Craster and Dunstanburgh Castle

Craster and Dunstanburgh Castle - Dog Friendly Attraction in Craster, Northumberland

The old fishing village at Craster is forever twinned with the majestic ruins at Dunstanburgh Castle, just a short walk along the coast from the harbour. For most visitors to this quaint Northumberland fishing port it is unthinkable to see one without the other.

Craster. A few miles to the south of Seahouses this old port is famous for it's smoked kippers and dramatic sea views. Access is along slow country lanes and you don't go anywhere fast around here. As you enter the village the main car park is just on your right. The car park used to be a quarry from which the rock was shipped via the small harbour. In addition to being a car park it is also a small nature reserve (Arnold Memorial Nature reserve).

There is but a short walk from the car park to the port. Most visitors will visit the smoked kipper factory and the Jolly Fisherman Inn. From the latter you can sit outside with a good beverage and watch the activities in the harbour.

Craster is actually on the Northumberland coastal pathway. To the south you can walk past Cullernose point and make your way to Howick Hall with it's gardens and tea room. To the north there is a lovely walk through fields and just above the rocky tidal line until you arrive at Dunstanburgh Castle.The castle is real enough although it seems as if it was really built as a symbol of power and can not be considered a military castle as much as say Alnwick or Bamburgh castles.

The castle is mostly in ruins now but the footprint is large, grassed and open which makes it great for picnics and maybe exploring the rocky sea pools as well.To the north of the castle lies Embleton beach which, with it's smooth stones, is very popular with photographers.

Attraction kindly added by Northumbria Byways