Dunster

Dunster is a village and civil parish in west Somerset, England, situated on the Bristol Channel coast 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south-southeast of Minehead and 20 miles (32.2 km) northwest of Taunton. The village has a population of 860 (2001).

The village has numerous restaurants and three pubs. West Street is the oldest street; though a quieter street than the high street it has three specialist shops: a Christmas shop, a kitchenware shop, and a gift shop. At the end of West Street is Dunster Working Watermill.

Dunster was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Torre, meaning 'The rocky hill' from the Old English tor. The prefix 'Duns' may well be a reference to the Saxon Dunn, who held land in nearby Elworthy and Willet before 1066.

Dunster Beach, which includes the mouth of the River Avill, is located half a mile from the village, and used to have a significant harbour, known as Dunster Haven, which was used for the export of wool from Saxon times; however, it was last used in the 17th century and has now disappeared among the dykes, meadows and marshes near the shore. The beach site has a number of privately owned beach huts (or chalets as some owners call them) along with a small shop, a tennis court and a putting green. The chalets, measuring 18 by 14 feet (5.5 by 4.3 m), can be let out for holidays; some owners live in them all the year round.

Dunster railway station is on the West Somerset Heritage Railway, though the station is over a mile from the village. It is in what is known locally as the Marsh.