This self‑led trail is designed to guide you around some of the rare, unusual, and historically significant trees that help make Dunster Castle & Gardens such a special place. Pick up your free trail map from the Visitor Reception building, then set off at your own pace. Perfect for families, nature‑lovers, and curious wanderers alike, this gentle trail invites you to slow down, look up, and see Dunster Castle from a fresh perspective. Normal admission applies to non-members.

01643821314 dunstercastle@nationaltrust.org.uk

The Yarn Market Hotel in Dunster, based within Exmoor National Park, has a 3 night residential break on a Dinner Bed and Breakfast basis with a light lunch at the hotel Tuesday and Wednesday.
All admissions and transportation are included..
Monday: Arrival—Short walk to the Deer Park or Arboretum
Tuesday: Explore Dunster — Castle, Gardens and Mill
Wednesday: AM— Explore Dulverton and Heritage Centre
Wednesday: PM— Explore Porlock Weir, Porlock Weir Centre,      
Boat Museum and Galleries
Thursday: Dunster Beach gentle nature walk, then depart hotel. The cost is £390.00 per person inclusive (no single supplements)

01643 821425 hotel@yarnmarkethotel.co.uk

This is a fun, story-generating workshop with Somerset children’s author Emma Bettridge and her dog Nell. During the workshop, we will go for a walk to Burridge Wood  where we will gather to write and use dictaphones to record stories and ideas.  It is a relaxed, interesting and inspiring workshop for children aged 5-12 years.

Please note that the workshop involves Nell the dog – a very friendly and lovely Labrador x Golden Retriever (please don’t bring any animals of your own with you on the walk, thank you).

At the end of the session, there will be an opportunity to purchase a signed copy of Emma’s books, Goodbye Hobbs & Red is Home.

£10 per child (parent/guardian expected to stay with the child)

07930846722 elbettridge@outlook.com

Start your visit to West Ilkerton with a leisurely ramble around some easily accessible fields close to the farmhouse, and meet some of our animals.
Then gather up your packed lunch (bring your own food and drink) and come on a tractor-and-trailer adventure over to the far side of the farm for a picnic amidst stunning scenery followed by a tour of the fields where ewes and lambs plus cows and calves live during the summer. Get close to the livestock from the safety of our purpose-built trailer.
Cost £10 adult, £ 8 for 10 to 16-year olds, £5 for children 9 years and under.
Dogs on a lead are welcome on the walk but not on the trailer ride. Cars with dogs in can be parked in the shade of a farm shed.

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Please book via telephone or email.

01598 752310 westilkerton@gmail.com

Join one of our expert gardeners for a guided walk through the grounds of Dunster Castle and discover some of the remarkable native and exotic trees that call this historic place home.

As you explore, you’ll learn what makes these trees so special-from their origins and unique characteristics to the stories they’ve gathered over centuries. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see the gardens through the eyes of the people who care for them every day. The walk lasts approximately one hour. Online Booking Essential- as limited spaces are available. There is no additional charge for the tour, but normal admission applies for non–National Trust members. Pre-booked ticket holders should meet at the Ticket Office at 11am, where a member of the garden team will meet you.

Further dates available: 19th & 28th May 2026 11am - midday.

01643821314 dunstercastle@nationaltrust.org.uk

Join staff from the Exmoor National Park Team for a free, pop up nature and wildlife activities day for all the family to enjoy. Free of charge, donations to CareMoor appreciated. No booking required.

The fantastic Childrens Author - Emma Betteridge will join the National Park Team offering 2 chargeable sessions with her (booking essential). See additional event page to book her sessions - 'Stories in the Wilds' and 'Story Club'.

01598 752509 npclynmouth@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

Guys, it’s the National Year of Reading! Who cares? We care!

Story Club is a place to share our own stories, talk about books we’ve read and liked (or not!), co-author long version stories on the spot and read stories together. It’s about building confidence in Literacy, through reading and writing, whilst also developing a critical dialogue in children as young as 5yrs, alongside collaboration skills, mental wellbeing and supportive feedback.

Story club is a book club, a place where children co-author a story with a professional author, share new ideas, read aloud & feel part of a club; a club which supports development, mental health & wellbeing. It is for different abilities, tastes & interests.

Suitable for 5-12yrs and up. £6pp

07930846722 elbettridge@outlook.com

** CANCELLED ** Chris Dee is a licenced bird ringing trainer having held a ringing permit for over 40 years. He is a frequent stayer on Lundy and for the past 17 years has organised bird ringing trips to the island during spring and autumn bird migration seasons to assist with research during these periods. Since Lundy was provisionally re-accredited as a Bird Observatory in 2023, Chris has been the Ringing Secretary for the observatory, liaising between the observatory staff on the island and the British Trust for Ornithology, which co-ordinates and licenses bird ringing in Britain and Ireland. 

Professionally, Chris was a software engineer and still retains a keen interest in the use of digital technologies to enable and popularise wildlife recording. Now semi-retired, Chris also runs several bird ringing projects in North Devon and supervises the monitoring of over 950 bird nest-boxes across several woodland sites in the region.

In this talk, Chris will provide an introduction to bird ringing, using examples from Lundy to illustrate what ringing has been able to tell us about the complex lives of migrant landbirds and seabirds.

£3 per person, please book by calling Exmoor National Park Centre, Lynmouth on 01598 752509.