Dunster is one of the most complete medieval villages in Somerset — dominated by its magnificent Norman castle (NT), centred on a Yarn Market dating from around 1609 and complete with a working watermill, all within a few minutes' walk. The castle, priory church, yarn market, packhorse bridge and ancient watermill together make Dunster one of the richest small village heritage experiences in the South West.
The West Somerset Railway — the longest heritage railway in England — stops nearby. Dunster is the eastern gateway to Exmoor National Park — wild heather moorland, deep wooded combes, red deer and wild ponies begin virtually at the village edge.
Housing & Property Prices
HM Land RegistryAverage Price
£362,000
All property types
Detached
£528,000
Average sold price
Semi-detached
£322,000
Average sold price
Terraced
£262,000
Average sold price
Flat / Maisonette
£182,000
Average sold price
Annual Change
+3.0%
vs previous year
Schools & Ofsted Ratings
OfstedOutstanding
0
schools
Good
2
schools
Requires Improvement
0
schools
Inadequate
0
schools
- Good
Crime Statistics
Police.ukCrime Rate
10
per 1,000 residents
vs National Avg
Well below average
England & Wales
Most Common
Anti-social behaviour
crime category
Broadband & Connectivity
OfcomAverage Download
34 Mbps
median speed
Superfast Coverage
68%
30 Mbps+
Ultrafast Coverage
18%
100 Mbps+
Full Fibre (FTTP)
8%
premises
Health & NHS Access
NHS DigitalNearest GP Surgery
Minehead Medical Centre
3.2 miles away
NHS Trust
Somerset NHS FT
responsible trust
Nearest Hospital
Musgrove Park Hospital Taunton
22.4 miles
Environment & Green Space
DEFRA / ONSAir Quality Index
Good
annual average
Green Space
78%
of local area
Flood Risk
Low
Environment Agency
Transport & Connectivity
DfT / National RailNearest Station
Minehead West Somerset Railway Station
3.2 miles
To London
3h 20m (via Taunton)
approx by rail
Nearest Motorway
M5
18.4 miles
Nearest Airport
Exeter Airport
38 miles
Dunster at a Glance — Area Scorecard
TownData.co.ukOverall
8.8
Excellent
Family Life
9.0
Excellent
Schools
9.0
Excellent
Transport
4.0
Poor
Nightlife
3.0
Poor
Value for Money
7.0
Very Good
Safety
10.0
Excellent
Green Space
10.0
Excellent
Scores calculated from official data sources including ONS, Police.uk, Ofsted and Ofcom. Rated out of 10.
Who is Dunster Good For?
TownData.co.ukFamilies
✅ Great for families
Commuters
❌ Poor transport links
Students
❌ Limited student life
Retirees
✅ Peaceful & well-served
Young Professionals
❌ Limited for young pros
First-Time Buyers
⚡ Moderate affordability
Outdoor Lovers
✅ Excellent green space
Nightlife Seekers
❌ Better options elsewhere
Things to Do & Local Attractions
VisitBritain- Dunster Castle (NT)A Norman castle on a wooded tor above the village, occupied for 600 years by the Luttrell family. Magnificent interiors, terraced gardens and extraordinary Bristol Channel views.
- Dunster Yarn MarketA beautifully preserved octagonal market building of c.1609 still standing in the middle of the High Street — one of the finest Jacobean market buildings in Somerset.
- West Somerset RailwayThe longest heritage railway in England — Dunster has its own station. Steam trains pass through spectacular Exmoor and coastal scenery.
- Exmoor National ParkDunster is the eastern gateway to Exmoor — wild heather moorland, deep wooded combes, red deer and some of England's finest walking begin immediately west.
- Dunster WatermillA restored working watermill on the River Avill, producing stoneground flour. One of the few remaining working mills in Somerset.
Nearby Towns & Villages
ONS / Ordnance SurveyWeather & Climate
Met OfficeJan
7°C
Feb
7°C
Mar
9°C
Apr
11°C
May
14°C
Jun
17°C
Jul
19°C
Aug
19°C
Sep
16°C
Oct
12°C
Nov
9°C
Dec
7°C
Annual Rainfall
1020mm
mm per year
Sunshine Hours
1640 hrs
per year
Warmest Month
July/Aug
avg high 20°C
Coldest Month
January
avg low 2°C
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dunster a nice place to live?
Dunster is a settlement in Somerset. It has 100% of schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, average house prices of £362,000, and crime that is well below average the national average. Use the sections above to explore the full data profile.
What is the average house price in Dunster?
The average house price in Dunster is £362,000 according to HM Land Registry. This covers all property types. See the housing section above for a full breakdown by property type and annual price change.
Is Dunster safe to live in?
Dunster's crime rate is well below average the national average. See the crime section above for a full breakdown by category.
What are the schools like in Dunster?
100% of schools in Dunster are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. See the schools section above for a full list with individual Ofsted ratings.
How fast is broadband in Dunster?
Average broadband download speeds in Dunster are 34 Mbps according to Ofcom. See the broadband section above for superfast and full-fibre coverage figures.
Data sourced from official UK government datasets. All figures are for informational purposes only. TownData.co.uk is an independent website and is not affiliated with any government body.