AFTER more than three months closed, the gardens at Dunster Castle and Watermill have re-opened to pre-booked visitors.

Cared for by the National Trust, Dunster Castle has long been a popular visiting spot for locals and tourists alike.

For safety reasons only the gardens and parkland are open, with the house, shop, watermill and tearoom remaining closed for now.

Enhanced hygiene and social distancing measures are in place, and the site is currently operating a one-way route that takes visitors on a stroll around the gardens including the sub-tropical South Terrace, the secluded Keep Garden and peaceful River Garden.

The nature of the site, with steep inclines and steps, means that the route is not currently suitable for wheelchairs, buggies, or those with limited mobility.

Visitor experience manager Emma Harnett said: “We are so excited to be welcoming visitors back to the gardens at Dunster Castle.

"We’ve put lots of work into making sure the site is safe and welcoming for visitors and have had lots of lovely feedback from people so far.

"The gardens are looking spectacular at the moment and our one-way route really allows you to see them at their best."

The site is open daily from 10am to 5pm and anyone wanting to visit must pre-book a ticket via nationaltrust.org.uk/dunster-castle/whats-on or by calling 0344 249 1895.

Tickets are released every Friday and can be booked up to 3pm the day before a visit.

To maintain safety and capacity, anyone without a ticket will be turned away.