Dunster Castle, near Minehead, in West Somerset. A fairy tale spot with spectacular views of the Bristol Channel.

The second Friday of a dull March produced some sunshine so I decided to take my camera to Dunster Castle, near Minehead, for the afternoon.  It is a National Trust property; Colonel Walter Luttrell gave The Castle and most of its contents to the Trust in 1976.

The journey up the A358 to Williton took a little longer than I anticipated: there was a bad accident with police and fire brigade in attendence on the dual carriageway south of Henlade while at Bishops Lydeard roadworks were causing long queues. Nevertheless, the drive north from Taunton through picturesque villages and bucolic countryside to Williton was relaxing and enjoyable.

Join the A39 and it is but a short journey through the villages of Washford, Bilbrook and Carhampton before you come across the tor which guards the approach to Minehead.  Upon this high pointed hill stands Dunster Castle.  

Colin Wintle succinctly describes The Castle in his Around Historic Somerset and Avon (Midas Books, 1978), he wrote nearly 40 years ago:

“It stands high over a setting so pictorially lovely as to be almost unbelievably romantic – a fairy tale spot, yet only a few hundred yards from the busy main road (A396) east of Minehead. 

On the site once stood a Saxon fortress.  When the Normans came the Conqueror granted it to the de Mohuns, but the oldest existing masonry is the late thirteenth century gateway.  By 1376 the Castle had changed hands.  Elizabeth Lutterell bought the demesne from the de Mohuns, and it remained in the family until Colonel Lutterell gave it to the National Trust – after exactly six centuries of occupation by his family.”(Sic).

The entrance to the National Trust car park is directly off the A39 and through the parkland.  Parking was easy, no doubt due to the time of year.  There is a steep walk up to the Gatehouse.

Dunster Castle and the view toward the Bristol Channel from the Keep Garden.

I spent the afternoon wandering around the footpaths which wend their way up through woods and terraced borders to the Keep Garden.  There are no longer any ancient structures there, but it is the highest point on the hill and provides some fine views of the Castle.  From Green Court, opposite the Gatehouse, I was able to look down upon the village of Dunster with its Priory Church of St. George, built of red sandstone and possessing a massive four stage tower.  Being such a clear day there were wonderful views from the battlements of the Quantock Hills and out over the Bristol Channel to the coast of Wales.  The huge block-like structure of the nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, 14 miles away as the crow flies, was distinctly visible.

The Priory Church of St. George in the village of Dunster, viewed from Green Court near the Gatehouse.

I spent so much time taking in the views that I did not have time to go inside any of the buildings or explore the parkland.  Dunster Castle, as will the village of Dunster, needs several visits to appreciate fully.

This little chap was patrolling the battlements.