Dunster National Park Centre - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

The Yarn Market in Dunster, Somerset, England was built around 1590 and has been designated as a Grade I listed building and scheduled ancient monument. The market cross was probably built in 1609 by the Luttrell family who were the local lords of the manor to maintain the importance of the village as a market, particularly for wool and cloth.

Dunster Castle is a former motte and bailey castle, now a country house, in the village of Dunster, Somerset, England. The castle lies on the top of a steep hill called the Tor, and has been fortified since the late Anglo-Saxon period. After the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century, William de Mohun constructed a timber castle on the site as part of the pacification of Somerset.

Dunster beach is a sandy beach on the edge of the Exmoor National Park in Somerset. The site is a collection of charming historic beach huts, the first built nearly 100 years ago by Lady Luttrell who resided at Dunster Castle. The huts housed Coastal Defence Workers and the Home Guard during World War II with trenches, barbed wire and pillboxes, although now just the pillboxes remain as a reminder of those darker days.

West Somerset Railway offers 20 miles of heritage railway through stunning Somerset countryside and coast. It is the longest standard gauge independent heritage railway in the United Kingdom. Services normally operate over just the 20.5 miles between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard. During special events some trains continue a further two miles to Norton Fitzwarren where a connection to Network Rail allows occasional through trains to operate onto the national network.

A beautiful wide sandy beach about a mile long, which is backed by a sea wall and promenade. Access to the beach is down short ramps or steps. At the western end is the harbour, whilst to the east the sand continues most of the way to Dunster. Along with a number of hotels and apartments that line the promenade the beachfront is overlooked by a large Butlin’s holiday camp, adding to the lively atmosphere of the resort.

A wonderfully preserved example of London's 1960s-style high-density, low-rise public housing. Created in the 1920's it is now a mature, attractive and sheltered haven, popular with residents and visitors. The park provides spring and summer bedding displays, a wide range of trees, shrubs and perennials which thrive in the mild seaside climate.