  DESTINATIONS UK
DUNSTER
NORTH
SOMERSET
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Located just off the
A39, three miles from the seaside resort of Minehead and at the edge of
Exmoor, you will find one of the prettiest small towns in England -
Dunster.
Dunster has it all - an
historic castle overlooking the town, a working water mill, a picturesque
packhorse bridge and ford, elegant 15th century parish church, unique octangular Yarn Market and a long main street lined with 17th to 19th
century buildings, now teashops, inns, hotels and gift shops.
Many of the town's
buildings are picture-book thatched cottages, with roses around the door
and colourful cottage gardens.
The town received its Charter from
Reginald de Mohun shortly after the Norman Conquest. During the 12th
century Dunster thrived as a trading port, known as Dunster Haven. However
the sea retreated and Dunster, now high and dry, turned to the wool trade
for its living. The beach at Dunster is now a mile or so from the town.
Local cloth was known as "Dunsters". In the centre of the town
you find the unusual octangular Yarn Market, built in 1609 to shelter traders and
their wares from the weather. Damaged during the Civil War, it was
restored in about 1647.
Dunster Castle
dominates the town. Dramatically sited on a wooded hill, a castle has
existed here since at least Norman times. The 13th century gatehouse
survives, and the present building was remodelled in 1868-72 by Antony
Salvin for the Luttrell family, who lived here for 600 years until 1950.
Below the Castle is St. George's Church which dates mainly from the early
15th century. The church contains many beautiful features, the
finest being a rood-screen which stretches the full width of the building.
 Stroll
down the main street (watch out for the traffic!) past the church and the
castle, and follow the signs to the watermill. This is a working mill
(entrance fee) and next to it is a pretty little tearooms with garden by
the mill stream.
Wander down the lane next to the
tearooms, past some romantic thatched cottages, and you will come to a
small bridge and ford. This is Gallox Bridge, a medieval packhorse bridge crossing the
river Avill.
For train enthusiasts, the
West Somerset Steam
Railway Station is on the outskirts of the town. The railway runs for
20 miles from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead through glorious Somerset
scenery beside the Quantock Hills to the Bristol Channel coast. There are
ten restored stations along the route, including Dunster; many have
signalboxes, engine sheds, museums, displays, steam engines and other
rolling stock to see.
Medieval Dunster is a superb base for
exploring the beautiful North Somerset coast, the pretty inland villages
with their thatched cottages and ancient inns, dramatic Exmoor and Lorna
Doone country.
Dunster By Candlelight
Dunster by Candlelight takes place every year on the
first Friday and Saturday in December when this remarkably preserved
medieval village turns its back on the present and lights its
streets with candles. To mark the beginning of the festival on
Friday at 5pm, there is the Lantern Lighting Procession that starts
on the Steep and continues through the village until all the
lanterns in the streets have been lit. The procession of children
and their families is accompanied by colourful (and tall!)
stiltwalkers in fantastic costumes who put up the lanterns.
USEFUL
LINKS
Dunster Castle,
National Trust, rebuilt in the 19th century, the castle is set in
parkland. Tel: 01643 821314 Open: Apr-Oct Sat-Wed, park open all
year
Dunster
Working Water Mill, Mill Lane, Dunster - built on a site mentioned in the Domesday
Book 1086. Dates from the 18th century and is now restored to
working order. Admission charge.
Hotel Accommodation in Dunster:
Yarn Market Hotel, Dunster
Holiday Cottages to rent:
Weaver's Cottage Dunster -
Cottage code EPS - sleeps 4 - 5
Priory Gate Dunster -
Cottage code EJJ - sleeps 5
İHUK
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