Dunster Castle and Watermill

About the museum

Dunster Castle stands on a hill above the village of Dunster, where an Anglo-Saxon fortification was followed after 1066 by a timber motte-and-bailey castle built by William de Mohun. Stone walls were added in the early 12th century, and the castle withstood a siege by King Stephen's forces in 1138. In 1376 Joan de Mohun agreed to sell it to Lady Elizabeth Luttrell, and the Luttrell family took possession in 1404 and lived there for almost 600 years.

Sir Hugh Luttrell built the Great Gatehouse and a barbican between 1419 and 1424, and in 1617 George Luttrell commissioned a Jacobean manor house in the Lower Ward. The castle changed hands during the English Civil War, and most of the medieval walls were demolished on Parliament's orders in 1650. The Grand Staircase was built in 1680. Between 1868 and 1872 the architect Anthony Salvin remodelled the castle in a Gothic and Picturesque style for George Luttrell, creating much of the building that visitors see today.

In 1976 Sir Walter Luttrell gave the castle, most of its contents and about thirty acres of parkland to the National Trust. The rooms contain the family's furniture, books and portraits and a rare set of 17th-century painted and gilded leather hangings showing the story of Antony and Cleopatra. The grounds include terraced gardens with plants from several climates, a play area, a working watermill and views towards Exmoor and the Quantock Hills.

Highlights

• 17th-century gilt leather hangings telling the story of Antony and Cleopatra
• Grand Staircase of 1680, carved with hunting scenes
• Library and rooms remodelled by Anthony Salvin in the 1870s
• Terraced gardens with four different microclimates
• Working double overshot watermill with flour for sale
• Conservatory views to Exmoor and the Quantock Hills

Permanent exhibitions

• Leather Gallery – A set of 17th-century painted and gilded leather hangings showing the story of Antony and Cleopatra, shown on public display in this form nowhere else in the world.
• Castle rooms – Furnished rooms of the Luttrell family home, including the library created by Anthony Salvin in 1870–71 and the Grand Staircase of 1680.
• Dunster Working Watermill – A watermill with double overshot wheels and a collection of old machinery, with photographs and documents on its history; flour is milled and sold on site.

Operated by

National Trust

Admission & discounts

Prices shown are standard admission without Gift Aid; with Gift Aid the adult ticket is £20.90. Admission cannot be pre-booked. National Trust members enter free on showing their membership card, and parking is also free for members. Non-members pay £6.50 per vehicle per day to park (£13 for motor homes).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The routes are steep, with steps and uneven surfaces. Wheelchairs and a powered mobility vehicle are available, and there is a stairclimber, ramped access, an accessible route map and an induction loop. Accessible toilets are by the shop. A limited number of Blue Badge spaces are free, and there is a drop-off point if they are full. Only assistance dogs are allowed inside the castle.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

Free entry for under-5s. Family Castle Explorer trails, dressing-up costumes in the Hat Room and games in the Morning Room, a play area in the River Gardens, a Trail of Tales in the gardens and a model quern at the watermill. Hip-carrying infant seats can be borrowed in the house, there are buggy-friendly routes in the gardens and the Watermill Tearoom has a children's menu.

Getting there & parking

The castle is 3 miles south-east of Minehead, off the A39; use postcode TA24 6NY and follow the brown signs. There is no vehicle access from the village via Castle Hill. Visitors arriving by bus, train or bicycle can claim a free hot drink in the cafés. A cycle lane runs from Minehead to Dunster along the A39, and cycle parking is behind Visitor Reception.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Watermill Tearoom and castle refreshments, plus the Stables Shop, a second-hand bookshop and a watermill shop selling flour. Picnicking is allowed in the grounds, with a picnic area near the car park. Toilets are available.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit