Synopsis: Time to slow the pace down with a ride for Helen and I on the steam trains of the West Somerset Railway. We also visit Dunster Castle (NT) walking the short distance from Dunster station.
This was a lovely, quiet and relaxing day out for Helen and me. I suppose the pace of steam trains along this rustic rail journey is guaranteed to be tranquil. We’ve done this trip before in 2006, with Laura and Mum, but this time it was just to be Helen and myself. There was to be a slight change from our previous journey in that this time we planned to travel only as far as Dunster station, which is one station short of the trains terminus at Minehead, which was where we travelled to on our previous trip. The reason for this being that it was our intention today to visit Dunster Castle (NT) which was not open to the public on our last visit as it was undergoing restoration.
West Somerset Railway - carriage interior
We arrived in Bishops Lydeard in good time and purchased our tickets from the ticket office using my Tesco Deals vouchers. We had just time to stroll down to view the steam train before boarding. There is something rather magical about the sounds and smells of steam trains that diesel will never match. We then boarded the waiting train which wasn’t too full and chose our seats by the window.
West Somerset Railway - Crowcombe Heathfield station
What I especially like about this train journey is the old stations that the train passes through on its course north. These old stations are pretty and quaint and seem to me to be just as they must have appeared a good fifty or more years ago. This, combined by the relaxed pace of travel, all hark of a more gentle pace of life of a bygone age.
West Somerset Railway - Helen - Rosebay Willowherb (blurred)
The rosebay willow herb growing by the side of the rail track was in full bloom and provided a lot of colour on the banks of the railway track. At one point we spot a deer in a field obviously surprised by the oncoming train and bounding as fast as it could away from the track over the tall crops growing in the field. Eventually it stopped and peeked at us from a distance.
West Somerset Railway - Dunster Railway Station
On disembarking at Dunster rail station we stopped a while to take a look around the old station. There is a level crossing here which I then went and stood by get a shot of the train completing its final stage of its journey to Minehead. Helen and I then set off on our walk to Dunster Castle, a walk down lanes and through fields.
Dunster Castle (NT) - Conygar Tower (folly)
On arriving at Dunster Castle it was about lunchtime so we sought out a picnic bench and had our lunch. After lunch we made our way to the National Trust ticket office to purchase our tickets for Dunster Castle. We took the opportunity to enquire about the folly clearly visible on the adjacent hill. We were told that its name is the Conygar Tower and is indeed a folly built by the Henry Fownes Luttrell of Dunster Castle in 1775. It is however hollow with no means to climb to the top but it is said the views are good from its location.
Dunster Castle (NT) - looking east along the north coast of Somerset
Helen and I took the long winding path through the gardens to the entrance of the house. This allowed us to take in the lovely panoramic views of coast and countryside. The present building was remodelled in 1868–72 by Antony Salvin and much of the interior is evocative of this period, although some aspects of the house (fine plasterwork ceilings and a magnificent staircase) date from an earlier refurbishment that took place in the 1680s. There still remain elements of Dunster Castle’s medieval origins in the form of the gatehouse and tower.
Dunster Castle (NT) - Dunster Mill
After our visit to the house Helen and I set off walking through the grounds of the castle in the direction of the Dunster Working Watermill (NT). The mill, although I believe it’s owned by the National Trust, is run as a private business and an entrance fee (£3.25) applies, even to National Trust members. Helen and I would probably have entered the mill but time was by now running late and we had a train to catch so we felt we must begin our walk back to Dunster rail station.
This was a lovely peaceful day out that left Helen and I feeling really relaxed and rested.
Train Journey (Bishops Lydeard to Dunster) Statistics:
Total Distance: 18.1 miles
Elapsed Time: 1hr 14min
Average Speed: 15 mph
Buses: (none)
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