Dunster Hotels: Where to Stay in Somerset

Dunster is a small medieval village on the edge of Exmoor National Park in Somerset. Hotels in Dunster are few, and the lodging list is short. We confirmed one large historic inn, one second hotel on the High Street, a family-run bed and breakfast, and a village pub with rooms. We also checked a property the old version of this guide listed as a hotel at Dunster Castle. Dunster Castle is a National Trust attraction, not a hotel. This guide covers every Dunster hotel and inn we could verify, flags the gaps, and shows where else to stay nearby. Rates change daily, so we do not quote them.

Compare Dunster, Somerset, England hotels on Expedia

Hotels in Dunster: Where to Stay in the Village

The Luttrell Arms Hotel

The Luttrell Arms is the best known of the Dunster hotels. The address appears as 32 to 36 High Street, Dunster, Minehead, TA24 6SG. Call the hotel on 01643 821555. Hotels.com and Lastminute both list the address as 32 to 36 High Street, and the Somerset CAMRA entry gives 36 High Street.

Wikipedia dates the site to 1443, when Richard Luttrell acquired two properties there. The present building dates from the late 15th and early 16th centuries and began as a guest house for the Abbots of Cleeve Abbey. The building holds Grade 2 star listed status. The Good Pub Guide named the hotel its Inn of the Year in 2016.

The hotel has 28 bedrooms. Some rooms have four-poster beds, according to Wikipedia. Hotels.com and Lastminute list check-in from 2:00 PM and check-out by 11:00 AM. Both listings name a restaurant called Psalter’s, two bars, a garden, a terrace, free Wi-Fi, and a spa with massage services. Confirm the spa and room service with the hotel before you plan around them.

Dogs are welcome. Hotels.com lists a limit of two dogs per room and a nightly fee per pet, so ask about the current fee when you book. The same listing says the hotel has no onsite parking and reimburses guests for public parking nearby. Ask the hotel to explain how the refund works before you arrive.

Pick the Luttrell Arms if you want a historic building, a restaurant on site, and a base steps from the High Street. The back garden looks toward Dunster Castle, according to the CAMRA listing.

Yarn Market Hotel

The Yarn Market Hotel stands on the High Street in Dunster, Exmoor National Park, TA24 6SF. The hotel website lists the phone as 01643 821425. The site shows 28 individually styled bedrooms, a dog friendly welcome, and a direct booking system.

We found this hotel on its official website only. We did not find a second source for room details, check-in times, or the restaurant. Treat the 28 room count as unconfirmed and call the hotel to ask about meals, parking, and accessible rooms.

The name comes from the Yarn Market, the octagonal market cross in the village. Wikipedia says the Luttrell family probably built the market cross in 1609 to protect Dunster as a centre of the wool and cloth trade. Choose this hotel if you want a High Street location and a dog friendly stay.

The Olde House Bed and Breakfast

The Olde House is a family-run bed and breakfast at 13 High Street, Dunster, TA24 6SF. The website describes a 16th century Grade 2 listed building with an attached tea shop. Call 07497 295358.

The site lists three en suite rooms. The Dunster room and the Exmoor room each sleep two in a kingsize bed. The Family room sleeps up to four. Breakfast runs from 8:00 to 9:30 AM, and the kitchen caters for gluten free and vegetarian guests.

We found the Olde House on its own website only. Confirm availability, check-in times, and parking with the owners. Choose this property if you prefer a small guest house over a larger hotel.

Stags Head Inn

The Stags Head Inn is a Grade II listed pub at 10 West Street, Dunster, TA24 6SN. The Somerset CAMRA entry says the pub offers accommodation, a restaurant, real ales, and ciders. The listing gives the phone as 07727 638819 and names the landlords as Jane and Nigel.

CAMRA is our only source for this inn. We could not confirm the number of rooms, room types, or current booking rules. Call or email before you plan a stay. A pub with rooms suits travelers who want a simple bed and a bar downstairs.

Dunster Castle Is Not a Hotel

The old version of this guide listed Dunster Castle Hotel with a spa and restaurant. We found no such hotel. Dunster Castle belongs to the National Trust and operates as a visitor attraction. Wikipedia also describes the castle as a National Trust visitor attraction.

The castle sits at Dunster, Minehead, TA24 6NY. The National Trust phone number is 01643 821314. Wikipedia says Colonel Sir Walter Luttrell gave the castle and most of its contents to the National Trust in 1976. The Luttrell family owned the site for nearly 600 years. The castle holds Grade I listed status.

The National Trust does rent holiday cottages near the castle. The Trust lists Dunster Keeper’s House, which overlooks the castle and sleeps five. Check the National Trust website for availability and booking terms. A cottage works better than a hotel room for a family or a group.

Dunster Mill House and Other Dropped Listings

The old guide also listed Dunster Mill House, described as a converted mill with a hot tub. We could not verify a property with this name and could not open its website. We dropped the listing. If you find a booking page for the Mill House, call the owners and confirm the address before you pay.

This is a useful habit for any small village. Search the property name with the village name, find a phone number, and call. A guest house with no working phone number and no official website deserves caution.

Where to Stay Near Dunster Castle and Exmoor

Dunster Castle stands about three miles southeast of Minehead, according to the National Trust. Wikipedia says the village lies on the Bristol Channel two and a half miles southeast of Minehead, inside the northeastern edge of Exmoor National Park. Staying in the village keeps you within reach of the castle, the market cross, and the High Street shops.

The castle grounds include the Dunster Working Watermill. Wikipedia says the restored 18th century mill stands on a site where a mill was first recorded in the Domesday Book. The mill still grinds flour. Check the National Trust site for current opening times of the castle, the garden, and the mill, because hours change with the season.

The village also hosts the Ashen Faggot burning at the Luttrell Arms every Christmas Eve, according to Wikipedia. Visitors who plan to attend should ask the hotel about rooms well ahead.

Exmoor National Park surrounds the village. Walkers can start from the village and head into the hills. Check the Exmoor National Park Authority for current trail information before you set out.

Hotels Near Dunster in Minehead and Beyond

If the Dunster hotels are full, Minehead offers more beds. Wikivoyage lists a Premier Inn on Seaward Way, TA24 6DF, and a Duke of Wellington pub with rooms on Wellington Square, TA24 5NH. Wikivoyage also lists Butlins Minehead on Warren Road, TA24 5SH, and notes many bed and breakfasts along Tregonwell Road.

Wikivoyage lists two country houses farther out. Dunkery Beacon Country House sits at Wootton Courtney, TA24 8RH, and The Oaks sits at the edge of Porlock village, TA24 8ES. Wikivoyage notes age limits for children at both houses and seasonal opening, so call before you book.

We took these Minehead and Porlock details from one source. Confirm each address, phone number, and opening season with the property.

Getting to Dunster Without a Car

Dunster lies off the A39 and the A396, according to Wikipedia. The National Trust tells visitors to enter the castle parkland from the A39. Drivers should read each hotel parking note carefully, because the Luttrell Arms lists no onsite parking.

The West Somerset Heritage Railway runs from Minehead, and Dunster station lies a little over a mile from the village centre. The National Trust also lists bus services and a cycling route from Minehead. Check current timetables before you travel, because we could not confirm seasonal schedules.

How to Choose Among Dunster Hotels and Inns

Travelers who want history should start with the Luttrell Arms. The building dates to the 15th century and holds Grade 2 star status.

Dog owners have two clear options. The Luttrell Arms and the Yarn Market Hotel both welcome dogs. Ask each hotel for the fee and the limit per room.

Small groups and families can compare the Olde House family room with the National Trust cottages. The family room sleeps up to four. Dunster Keeper’s House sleeps five.

Drivers should ask about parking first. The Luttrell Arms has no onsite parking. Ask every property how guests park.

Budget minded travelers should phone each property and ask for the total with taxes and fees. Compare the total on two booking sites and by phone. We do not quote rates because prices shift by date.

Before you pay, confirm the property name, the cancellation policy, breakfast hours, and the front desk hours for late arrivals.

What We Checked and What We Could Not

We checked the Luttrell Arms against Wikipedia, Hotels.com, Lastminute, and Somerset CAMRA. We checked the Yarn Market Hotel and the Olde House against their own websites. We took the Stags Head Inn from Somerset CAMRA. We took castle details from the National Trust and Wikipedia, and Minehead details from Wikivoyage.

We could not confirm current rates, the Yarn Market Hotel room count from a second source, the Stags Head Inn room details, or the existence of Dunster Mill House. The Luttrell Arms address appears as both 32 and 36 High Street across sources, so use the postcode TA24 6SG and the phone number when you search. Phone numbers and policies change. Confirm each detail with the property before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Hotels in Dunster are few, and the village rewards early planning. The Luttrell Arms offers history and a restaurant. The Yarn Market Hotel offers a dog friendly High Street base. The Olde House and the Stags Head Inn give you smaller options. Dunster Castle is not a hotel, and we could not verify Dunster Mill House. Call ahead, confirm parking, and book early for a stay in Dunster.

Where else to stay in England. Every guide we have for the region.