- Location Minehead
- Price from £15.00
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Explore Dunster Castle and Deer Park
Highlights
Spend the morning exploring Dunster castle, the administrative centre of Dunster Estate since 1066.
Now owned by the National Trust, the castle was home to the Luttrell family for 600 years and has a fascinating history.
The Castle itself is open from March to October. Extensive gardens spiral down the sides of the castle mound and are available all year round.
Now owned by the National Trust, the castle was home to the Luttrell family for 600 years and has a fascinating history. The Castle itself is open from March to October. Extensive gardens spiral down the sides of the castle mound and are available all year round.
Dunster itself is a great place to wander, with plenty of individual shops and tea rooms, and the historic 16th century yarn market crowning the top of the high street. Wool from the Exmoor Horn sheep was very valuable back then, and packhorses would carry it in from more remote parts of the moor to be sold at the market. We recommend lunch by the roaring fire at the historic Luttrell Arms, and then walk it all off with a stroll over Gallox Bridge and through the deer park ,spotting fallow and roe deer and Exmoor ponies. Our route takes you over the iron age hillfort of Batts Castle with its useful information board and great views of the coast, the castle and Conygar tower, an 18th century folly.
Dunster by candlelight is a magical event held every December. The town roads are closed and all the residents join in by lighting their houses by candlelight and decorating gardens with fairylights. Market stalls abound and quantities of mulled wine and street food are on offer, with the many artisan shops throwing open their doors to Christmas shoppers. Take a walk up through the illuminated gardens of the castle and enjoy carols by the tree in the salon, then meander through the back lanes. If you’re lucky the old watermill will be working and you can buy their delicious stone ground flour, second to none for biscuits and pastries….we always use it in our baking courses!
Now owned by the National Trust, the castle was home to the Luttrell family for 600 years and has a fascinating history. The Castle itself is open from March to October. Extensive gardens spiral down the sides of the castle mound and are available all year round.
Dunster itself is a great place to wander, with plenty of individual shops and tea rooms, and the historic 16th century yarn market crowning the top of the high street. Wool from the Exmoor Horn sheep was very valuable back then, and packhorses would carry it in from more remote parts of the moor to be sold at the market. We recommend lunch by the roaring fire at the historic Luttrell Arms, and then walk it all off with a stroll over Gallox Bridge and through the deer park ,spotting fallow and roe deer and Exmoor ponies. Our route takes you over the iron age hillfort of Batts Castle with its useful information board and great views of the coast, the castle and Conygar tower, an 18th century folly.
Dunster by candlelight is a magical event held every December. The town roads are closed and all the residents join in by lighting their houses by candlelight and decorating gardens with fairylights. Market stalls abound and quantities of mulled wine and street food are on offer, with the many artisan shops throwing open their doors to Christmas shoppers. Take a walk up through the illuminated gardens of the castle and enjoy carols by the tree in the salon, then meander through the back lanes. If you’re lucky the old watermill will be working and you can buy their delicious stone ground flour, second to none for biscuits and pastries….we always use it in our baking courses!
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Inclusions
- Food a homemade cake or flapjack for elevenses.
- Drink tea, coffee, hot chocolate or cordial
- Equipment We will provide a compass and binoculars, but please also feel free to bring your own. Walking poles are also available, should you wish to borrow them.
What's included
- Warm Clothing It is a good idea to wear layers of warm clothing as the wind can be keen up on the tops, but you will warm up well on the hill climbs and the valleys are sheltered
- Waterproofs Good quality waterproof tops and trousers will add greatly to your enjoyment, even if they stay in your rucksack most of the time.
- Drink Your own water bottle
- Other Comfortable walking boots or shoes and a small rucksack, which we can lend if requested in advance.
What you'll need
Cancellations
Custom Policy
Cancellation Policy: If you cancel your booking more than 4 weeks prior to the booked date you will be entitled to a 50% refund of the total price. If you cancel 2-4 weeks prior you will be entitled to a 25% refund, no refund will be due for cancellations within 2 weeks of the booked date. If you wish to postpone/rearrange your booking we will endeavour to accommodate a change but will reserve the right to charge an administration fee if necessary.
Location
Minehead
Provider
wildaboutexmoor
wildaboutexmoor is the experience provider for Explore Dunster Castle and Deer Park