To be able to visit Dunstanburgh Castle I found out that you have park up and walk.  The nearest you can get to the castle is Craster:

Craster is a small fishing village on the Northumbrian coast of England. It has a small and attractive harbour and offers a view northwards along the rocky shore to the spectacular ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. This is the nearest point of access to the castle and the approach must be made on foot as there is just a grassy path. The next village to the north is Embleton.

For many years, the village has had a herring-curing business: Craster kippers are well known in England. The local herrings are smoked in a traditional manner by the Robson family.

The village is quite quaint and the first port of call was the teashop for refreshments before the short walk to the castle. Well it turned out to be a round trip of 3 miles without taking into account the walking around the castle ruins, so not so short a walk after all.  I have to say the castle looks far more spectacular and romantic from a distance than it does close up.

The castle gift shop was unable to provide me with a guidebook which left me a bit lacking in the history of the place.

Time for Tea

Daisy Eye View

Towards Dunstanburgh

15 Comments CherryPie on Sep 29th 2009

15 Responses to “Craster”

  1. Claudia says:

    Such a picturesque village. Every small place, in England, seems to have an historical background and an old Castle. Your photos are always so good. I discovered how to go to the beginning of your collection on flick’r. I’m having a great time. Thank you.

    • CherryPie says:

      There is a lot of History, not just in England but the whole of the British Isles. I find it quite fascinating.

      Thanks for you compliments about my photos, I am so glad you are enjoying them. I certainly have great fun taking them :-)

  2. Beautiful site CherryPie

    I also have a love for the British Isles….I highly recommend St Davids in West Wales.

    It is something special.

    • CherryPie says:

      Thank you very much for your kind words :-)

      I may have been to St Davids when I was very small, but I can’t remember it. I must take time to go and visit :-)

  3. jameshigham says:

    Wonderful and yes, I noticed. I wonder if you will though. :)

  4. Phidelm says:

    Sounds like a bracing trip! But I bet the grub made up for it (I am thinking of real smoked herring, from traditional smokehouses, and scones & cakes … and am complete pig so will cease forthwith!). I was interested to see and learn more about Craster and Dunstanburgh, thank you, Cherie. Love the photos – so now off via your Flikr account …:-)!

    • CherryPie says:

      I was very good I only had a cup of tea in the cafe :-) But dinner at the Coach House more than made up for that.

      If you have a flickr log in I can add you so you can see larger versions of the pictures if you like.

  5. -eve- says:

    that daisy view could be used in one of those motivational posters. i even forgot i was reading a blog, and moved my cursor over to see who the photographer was – you! ;-)

  6. [...] away from the village of Craster there wasn’t a signpost to warn less able people quite how far they would have to walk to get [...]

  7. Interesting you have to walk so far – guess they don’t want parking lots, cars and rambunctious kids etc to disturb the natural beauty.

    • CherryPie says:

      It really would spoil the beauty of the coastline, so I am not objecting about the walk. I do think would be advisable and responsible to advertise the distance to the castle though.

  8. luisa brehm says:

    just lovely !!!
    and this little boat is waiting for us …. to travel till dreamland !!!