School and Group visits to Dunster Castle

Overview

We have two options available for your visit:

Option 1 – Volunteer-led Castles Day*

Our team of learning volunteers will reveal the history of the castle from the Saxons to the Medieval period through two guided tours.   The inside tour considers ‘Life in a Castle’ and the outside tour explores ‘Why Castles were built’. Each tour lasts approximately 45 minutes and there is no additional charge. There will be free time after the guided tours for your group to visit the wider gardens and let off some steam before heading home. 

*The tours are subject to volunteer availability so we will confirm once your booking form has been received.

 

Option 2 – Teacher-led visit

A member of our learning team will greet your group on arrival and then it’s over to you to plan your day.  The adult leaders in your group will be given a copy of our family trails; ‘Castle Explorers’ for inside the house and ‘Trail of Tales’ for outside the house.  These trails provide you with a general history of the castle from Saxons to the mid-20^th century.

We would recommend allowing 30-45 minutes for each trail.

A rapid romp through 1000 years of history

We would also recommend sharing our introductory video with your class before you visit.  Please follow the link here to view the film.
 

Pricing

All groups must have an Education Group Access Pass or pay normal admission prices. Schools can benefit from an Educational Group Access Pass, which is an annual membership giving free access to the whole school group at National Trust properties. 

Without an Education Group Access Pass, normal admission to the site applies. These costs are: 

£8.50 per child 

£17.00 per adult

On the day

 

What to wear 

Please come prepared for walking around the grounds at the castle, which contains several steep slopes and uneven surfaces. We recommend comfortable walking shoes (no flip-flops or heels) and warm, waterproof clothing. There is no indoor space in case of wet weather so please dress appropriately.

Arrival 

• Your coach will need to drop off at Dunster Steep village car park (free coach parking)
• Your group will then need to follow either the permitted footpath sign though the National Trust parkland (gate by the side of the 'Rohan' building) or the pavement through the village. Please bear in mind that the parkland can be wet underfoot and uneven in places. 
• The walk will take you through the National Trust car park or the main village so please ensure you keep your group safe and be aware of moving vehicles. 
• Please approach the Visitor Reception Building to show your school's membership card. The team will then be able to help you get started on your visit and activities. 
• If you have booked for a volunteer assistant, this is where they will meet you. 

Please be aware there are no minibus or coach parking spaces in the National Trust car park. All vehicles must park in Dunster Steep.

Snacks and lunches

There is no indoor space for bag storage or lunches. Please ensure your group come prepared to carry their own bags. We recommend bringing a carrier bag to sit on if you plan to eat lunch outside as the grass can be damp. 

River Gardens and Watermill 

• There is an unfenced, fast-flowing river through the river gardens. Please stick to paths at all times
• The River Gardens are a relatively sheltered space suitable for an outdoor picnic. There is also a children's natural play area.
• The Watermill is a small building with limited capacity. If you choose to go inside please be mindful of other visitors and, similarly to the castle, stagger small groups intermittently. 

Shop and Cafe

• The shop has a range of pocket money souvenir items. If your group wishes to include the shop as part of their visit, please stagger entry in small groups and note that children must be accompanied by an adult. 
• Hot drinks and light snacks are available to buy in Tenants' Hall outside the front of the castle. 

Risk Assessments

We have completed full risk assessments for self-led visits, including the available trails. However, it is the school's responsibility to complete their own, in advance of their visit. If your group has EGA, you are entitled to a free pre-visit. 
 

Make a booking

You must book your learning visit at least two weeks in advance. Bookings are currently only available on Tuesday and Wednesdays during term time.

There is a limit of a maximum of 60 pupils per visit.

For further information or to make a school booking please contact Barney Kenny on 01643 823006 or barney.kenny1@nationaltrust.org.uk. The email for group visits is at the bottom of the page.