Luttrell Arms.
High Street, Dunster, Somerset.
Dunster is a pretty little village dominated by Dunster Castle at one end. At the other end is the Luttrell Arms, featuring the family name of the long-standing residents of the castle. This 13th-century coaching inn is packed full of character, plus some quite surprising modern touches.
Bursting with charm, the bars and lounge are an attractive place at any time of year. With open fires, comfy seating and traditional décor the bar is recognised as one of the finest examples of a traditional English pub, whilst the lounge offers cosy corners, arm chairs and quieter spots ideal for reading the paper or enjoying afternoon tea. There's even a lovely garden, an enclosed courtyard and a deck with seating pods.
Named after the famous medieval manuscript ‘The Luttrell Psalter’, the Psalter Restaurant combines the historic legacy and character of the Luttrell’s ancient architecture with the very best of today’s British hospitality and cuisine. Lunch and dinner menus are comprehensive and aim to minimise food-miles by the use of local produce whenever possible. Being close to Exmoor, venison is of course a regular menu item. Hotel guests take breakfast here too, where alongside an Exmoor cooked breakfast there is a full continental breakfast selection including crossaints, fruit, breads and muffins.
The old stables at the Luttrell Arms have been lovingly restored and renamed as The Mews. Hosting three relaxing and stylish beauty rooms, they offer a wide range of bespoke treatments, from facials and massages to indulgent manicures, pedicures and hair treatments.
Dunster itself has a lot to see and do. From the hotel, stroll down the High Street past the ancient yarn market and numerous little shops and cafes, then up the hill to Dunster Castle which is now in the care of the National Trust. On coming back down, continue behind the castle, over the packhorse bridge and just keep on walking as far as you like onto Exmoor. Apart from walking and cycling on the moor, other nearby attractions include the West Somerset Steam Railway, Culbone church (the smallest parish church in the country), Tarr Steps, Dunkery Beacon and Horner Wood.