Cherie's Place » Craster

PhotoHunt – Informative

CherryPie — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:38:58 +0000

An information board near to Craster harbour was very informative:

Crastor Harbour

…an important cultural landmark within the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty…

Craster developed as a fishing village around a small natural harbour formed between the outlying rocks of Little Carr and Muckle Carr. The traditional fishing boat of the North East Coast, the coble, allowed Craster fishermen to survive heavy seas and negotiate a precarious landing.

Herring once formed the staple catch for the Craster fleet. A large herring curing business became established in the village. Curing of imported herring continues and the Craster Kipper remains a famous delicacy. Today local boats fish for crabs, lobster and salmon.

The present harbour was constructed in 1906 in memory of Captain Craster killed in the Tibetan expedition of 1904. The large concrete foundation at the end of the south pier formed the base of two silos used to store whinstone chippings. Whinstone was quarried and crushed in what is now the car park. It was then exported from the harbour, to be used for road building.

Geology

The whin sill, a igneous rock intrusion in limestone created millions of years ago, dominates the landscape and forms the crags and quarries on the East side of the Reserve. Its grey dolerite stone appears in many other places across Northumberland, most noticeably along the Roman wall and at the coast where it forms the landscape of the Farne islands and the foundations of many castles.

The information board then provides some information on Dunstanburgh Castle. I have my own take on that castle here.

For more of this weeks PhotoHunt pictures check out tnchick.

Cherie’s Place – Thought for the Week

CherryPie — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 16:49:56 +0000

In the absence of clearly-defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it.

Robert A Heinlein

My Header Images

CherryPie — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:42:34 +0000

I have been asked on a couple of occasions what the image is that shows in my blog header. The image is randomly selected so I am never sure which one people have seen. At the moment there are nine images from my holiday in Northumberland, starting from the top left this is a list of what they are; 1. Near Flodden, 2. Bamburgh, 3. Cragside Formal Garden, 4. Dunstanburgh, 5. Dunstanburgh, 6. Dunstanburgh, 7. Craster, 8. Flodden Battle Field, 9. Flodden Memorial

In December I am thinking of changing them to Christmassy images, but that will mean me getting out and about to take some suitable photographs.

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

Craster

CherryPie — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:46:13 +0000

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.