Ruffles Cottage, Dunster

Pubs

The Luttrell Arms -- A striking late-15th-century coaching inn at the top of the High Street, now a hotel with twenty-eight bedrooms, a welcoming bar, and the award-winning Psalters restaurant, which holds an AA rosette and serves modern British menus built around seasonal, locally sourced produce. A Dunster landmark.

The Stags Head Inn -- A 16th-century pub, restaurant, and bed-and-breakfast serving a range of locally sourced food and drink in a warm, traditional setting. A popular choice for both lunch and dinner.

The Foresters Arms -- A friendly, family-run pub on West Street with a spacious bar, beer garden, skittle alley, and live music on Saturday evenings. Serves hearty home-cooked food, local ales, and Somerset cider. Dogs welcome.

Restaurants

Hathaways of Dunster -- An intimate Italian restaurant with just twelve covers, set in a 16th-century cottage on West Street. Chef Sandro prepares authentic Italian cuisine with fresh, seasonal ingredients, while Kasia looks after front of house. Open evenings only -- booking essential. Tel: 01643 821725.

Cobblestones -- A relaxed restaurant and bar in the heart of the village with a comfy bar area, cosy restaurant, and peaceful walled garden. Known for generous scones, seafood platters, and a good range of gluten-free options. Open since 2005.

Born Appetite -- A restaurant in a beautifully converted former Methodist chapel near the top of West Street, serving Asian-inspired dishes alongside cream teas, light bites, and West Country gins.

Gables Restaurant -- Located inside the Yarn Market Hotel at the top of the High Street, open to both residents and non-residents for lunch and dinner.

Cafes and Tea Rooms

Locks Victorian Tea Rooms -- A traditional tea room in a 15th-century building, tucked behind the High Street (enter from the National Trust car park or via Jacobs shop). Homemade cakes, cream teas, light lunches, and a lovely garden. Tel: 01643 822001.

Castle Coffee House -- A popular spot for homemade cakes, light meals, and excellent coffee, with friendly staff and a cosy atmosphere.

Dunster Lunchbox -- A great casual stop for a bite to eat or a drink, with outdoor benches and parasols.

Nearby

Minehead (1.5 miles) has a wider choice of restaurants, takeaways, and supermarkets. There is also a deli in Dunster village for local produce and picnic supplies.

In Dunster

Dunster Castle and Gardens -- A thousand years of history from Norman fortress to Victorian country home, now managed by the National Trust. Explore the castle rooms with their rare painted leather hangings and 17th-century carved staircase, then wander the subtropical terraced gardens with views across the Bristol Channel. Allow at least half a day. Open most of the year -- check the National Trust website for current times.

Dunster Working Watermill -- A working 18th-century watermill on the site mentioned in the Domesday Book, set in the riverside garden at the castle. Watch the double waterwheels in action, see the giant millstones, and buy wholemeal flour milled on site.

The Yarn Market -- Built in the early 1600s by George Luttrell for the village's thriving cloth trade, this charming octagonal market building is one of the most photographed landmarks on Exmoor.

Gallox Bridge -- A medieval packhorse bridge over the River Avill, near the watermill. A picturesque spot for a short stroll.

Dunster Museum and Doll Collection -- A small museum documenting Dunster's 10,000-year history, with Roman finds from Dunster Beach and the largest collection of dolls outside the V&A.

West Somerset Railway -- Take a nostalgic steam train ride on the longest independent heritage railway in England, running 20 miles from Minehead through Dunster to Bishops Lydeard near Taunton. Dunster has its own station with a booking office and light refreshments. Special experiences include afternoon tea trains and seasonal events.

Wider Exmoor and Beyond

Dunster Beach -- A sand-and-pebble beach on the Bristol Channel, about a mile from the village. A short walk from Dunster station or a quick drive.

Minehead -- The nearby coastal town (1.5 miles) has a sandy beach, the start of the South West Coast Path, and a good range of shops and attractions.

Exmoor National Park -- Red deer, Exmoor ponies, and dramatic moorland landscapes are all within easy reach. Popular destinations include Tarr Steps (ancient clapper bridge), Dunkery Beacon (highest point on Exmoor), and the Doone Valley.

Lynton and Lynmouth -- The famous cliff railway connects these twin villages about 20 miles along the coast. The Valley of Rocks and the riverside walks are spectacular.

Cleeve Abbey -- A remarkably complete medieval abbey near Watchet, managed by English Heritage.

Walks from Dunster

Grabbist Hill -- A wonderful walk through ancient woodland just south of the village, with panoramic views over Dunster and Exmoor. This is the hill where Cecil Frances Alexander composed the hymn "All Things Bright and Beautiful" in 1848. The ledges cut into the hillside were once used to dry Dunster's broadcloth.

Conygar Tower -- A short but rewarding walk through Conygar Woods to the 18th-century folly tower on the hilltop opposite the castle. At 18 metres high, it offers superb views over the village, Exmoor, and the Bristol Channel. The name comes from medieval words meaning "rabbit garden."

Dunster Park -- The castle's historic deer park and woodland, perfect for a gentle stroll with the chance of spotting red deer. Access from the castle grounds or via the footpath from the village.

Bat's Castle -- A circular walk from the village taking in the Iron Age hill fort on Withycombe Hill, with views back to Dunster Castle and across the Bristol Channel to Wales. Approximately 4.5 miles.

South West Coast Path -- The start of England's longest National Trail is at Minehead, just 1.5 miles away. Walk westward along the coast towards Porlock and beyond, or explore the coastal section between Minehead and Blue Anchor.

Horner Woods -- One of the finest ancient oak woodlands in Britain, a National Nature Reserve about 4 miles from Dunster. Beautiful riverside walking and a top spot for autumn colour and wild red deer.

Beaches

Dunster Beach -- A mix of sand and pebbles overlooking the Bristol Channel, about a mile from the village. A lovely walk or short drive, and close to Dunster station.

Minehead Beach -- A sandy beach with a promenade, just 1.5 miles away. Good for families with facilities nearby.

Blue Anchor Bay -- A quiet pebble beach with fossil hunting, approximately 3 miles east of Dunster. Reachable by car or by the West Somerset Railway.

North Devon Beaches -- The golden sand beaches at Woolacombe, Croyde, and Saunton are within reach for a day trip, approximately 1 hour by car.