Dunster Castle will open its gates on October 28 and at Halloween on October 31, for spine-chilling ghost tours of the most haunted parts of the castle and watermill, hoping to come across some of the celebrated spooky spectres claimed to lurk there.

Each tour will last approximately 50 minutes, with the first tour at 6.20pm and the last at 10.20pm. Tours will be led by a series of guides, sharing a mix of classic stories and the latest chilling tales for 2025.

A National Trust spokesperson said: “Visitors will have the opportunity to discover dark corners and unused corridors kept hidden from prying eyes for the rest of the year.

“This year’s route includes some new ghostly areas waiting to be discovered after dark.”

After the tour, visitors can enjoy a selection of seasonal food and drink including hog roast baps (with vegetarian options), Halloween and hot spiced apple juice, available from the food and beverage trailer.

The castle has the reputation of being one of the most haunted in the country, and its most celebrated ghost is said to be the Man in Green, which, it’s claimed, has been seen many times in the seventeenth century stable block.

Some years ago a cleaner working at the castle claimed to have come face to face with the ghost of a man in an “old-fashioned military uniform” and several people reported hearing disembodied voices and footsteps when there was nobody else around.

Another popular story involves the 19th century discovery of a skeleton manacled to castle wall.

The Trust explained: “Dunster Castle is full of ghosts and those who work here have reported many strange experiences.

“These range from peculiar sensations, inexplicable events and sightings of ghostly figures, to other, sinister sensations that sometimes seem only perceptible to dogs.”

Dunster Castle dates back to the 11th century, after the Norman conquest of England, when Earl of Somerset, William de Mohun constructed the early castle.

The castle was then fortified in the 12th century and survived a siege and by the 1300s had been sold to the Luttrell family who lived there for 600 years.

Going under siege again in the Civil War of the 1640s, the medieval castle walls were mostly destroyed, but were later repaired by the family.

In the 1970s, then-owner Colonel Walter Luttrell, a World War II veteran, gave the property to the National Trust.

Barney Kenny, programming and partnerships officer, said: “We are very excited to open the gates after hours for another year of Ghost Tours.”

He added: “With new stories and old spirits, we look forward to visitors experiencing the castle in a new light with a few fun twists along the way. If you’ve ever wondered what Dunster Castle is like after dark this is your chance to find out.”

Ghost Tours at Dunster Castle and the watermill begin from 6.20pm on October 28 and 31.  

Tickets must be booked in advance at  www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunster-castle or by calling 0344 249 1895.