Tuesday
Having breakfasted extremely well at the Nog Inn, we spent about an hour taking a stroll around Wincanton shops. Due to the early hour, most were not yet opened, but it seemed to have its fair share of independent and interesting shops. Unlikely to make a trip again, unless it’s another 2 Mikes reunion.
D
Arrival in Dunster
We only had about an hour and a half journey down to Dunster, and with a full “tank” from a recharge in Amesbury, we soon arrived in Dunster. Where it was pissing down. As you drive in, you come round a bend and the main high street lies before you, sweeping down a hill, with a wide road and independent shops, cafe’s and restaurants either side. There is not a Costa, Greggs or Stabucks in sight – a welcome change.
Our cottage
We have rented an AirBNB cottage for our week away. It is 2-bedroom and very cosy, albeit clearly setup as a holiday rental.
Parking is not easy in Dunster, and although our cottage had a single parking space, we developed something of a military operation to get in and out of the space, not helped by it a) being very tight and b) emerging in the middle of a traffic light controlled road!
Why Dunster?
Dunster was chosen by myself as I came here about 25 years ago, before I had met Nikki (in my fallow years between wives). We rented a cottage for one of our regular weekend getaways where a group of friends (I think there were about 18 of us) from London and Bishops Stortford would assemble for much drinking and laughter. Well, I say cottage, because the property, located in Timberscombe just outside Dunster, was called the ‘Great Big House’ and actually slept 22. It is no longer available as a weekend cottage and has been converted into a boutique B&B – visit https://thegreathouse.co.uk/
Our day
Although I have digressed considerably, I hope it explains my fondness for Dunster and, as we turned that corner to look down the hill of the high street, all those amazing memories came flooding back.
With a few hours until we were allowed to enter our cottage, we dodged the rain and hit the Luttrell Arms Hotel for a few lunchtime bevvies. To say it oozes character would be a massive understatement. Lots of small rooms and alcoves, stomework and beams, and quirky (well let’s call it like it is, old fashioned) decoration, it is a delight. We sat at the bar chatting to Lucy the bar keep, who was a bit of a character. Really busy as well for a wet Tuesday in April.
We finally checked into our cottage, which is very homely and has all we need for the next week. Best of all, there are 3 pubs no more than a 5-minute walk away. Ever since we left Henham in 2021, it is probably the biggest thing we have missed, so it will be great to once again be able to stroll around the corner for a beer without deciding either a) who is going to drive or b) is Ali available.
In the evening, the restaurant we had picked out was fully booked (see tomorrow), so we returned to the Luttrell Arms where a bowl of mussels (done the Somerset way with cider and bacon) and a venison cottage pie provided a very satisfying end to the day.