Dunster Castle and Gardens -more than meets the eye…

Dunster Castleand Gardens

How do I get in touch?Dunster Castle: 01643 821314dunstercastle@nationaltrust.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunstercastlePhotography: NTPL, Seamus Rogers, Dave Wood and Paul James.

© National Trust 2019. The National Trust is an independent registered charity, number 205846Printed on 100% recycled Cocoon silk paper. Please recycle this leaflet after use.

Where can I find food and drink?Light refreshments, including hot and cold drinks to take out are available from the Camellia 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 dogDogs 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.

What is available for families?Wheel-friendly routes in the gardens and pushchair park in castle porch. Children’s quizzes 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?If you have enjoyed your visit to Dunster Castle today there are a number of ways that you can 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 details. Complete a comment card or visitor survey: your feedback really makes a difference.

Additional Access InformationIf you use a manual wheelchair or can transfer from your own electric buggy into our manual 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 needed. We’ve electric mobility vehicles which can be borrowed if you’d like. There are many benches within the gardens to rest and enjoy the views. Braille guides available at the castle desk.

Dunster WatermillDiscover 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 CleopatraLook 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.

Explore the castleDiscover how a fortress became a family home, find the secret passage, and marvel at Antony and Cleopatra on the rare 17th century leather hangings.

Get hands onHave a go at snooker in the Billiard Room, try on a top hat, bonnet or chainmail in the Hat Room and take a selfie.

Lose yourself in the gardensExplore the sub-tropical gardens, take in sweeping views, and follow the serpentine path to the hidden watermill.

Guided toursVisit the servants domain including the Victorian kitchens and attic bedrooms. Tour programme varies depending on the time of year.

Fun for all the familyGet competitive with the lawn games on the Green Court or try out the log play area down in the River Gardens.

From fortress to family homeThere’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.

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lanosrep ,sriahcleehw rof elbatiusnu shtaP mobility vehicles and some pushchairs Steps Steep Incline Dog Waste Bins No Access Stables Exhibition & Shop Gatehouse, Oubliette and Tenants’ Hall Vine Walk The Crypt Castle entrance Green Court Bastion Tower Circular Walk Pet Cemetery Jacob’s Ladder (steep) Reservoir Keep Garden Gazebo, Unearthing History Exhibition Butler’s Walk South Terrace Water Mill Lovers’ Tree Lovers’ Bridge River Garden Marshall’s Bridge Mill Walk Rustic Log Play Area Jigsaw’s Grave Pixie Well Dream Garden

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Key:

Y Car ParkiLG WCF Accessible WCn Baby Changing Facilitiesm Picnic Areae Viewpoint

Paths unsuitable for wheelchairs, personal mobility vehicles and some pushchairs

StepsSteep InclineDog Waste BinsNo Access

Stables Exhibition & Shop Gatehouse, Oubliette and Tenants’ Hall Vine Walk The Crypt Castle entrance Green Court Bastion Tower Circular Walk Pet Cemetery Jacob’s Ladder (steep) Reservoir Keep Garden

Gazebo, Unearthing History Exhibition Camellia House South Terrace Water Mill* Lovers’ Tree Lovers’ Bridge River Garden Marshall’s Bridge Mill Walk Rustic Log Play Area

Lawns’ Bridge Jigsaw’s Grave Pixie Well Dream Garden

*Please note this is a private business and an additional entry charge is made to visit the mill (inc. NT members)

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Key:

Y Car ParkiLG WCF Accessible WCn Baby Changing Facilitiesm Picnic Areae Viewpoint Paths unsuitable for wheelchairs, personal mobility vehicles and some pushchairs

StepsSteep InclineDog Waste BinsNo Access

Stables Exhibition & Shop Gatehouse, Oubliette and Tenants’ Hall Vine Walk The Crypt Castle entrance Green Court Bastion Tower Circular Walk Pet Cemetery Jacob’s Ladder (steep) Reservoir Keep Garden

Gazebo, Unearthing History Exhibition Camellia House South Terrace Water Mill* Lovers’ Tree Lovers’ Bridge River Garden Marshall’s Bridge Mill Walk Rustic Log Play Area

Lawns’ Bridge Jigsaw’s Grave Pixie Well Dream Garden

*Please note this is a private business and an additional entry charge is made to visit the mill (inc. NT members)

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13

DB

Key:

Y Car ParkiLG WCF Accessible WCn Baby Changing Facilitiesm Picnic Areae Viewpoint

Paths unsuitable for wheelchairs, personal mobility vehicles and some pushchairs

StepsSteep InclineDog Waste BinsNo Access

Stables Exhibition & Shop Gatehouse, Oubliette and Tenants’ Hall Vine Walk The Crypt Castle entrance Green Court Bastion Tower Circular Walk Pet Cemetery Jacob’s Ladder (steep) Reservoir Keep Garden

Gazebo, Unearthing History Exhibition Camellia House South Terrace Water Mill* Lovers’ Tree Lovers’ Bridge River Garden Marshall’s Bridge Mill Walk Rustic Log Play Area

Lawns’ Bridge Jigsaw’s Grave Pixie Well Dream Garden

*Please note this is a private business and an additional entry charge is made to visit the mill (inc. NT members)

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13

DB

Key:

Y Car ParkiLG WCF Accessible WCn Baby Changing Facilitiesm Picnic Areae Viewpoint

Paths unsuitable for wheelchairs, personal mobility vehicles and some pushchairs

StepsSteep InclineDog Waste BinsNo Access

Stables Exhibition & Shop Gatehouse, Oubliette and Tenants’ Hall Vine Walk The Crypt Castle entrance Green Court Bastion Tower Circular Walk Pet Cemetery Jacob’s Ladder (steep) Reservoir Keep Garden

Gazebo, Unearthing History Exhibition Camellia House South Terrace Water Mill* Lovers’ Tree Lovers’ Bridge River Garden Marshall’s Bridge Mill Walk Rustic Log Play Area

Lawns’ Bridge Jigsaw’s Grave Pie Well Dream Garden

*Please note this is a private business and an additional entry charge is made to visit the mill (inc. NT members)

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The Composting Area

Gatehouse Books

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For your safetyHaving once been a fortified castle, our gardenshave 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.