Dunster Castle Hotel
5 High Street, Dunster, Exmoor National Park TA24 6SF England
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Avg. $132 /night, 3/24 - 3/25
$151
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$128
per night
$105
per night
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About
#1 of 3 hotels in Dunster
Location
4.9
Rooms
4.6
Value
4.5
Cleanliness
4.8
Service
4.7
Sleep Quality
4.7
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Dunster Castle Hotel has Dunster's only private car park. It's 50 yards to the Castle and 1 mile to Dunster beach. Most rooms face the cobbled medieval High Street. The refurbished hotel has been under new ownership since 2016 and has established itself as a luxury boutique hotel. All rooms are en-suite and vary from compact budget through to luxurious super-kingsize, and feature SMART TV's, free fast broadband, USB points, tea/coffee, quality amenities, and are complemented by stylish designer fabrics. Most overlook the cobbled high street. We are now serving a delicious Sunday roast on which is also available Sunday and Monday evenings (booking recommended)
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Free breakfast
Bar / lounge
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Kids' meals
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Room features
Room service
Flatscreen TV
Walk-in shower
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Mid-range
Languages Spoken
English
Location
5 High Street, Dunster, Exmoor National Park TA24 6SF England
Getting there
Good for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 86 out of 100
86
18 Restaurants
within 0.3 miles
Reviews
Traveler rating
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Detailed Reviews
My wife and I stayed at the Dunster Castle Hotel for a 3 night break towards the end of October, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Our room was upgraded to the Conygar room with a king sized bed, and a good view of the High Street. The hosts, Lisa and John are very friendly, and offered great service, with John ensuring that the breakfast orders were ready promptly, and we could not fault his culinary skills. We understand that they are currently providing Sunday roasts, but we did not sample this during our visit.
The hotel has ample free private car parking for all guests which is accessed through a narrow archway. We only have a relatively small car (Ford Puma), and the width of the access is tight, but we did see a Range Rover exit ahead of us without incident as we were leaving.
All the rooms are well decorated, with just a few minor maintenance issues in our room which did not impact our stay at all. Rooms are serviced daily, usually whilst enjoying breakfast.
The hotel was not serving evening meals, which we knew before we booked our visit, and there are other excellent alternatives in the town. We visited the Foresters Arms and The Stags Head, and we were welcomed at both for good quality pub food.
Dunster Castle is a "must see" attraction which we have visited before, but being off season, there were fewer people, and we could have easily spent more time exploring further before sampling an excellent and ample Afternoon Tea at the Watermill Tea Room.
Dunster is an excellent base from which to explore and to visit Exmoor and the north Somerset and Devon Coastline. Lynmouth and Linton are easily accessible, and an hour or so at the tranquil Valley of the Rocks is also a must.
The hotel has ample free private car parking for all guests which is accessed through a narrow archway. We only have a relatively small car (Ford Puma), and the width of the access is tight, but we did see a Range Rover exit ahead of us without incident as we were leaving.
All the rooms are well decorated, with just a few minor maintenance issues in our room which did not impact our stay at all. Rooms are serviced daily, usually whilst enjoying breakfast.
The hotel was not serving evening meals, which we knew before we booked our visit, and there are other excellent alternatives in the town. We visited the Foresters Arms and The Stags Head, and we were welcomed at both for good quality pub food.
Dunster Castle is a "must see" attraction which we have visited before, but being off season, there were fewer people, and we could have easily spent more time exploring further before sampling an excellent and ample Afternoon Tea at the Watermill Tea Room.
Dunster is an excellent base from which to explore and to visit Exmoor and the north Somerset and Devon Coastline. Lynmouth and Linton are easily accessible, and an hour or so at the tranquil Valley of the Rocks is also a must.
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A fabulous hotel with wonderful hosts Lisa and John. We had a really warm welcome from Lisa, shown to our room which didn’t disappoint with high standards of cleanliness and very tasteful decor and furnishings. We immediately felt at home there. The choice of food available for breakfast is 5 star and the quality and service by both Lisa and John was exceptional. We couldn’t fault our stay of 3 nights and hope to return soon. A perfect location for exploring Dunster and the surrounding areas.
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Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Breakfast only (apart from Sundays & Mondays) but recommendations of local restaurants were perfect.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What a beautifully decorated hotel!
Sumptuously decorated, with thick soft carpet and stylish, quirky objects on the walls in the communal areas. Room was very relaxing with a super soft bed. Shower was powerful. There was complementary tea/coffee/drinking chocolate in the room, and a little bag of biscuits and fererro roche chocolates (and I am of an age where I was brainwashed into instantly thinking this means they are really spoiling us!)
The owners (John and Lisa) were really friendly and engaging, and all the staff I interacted with were smiley and helpful.
As an environment it felt 'COVID-secure' without being alienating. I felt very safe there.
The breakfast was ordered on a sheet of paper and was of a good quality and quantity.
There was a free carpark on site, and overall the location of the hotel was perfect for visiting the castle/beach/town.
I would be delighted to stay there again; my only warning would be it is an old building, so although it is beautifully decorated and spotlessly clean it is not great on sound insulation. This did not negatively impact my stay at all, but in the interests of a balanced review it should be mentioned.
Sumptuously decorated, with thick soft carpet and stylish, quirky objects on the walls in the communal areas. Room was very relaxing with a super soft bed. Shower was powerful. There was complementary tea/coffee/drinking chocolate in the room, and a little bag of biscuits and fererro roche chocolates (and I am of an age where I was brainwashed into instantly thinking this means they are really spoiling us!)
The owners (John and Lisa) were really friendly and engaging, and all the staff I interacted with were smiley and helpful.
As an environment it felt 'COVID-secure' without being alienating. I felt very safe there.
The breakfast was ordered on a sheet of paper and was of a good quality and quantity.
There was a free carpark on site, and overall the location of the hotel was perfect for visiting the castle/beach/town.
I would be delighted to stay there again; my only warning would be it is an old building, so although it is beautifully decorated and spotlessly clean it is not great on sound insulation. This did not negatively impact my stay at all, but in the interests of a balanced review it should be mentioned.
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Date of stay: June 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Called in this hotel without booking and was thrilled they had a room for one night,
Beautiful Hotel, and wonderful guests, who carried out luggage up to the room for us as we are not good on stairs,
Dissapointing they are not supplying evening mills at the moment, due to lack of Staff. Judging by breakfast I can only imagine how great the evening meals would be. Narrow entrance finto car park, but again the host was more than happy to guide us out in the car.
Perfectly sited for Dunster Castle, although you do have to drive out of the villlage to access the Castle car park.
Lovely Room very comfortable and very clean our room was looking over the high road, which had the Bin men out early collecting rubbish, but it wasnt too bad the room was large and airy with free large botttle of sparking water.
TThe Breakfast was second to none,
Fruit salad was fresh with over 10 fresh fruit in it, I actually lost count and would recomend it with Yogurt in the morning,, very refreshing
Ordering breakfast the night before, did make us wonder, but it prooved to be ideal for a seamless service of exactly what you ordered, and if you forgot something the hosts are happy to add it to your order.
Porridge was Very Creamy and perfect generrous portion,
Beautiful Hotel, and wonderful guests, who carried out luggage up to the room for us as we are not good on stairs,
Dissapointing they are not supplying evening mills at the moment, due to lack of Staff. Judging by breakfast I can only imagine how great the evening meals would be. Narrow entrance finto car park, but again the host was more than happy to guide us out in the car.
Perfectly sited for Dunster Castle, although you do have to drive out of the villlage to access the Castle car park.
Lovely Room very comfortable and very clean our room was looking over the high road, which had the Bin men out early collecting rubbish, but it wasnt too bad the room was large and airy with free large botttle of sparking water.
TThe Breakfast was second to none,
Fruit salad was fresh with over 10 fresh fruit in it, I actually lost count and would recomend it with Yogurt in the morning,, very refreshing
Ordering breakfast the night before, did make us wonder, but it prooved to be ideal for a seamless service of exactly what you ordered, and if you forgot something the hosts are happy to add it to your order.
Porridge was Very Creamy and perfect generrous portion,
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â Book in advanace to avoid dissapointment. Plenty to walk around the village and see, allowing you...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is a great quaint boutique hotel. We booked this only a couple days in advance so were happy to find they had a room. Parking is free through a small arch in the hotel but not very wide, we stayed at Dunster Steep car park instead which was only 2-3 mins walk away from the hotel and only ÂŁ5.50 for 24 hours. John and Lisa were very welcoming and friendly, John was very knowledgeable about the area and gave us a lot of advice about where to go to star gaze (Dunkery Beacon or Nutcombe Bottom, Tall Trees Trail). The hotel is full of charm and character, the owners are easy going, breakfast was very nice. Some reviewers have mentioned the traffic noise at night but personally speaking we didn't notice it after a couple hours and slept soundly. We would definitely stay there again.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The narrow entrance to the carpark is challenging and only experienced drivers should attempt it. Once parked up though the setting of this hotel within the lovely Dunster village becomes apparent. With no dinner available at the time of visiting (staff availability issues are global) we used the sumptuous Reeves right across the road and the following day walked the steep 5 minutes to the amazing Dunster Castle before driving across the road to the beach and heritage steam line. The room, an upgrade to a luxury one, looked over the high street, was very large with a big comfy bed. Pre-ordered breakfast was slightly delayed as the chef made sure the eggs were as good as they should be, and the fresh fruit salad was an eye opener. The owners and staff were friendly, putting their own spin on the room welcom. The only areas for improvement: WiFi that works and some air fresheners to keep the mustiness of an old building under control. If we need an overnight stay near Minehead again, we will use both hotel and restaurant again.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It’s such a shame to see how far the Dunster Castle Hotel has fallen. This used to be a smart, welcoming place, the previous owners made a real asset to the high street. Now, the current owners close it up in the winter and jet off to the canaries, come the spring and summer it’s opening hours are beyond sporadic. The once-elegant frontage now looks tired and uninviting, which is a stark contrast to what it used to be. Dead window boxes are the only thing this place is able to exceed at.
Step inside, and unfortunately, things don’t improve. The interior, rather than feeling warm and characterful, it's brash and unrefined. Any charm the place once had has been lost, replaced with a style that feels out of place in such a historic village. The bar was removed some time ago and replaced with a Blackpool style gin bar, it's vulgar and garish. It no longer has the atmosphere that made it such a pleasant spot to visit. It used to be packed but sadly the owners clearly don't want the place to be a place to meet and eat. Their social media was last updated Nov 2022, that just about sums it up.
It’s hardly surprising that the property is still on the market. What was once a lovely and well-kept venue is now a blot on the high street, in desperate need of a new lease of life. Hopefully, someone with the right vision can bring it back to what it once was.
Step inside, and unfortunately, things don’t improve. The interior, rather than feeling warm and characterful, it's brash and unrefined. Any charm the place once had has been lost, replaced with a style that feels out of place in such a historic village. The bar was removed some time ago and replaced with a Blackpool style gin bar, it's vulgar and garish. It no longer has the atmosphere that made it such a pleasant spot to visit. It used to be packed but sadly the owners clearly don't want the place to be a place to meet and eat. Their social media was last updated Nov 2022, that just about sums it up.
It’s hardly surprising that the property is still on the market. What was once a lovely and well-kept venue is now a blot on the high street, in desperate need of a new lease of life. Hopefully, someone with the right vision can bring it back to what it once was.
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Date of stay: March 2025Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were upgraded to the conyger room, wow it is gorgeous! Look on their website to see pictures. The other front facing rooms are lovely too if the conyger is out of reach. We stayed before in one of those rooms. John and Lisa were lovely hosts, nice genuine people . Our experience was Hosts who will really try to look after you. The public areas were also very stylish and comfortable. They offer a service where you can bring in your own food and drink and eat in the bar area. What a brilliant idea if you want to save some money or you’re just feeling like being cosy and staying in. We ate out but would take advantage of this if we were staying longer. Dunster was quiet as was the hotel surprisingly. Sure it will start to pick up now Spring is here. Hope so John and Lisa have this lovely place to share!
Special mention of the breakfast one of our best yet. Shout out to the chef ( think his name was Simon) excellent.
Special mention of the breakfast one of our best yet. Shout out to the chef ( think his name was Simon) excellent.
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Date of stay: March 2025Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Parking is a premium in Dunster . We had no problem with arch even though narrow
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lovely olde worlde building with a recently refurbished interior to a high standard. I was kindly given an upgrade as they felt it would be more suitable for me with my two collies who were very welcome. So I had a huge very comfy king size bed in a large room facing the High Street. In the room was sherry, sparkling water, tea, coffee and biscuits. Also provided was milk in the communal fridge but I had brought my own and some fruit juice so it was lovely to be able to keep it nice and cold in there. As my first morning I was going out before their breakfast time I was also given a large packet of sandwiches to take with me. The reasons I have only given four stars are (1) because the windows were painted shut. My two nights there were both very warm and although a small fan was provided I was very hot and craved some fresh air. (2) the entrance to the car park is extremely narrow, flanked by rough stone walls and a fire escape has to be negotiated. I got in both times alright with my Volvo Estate but coming out the first time put some scratches on the handle and the wheel arch. The proprietor helped to guide me out both times and maybe seriously or in jest advised that if I was not comfortable using the car park entrance I should not have attempted it! Another couple who were also waiting to get their car out had scratched it on entering the previous day. The only reason I chose this hotel to stay in was because it was advertised as being the only hotel in the village with its own carpark and having to walk down the High Street with two dogs and two bags from the Pay and Display carpark would have been impossible for me. The lack of an evening meal due to staff shortages did not bother me.
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Go in a small car.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Really warm welcome when we arrived, from owner John, along with a room upgrade! What’s not to like :-) Loved the interior decor and the little touches like the sherry in the room and the fresh milk. We fortunately stayed on a Sunday night, so got to sample the Sunday Roast already mentioned in previous reviews. The hosts were really accommodating with my veggie gluten free needs also. Great night’s sleep in a huge bed, followed by a fabulous freshly cooked breakfast the following morning. Yoghurt and fresh fruit, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. Full meaty English breakfast for my accomplice. Dunster Village is gorgeous. Plenty to keep visitors busy for a weekend. We will definitely put this hotel onto our return visits list.
Tip: the archway into the huge hotel car park is narrow for modern cars, as was designed for walking a horse through :-) so ask a fellow passenger (or the hosts) to guide you through on arrival.
Tip: the archway into the huge hotel car park is narrow for modern cars, as was designed for walking a horse through :-) so ask a fellow passenger (or the hosts) to guide you through on arrival.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bluewater_2004 asked a question Oct 2017
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada1,087 contribution174 helpful votesAre there laundry facilities available nearby?
In minehead , 2 miles away.
Hi Janice C. Yes, we do welcome dogs. There is a room called the stables which has it's own entrance and a small drying area and there is aÂŁ10 charge per dog.. In the restaurant we allow dogs in any of the wooden floor areas. Kind regards. John
Hi Keith, I think everybody has answered it for you but, yes about 15 or so cars and many 4x4's have entered.
Hi Nikki P.
We are indeed a dog-friendly hotel. Of the 8 rooms, we have allocated a specific room to accommodate guests with pooches.
If you would like to book, just give us a call on 01643 823030 and we'll make sure you're looked after.
Look forward to hearing from you.
John & Lisa
"Access to the hotel car park is tight and care is needed. Best to book evening meals - Reeves and the Luttrell Arms are recommended."Read full review
"The rooms at the front are a bit noisy as they are right on the traffic lights But it does go quiet about 10pm "Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
$127 - $168 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandExmoor National ParkDunster
NUMBER OF ROOMS
9
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Dunster Castle Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to Dunster Castle Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Dunster Castle (0.1 miles), Dunster Working Watermill (0.2 miles), and Dunster Yarn Market (0.02 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Dunster Castle Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at Dunster Castle Hotel?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Dunster Castle Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Tea Room at Chapel House, Hathaways, and Reeves Restaurant.
Is Dunster Castle Hotel located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.1 miles away from the center of Dunster.
Are pets allowed at Dunster Castle Hotel?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Are there any historical sites close to Dunster Castle Hotel?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Dunster Castle (0.1 miles), Cleeve Abbey (3.9 miles), and Church of All Saints (4.8 miles).
Is Dunster Castle Hotel accessible?
Yes, it offers reduced mobility rooms. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.