Perched on a hilltop and surrounded by terraced gardens, turreted Norman-style Dunster Castle was home to the Luttrell family for 600 years until 1976 when the property was turned over to the National Trust for preservation. The current castle was built on the site of Norman stronghold granted to William de Mohun of Normandy by William the Conqueror shortly after the Norman conquest of England in 1066. A 13^th-century gateway is all that remains of this original fortress. The castle was extensively remodeled during Victorian times. 

An extensive number of rooms are open to the public, allowing you to stroll through the castle as it might have looked in the late Victorian or Edwardian eras. Among the most interesting features were the grand staircase, bathing chamber, the enormous billiard table and the library. The cellar and dungeon are also open for viewing and feature a display about the many ghosts that are purported to haunt Dunster’s grounds. 

The village of Dunster lies at the bottom of the hill below the castle. Conygar Tower, built in 1775 as a landmark for shipping, perches on a slope on the opposite side of the village closer to the sea. The village is an interesting destination in its own right, with quaint shops and historic buildings, such as the 400-year old open-sided octagonal Yarn Market, a reminder of the village’s once-thriving wool industry. 

Because of the castle’s picturesque setting and the extensive number of interesting rooms preserved in their late 19^th century/early 20^th century state, Dunster Castle is ranked among my top five castles visited in the UK.