The medieval village of Dunster lies in West Somerset, within Exmoor National Park. It is another Somerset gem and well worth a visit as there are plenty of wonderful things to see and do in Dunster.
DUNSTER BEACH
Let’s kick off with Dunster beach. Two kms long, the beach was formed by the erosion of cliffs and rising sea levels around 10,000 years ago. Wooden groynes have been built and grasses planted in an effort to stop erosion. It is home to lots of bird life and many beach huts! If you fancy a stay in a Dunster beach hut, you’ll need to be organised as they usually get booked up months in advance. There is plenty of car parking right by the beach (pay and display) plus cafes and toilets.
Dunster beach
Just a short distance from the beach you will find Dunster Railway station. The station dates back to 1874. While the station now lies idle for most of the year you can board special services which run from April to October. It’s around a 20 minute walk from Dunster railway station to Dunster village.
DUNSTER VILLAGE somerset
A short drive from the beach lies Dunster village with its array of striking architecture. There is a car park close to Dunster Castle – a building first established after the Norman Conquest! No longer a medieval castle, the building was re-modelled in the 1860s and 1870s and gifted to the National Trust in the 1970s.
Car parks are located in the castle grounds (National Trust) and off Dunster Steep (109 spaces). There is also a 17 space car park in Park Street (pay & display).
Yarn market
One of the most striking buildings in Dunster is the Yarn Market. Back in the 12th century Dunster was on the coast and the main trading port for Exmoor. After the sea retreated, it thrived as a centre of the wool trade and this octagonal structure was used to sell Dunster cloth and Kerseymere.
This remarkable structure is now Grade I listed and a Scheduled Monument. If you take a look inside, you can see a hole in one of the oak beams which was made by a cannonball during the Civil War.
The Old Nunnery
Many of the buildings and houses in Dunster ooze history and have remarkable stories to tell. Former Priory buildings include a Dovecote, Tithe Barn, and the former Priory gardens.
Dunster somerset – Dovecote
The Dunster Dovecote probably dates to the 13th or 14th century and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade II listed building. Originally the dovecote contained 501 nest holes which could be reached by way of a revolving ladder! Dovecotes were used by the landed gentry from the Middle Ages to the 18th century to provide fresh meat.
Dovecote
TITHE BARN
Back in the days of Henry VIII, the net annual income of the Dunster Tithe Barn was more than £37.
After much fund raising and renovation works the Dunster Tithe Barn Community Hall re-opened on 10 May 2007. It is now used regularly for public events and can be hired.
The former priory gardens are now a Garden of Memory looked after by local volunteers. They provide a lovely area to wander through and take a breather.
Walk a short distance further and you will come across a lovely church. The Priory Church of St. George is a Grade I listed building. Restored during the 1870s, it is believed work originally commenced on the building back in the 12th century. The church contains some incredible pieces. The font dates to the reign of Henry VIII while the nave has a fan vaulted Rood screen which is believed to have been made in 1500. The screen was made following a dispute between the Benedictine Monks and the parishioners of Dunster. Originally brightly coloured, the screen is made up of 15 compartments and is over 50 feet long. It is the longest of this type of screen in England (and possibly the world).
The Rood screen
The beautiful, wide wagon roof dates to the 1500s while the North and West walls of the nave are Norman.
dunster somerset – The Gallox Bridge
The Gallox Bridge is a rare example of a medieval packhorse bridge. It crosses the river Avill and linked the market town of Dunster with the sheep pastures in the south. This stunning double-arched bridge has been sympathetically restored and maintained over the centuries.
A short stroll from the bridge lies an 18th century working watermill. Dunster Working Watermill is one of the last remaining working watermills in the region. Close by is a decent National Trust café with indoor and outdoor seating.
Shops
There are plenty of good independent shops and a broad selection of places to eat and drink. Eateries range from the traditional to the quirky. Born Appetite has its own gin distillery and the food is fabulous.
NUTCOMBE BOTTOM NEAR DUNSTER
Just half a mile from Dunster lies Nutcombe Bottom. This amazing place is home to some of England’s tallest trees. From the small car park you can follow a tall tree trail and see Britain’s tallest dawn redwood (over 37.4 metres tall), England’s tallest magnolia (over 25.6 metres in height) and England’s tallest tree (a Douglas fir measuring over 63 metres) in the space of 600 metres! The trail path is wide and well-maintained. There are 4 short bridges over a stream which meanders through the woods here at Nutcombe Bottom.
The fertile soil and warm, wet climate make for ideal growing conditions. The trees love it.
England’s tallest tree
England’s tallest tree has been in the woods at Nutcombe Bottom since 1876. To put the height of the Douglas fir into some context, it is taller than the Leaning Tower of Pisa!
The woods here are stunning. If you like walking, there are circular trails beyond the end of the tall trees trail which bear left and right. The paths here are bumpy and steep, but the views and the birdsong make the effort worthwhile. The sunlight through the trees is magical.
So come and see for yourself what the medieval village of Dunster in Somerset has to offer. You won’t be disappointed. I also know just the place to stay!