📌 Craster, Northumberland
★★
Each day, dozens of people use the coast path north of Craster for the purposes of visiting Dunstanburgh Castle. The easy walk is worthwhile even if you don’t plan on paying for admission to the castle – particularly for keen rockpoolers and birdwatchers. Low tide uncovers a broad platform of stone and salt water teeming with crabs, fish and other marine life, occasionally sharing the stage with cows wandering off the fields above. Fulmars nest on the cliffs at Queen Margaret’s Cove (at the south end of the castle), with outstanding views of razorbills and kittiwakes in the grounds of the castle itself. And what better place to start than the pretty village of Craster, where you can sample the sea from a culinary perspective? We’ve placed the route in our “Short walks” category – but the return stroll could easily become a half day outing if you explore coastline and castle to the full.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Craster village main car park
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NU 256197
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.470746,-1.595935
🚌 Bus to Craster
🚗 Car park (charge, gets full)
📝 Key info
▶ 5 km / 3 mi | ▲ 30 m | ⌛ 1.5 hr
Features: Craster ★★; Dunstanburgh Castle ★★★; Dunstanburgh Castle seabird colony ★★★
⬤ Easy | Mostly level, grassy track.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – Craster – Dunstanburgh Castle & seabird colony by coast path – return by outward route or similar
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Cows & sheep along the track. Rock pool life: crabs, small fish, anemones. Seabirds: fulmars, razorbills, kittiwakes, grey heron. Nesting swallows and pigeons in the castle.
Weather: Light winds and mostly sunny, temperature in high teens.
July 2019
