Dunster Castle and Gardens, Exmoor, Somerset

With the forecast here full of warnings of severe weather from the tail end of Hurricane Katia, it's nice to revisit a day in June.
Apparently Katia crossed the Atlantic so quickly if retained much of it's power. Most of the destruction is forecast for the north and west.

Here we are walking (not us in the picture) up to Dunster Castle in north Somerset on the edge of Exmoor national park.

There has been a castle here since Norman times, meaning it really has seen it's fair share of treachery, bloodshed and often death, not least during a massive besiegement during the Civil War. The Lutrell family lived at the castle for over 600 years.

We pass the old stables

and make our way through the kitchen gardens with St. George's church in the background where a nunnery and cottage have stood for 550 years. The church is home to the Lutrell tombs and the longest Rood Screen in England. The bells chime a different tune daily on the hours of 1, 5, and 9 and can be heard throughout the village.

However it is the castle with it's beautiful grounds and views that we will concentrate on here

The 13th century gatehouse is the oldest part that still survives

The walk up to the top is circular and steep

but well worth it for the views over the Bristol channel with South Wales on the other side

The castle is home to some incredible leather hangings that portray the famous love story of Anthony and Cleopatra.

The National Trust has looked after the castle and grounds since 1976

The Orangry

With it's interesting shadows

and views in all directions

We continue up and up

and up the narrow stairways until we reach the top turrets

We shall now be walking down and going into Dunster Village for lunch, more walking, before driving to the coast to the seaside town of Minehead which will be covered in  another two posts.