full colour guidebook is available for purchase from the
shop, ticket offices, and at the entrance desk in the castle.
Where can I picnic?
Feel free to picnic anywhere in the castle grounds, or there’s a designated picnic area with
benches near the car park.
and Gardens
What is available for families?
Wheel-friendly routes in the gardens and pushchair park in castle porch. Children’s quizzes Dunster Castle
are available from the castle desk along with trail booklets from reception.
Where can I learn more about Dunster Castle and Gardens?
There are exhibitions in The Stables, Tenants’ Hall and Keep Garden about the history of the
castle. In addition step inside the Crypt to learn about the rare resident bats and spy on them
via the bat cam, find out about the castle’s previously hidden history, or be spooked by stories
of ghostly goings on. Or visit our website nationaltrust.org.uk/dunstercastle.
You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
How can I get more involved? Dunster Castle and Gardens -
If you have enjoyed your visit to Dunster Castle today there are a number of ways that you can more than meets the eye…
get more involved: Become a member, join today at our ticket offices and enjoy free entry to
hundreds more places around the country. Join in and become a volunteer, contact us for more Explore the castle
details. Complete a comment card or visitor survey: your feedback really makes a difference.
Discover how a fortress became a family home, find the
Additional Access Information secret passage, and marvel at Antony and Cleopatra on
If you use a manual wheelchair or can transfer from your own electric buggy into our manual the rare 17th century leather hangings.
wheelchair, then we can offer limited access to the ground floor of the castle using our
stairclimber. There’s a minibus that runs from reception points to the entrance. There are
wheelchair accessible paths, some steep and with uneven surfaces so strong companions are Get hands on
needed. We’ve electric mobility vehicles which can be borrowed if you’d like. There are many Have a go at snooker in the Billiard Room, try on a top hat,
benches within the gardens to rest and enjoy the views. Braille guides available at the castle desk. bonnet or chainmail in the Hat Room and take a selfie.
Lose yourself in the gardens
Explore the sub-tropical gardens, take in sweeping views,
and follow the serpentine path to the hidden watermill.
Guided tours
Visit the servants domain including the Victorian kitchens
and attic bedrooms. Tour programme varies depending on
How do I get in touch? the time of year.
Dunster Castle: 01643 821314
Fun for all the family
dunstercastle@nationaltrust.org.uk Get competitive with the lawn games on the Green Court
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunstercastle or try out the log play area down in the River Gardens.
Photography: NTPL, Seamus Rogers, Dave Wood and Paul James.
Printed on 100% recycled Cocoon silk paper. Please recycle this leaflet after use.
© National Trust 2019. The National Trust is an independent registered charity, number 205846
Key:
Y Car Park
i
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Key:
LG WC
Y
Y Car Park
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F Accessible WC
i
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F Accessible
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Tenants’ Facilities refreshments
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m Picnic
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m Areahouse - light refreshments
Camellia
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some pushchairs
pushchairs
Steps
Steps
Steps
Steep Incline
SteepIncline
Steep Incline
DB Dog Waste Bins
DogWaste
DB Dog
DB
DB WasteBinsBins
No Access
NoAccess
No Access
 Stables Exhibition
StablesExhibition
 Stables Exhibition & Shop
& Shop
& Shop
 Gatehouse, Oubliette
Gatehouse,Oubliette
 Gatehouse, Oubliette andand
and Tenants’ Hall Hall
Tenants’
Tenants’ Hall
 Vine Walk
 Vine Walk
 Vine Walk

 TheThe Crypt
 TheCrypt
Crypt
 Castle
Castle entrance
entrance

 CastleCourt
Green
entrance
 Green
 Green Court
Court
 Bastion Tower
 Bastion Tower
 BastionWalk
Circular Tower
 Circular Walk
 Circular
Pet
 Pet Walk
Cemetery
 Cemetery
 Pet Cemetery
Jacob’s
 Jacob’s Ladder (steep)
(steep)
 Ladder
 Jacob’s
Reservoir
 Reservoir
 Ladder (steep)
 Reservoir
Keep
 Keep
 Garden
Garden
13 Keep Garden
13 Gazebo, Unearthing

13 Gazebo, Unearthing
History
Gazebo,
13 History Exhibition
Unearthing
Exhibition
 Camellia House
History Exhibition
 Camellia House

 South
 South Terrace
Butler’s Walk
Terrace
 Water
Water Mill*
Mill*
 South Terrace

Lovers’ Tree
 Lovers’ Tree

 Water Mill
 Lovers’
 Lovers’ Bridge
 Lovers’Bridge
Tree
River Garden
 River
 Garden
 Lovers’ Bridge
 Marshall’s
 Marshall’s Bridge
Bridge

 River
Mill Garden
Walk
 Mill Walk
 Marshall’sPlay
Bridge
 Rustic
 Rustic Log
Log Play Area
Area
 Mill Walk
23 Lawns’ Bridge
23 Lawns’ Bridge
23

 Rustic Log
Jigsaw’s Play Area
Grave
 Jigsaw’s Grave
23 The Composting Area
Pixie
 Pie Well
Pixie Well
 Jigsaw’s Grave
 Dream Garden
 Dream Garden
 Pixie Well
*Please note
*Please note this
this is
is aa private
private business
business and
and an
an
 Dreamentry
additional Garden
additional entry charge is made to visit the mill
charge is made to visit the mill For your safety
 Gatehouse
(inc. NT members)
(inc. NT members)
Books
Having once been a fortified castle, our gardens !
have many steep slopes, steps and paths with uneven
and loose surfaces. We advise wearing sensible and
sturdy shoes. The pond and river are both unfenced
and there are low bridge parapets, so please take care
and supervise children at all times. Please be aware of
moving vehicles using the access drive to the castle and
outside our Stables and toilets.
Access to the Keep Garden by pushchair or wheelchair
requires a strong companion.