Opening Times

Fridays - Wednesday 11:00am - 4 pm Closed Thursdays

What makes this a great venue for School group Fun or Educational Visits?

We are an award winning education property perched high on a rocky outcrop overlooking sea and wild moorland. The turreted and embattled skyline is a frontispiece to English history. It evokes the age of siege warfare, cannon fire, dark deeds, bloodshed and treachery. However, learning is fun, exciting and inspirational with knowledgeable, friendly staff and volunteers here to help you understand and enjoy your visit.

What are the Curriculum Topics or Benefit to the students from a visit?

The most obvious focus for an education visit to Dunster Castle involves key elements of History at KS1,2,3, particularly Victorian Britain, English Civil War and the Tudors. However there are also opportunities to enhance the English programme and strong links can be made with Geography, Art, Science and Technology.
Invigorating breezes, exercise, spectacular scenery and a sense of awe and wonder await schools who choose to visit this medieval stronghold.

What are the activities?

‘Living History’ in authentic period costume tours including Victorian servants and their life and times ‘below stairs’. English Civil War and the Siege and Surrender of Dunster Castle. A route march around the perimeter defences with weapons demonstrations and violent hand to hand combat. Garden trails including Woodland Sensory Trail, Summit to River picture Trail, Plant Hunters Guide and A-Maze-ing Garden Walk following the trail from dizzying heights, down slippery slopes to a roaring river and deep dark sub tropical jungle where ancient ferns abound.

What is the age range of the activities?

Pre school /reception class 5 – 16, GCSE and A-Level

What materials to you provide or suggest groups bring to support the visit?

Sensible footwear and packed lunch

What are the minimum and maximum group sizes and the free Teacher Ratio?

? Ratio 1:10 Maximum two classes

Do you have or how do you arrange risk assessment?

We have all our own Risk Assessments available for schools to view but encourage free advance planning visits to enable teachers to carry out their own risk assessments on behalf of their school

What facilities are there for school groups for food and drink, shop etc?

Dunster village shops and use of our own Schools Study Base as wet weather area, lunch, deposit school bags meetings etc.

Is specific clothing required?

Sensible footwear, waterproofs in inclement weather

Do you have first aid on site?

Yes

Are there any restrictions on photos, copyright etc?

No photography or mobile phones in mansion house but photography encouraged in gardens and grounds where the spectacular scenery can be captured

Additional information.

The education service at Dunster Castle offers a wide range of opportunities for learning to a variety of education groups. All tours, marches and trails take place in a friendly, safe, secure and knowledge rich environment with the castle being described as the Jewel in the Crown of Exmoor