Locations

Craster

Craster Fishing Village

 

The attractive and characterful fishing port of Craster is most famous for its kippers (cured herring fish) and as starting point for a lovely walk along the headland to Dunstanburgh Castle.

Craster has plenty of Northumbrian character, it’s also a good place for the food lover to visit, with a good ‘foodie’ pub, the Jolly Fisherman, an artisan-style cafe and famous Smokery.  The renowned artist Mick Oxley has an art gallery and shop in Craster too.  Craster has something for everyone, it is often used as a base for coastal walks and for fishing.

Dining out in Craster

The Jolly Fisherman

If it’s a drink you’re after with your meal there are two pubs in Craster.  The first is the The Jolly Fisherman on the south side of the harbour, offering lovely views and a good range of food including a fine Sunday Lunch.  The majority of dishes on the menu here – as you would expect to find in a fishing village – are fish and seafood.  Haven Hill, with the Jolly Fisherman and the smokehouse recently had the honour of being nominated for a Google Street View award for ‘Best Foodie Street’.

Tel: 01665 576461
Click HERE to visit their website

The Shoreline Cafe

Situated in the centre of Craster, opposite the Mick Oxley Gallery is the Shoreline Cafe.  It’s open daily from 10am – 4pm year round and has a few tables at the front where you can bring your dog as well.  It offers lovely home baking, cakes, fresh coffee and sandwiches.

Tel: 01665 571251
Click HERE to visit their website

The Cottage Inn

The Cottage Inn is the second pub in the area, just outside Craster village, set in 6 acres of woodland on the edge of the village of Dunstan. The Cottage Inn is also a three star rated B&B with ten bedrooms and has a restaurant that serves lunches and evening meals, along with a fine selection of real ales. The Inn has a conservatory that leads from the restaurant out to the patio area of a secluded garden.

Tel: 01665 576658
Click HERE for the website

The Stable Yard, Craster Tower

This family-run coffee shop is a gorgeous place to stop for a sweet treat or light bite. Using all local suppliers such as Doddington Dairy, Pumphrey’s Tea & Coffee and L. Robson & Sons famous Craster Kippers, The Stable Yard is also a plant nursery selling a selection of bedding and herbaceous plants, roses compost and pots.

Tel: 01665 571240
Click HERE to visit their website

Pipers Pitch

The ‘Restaurant without Walls’ is located at the Craster Quarry Car Park, serving local hearty food from their trusted van. Craster Kippers in a bun, even omelettes, and fresh scones are served here with fresh coffee and hot tea. All their food is cooked fresh and made to order.

Andy and Lorna are there every day of the week and weather-dependent, they are seasonal.

Tel: 07585 605607
Click HERE to visit their Facebook page

L.Robson & Sons

L.Robson & Sons is a unique family business providing Craster and the surrounding area with some of the world’s finest smoked salmon and Craster kippers for almost 100 years! Available to take away and cook up a tasty meal in the comfort of your cosy holiday home!

Tel: 01665 576223
Click HERE to visit their website

Shopping

There is a Tourist Information Office adjacent to Craster’s main car park, where there are also public toilets, a shop and cafe. Craster has just one Church now (The Methodist Chapel closed in 2013), Anglican services are held at St Peter the Fisherman which is on Chapel Row. There is an RNLI Station in the harbour manned by volunteers from the local area and has for over 35 years manned a D Class lifeboat.  There is a large children’s play area towards the South end of the village (turn right at the harbour and walk along the main road), it’s a good spot right on the sea front for the kids to burn off some energy or have a picnic.

 

Food Shopping and Supermarkets

There is a small village shop in Craster on Church Street, within the Shoreline Cafe. Otherwise Alnwick is the next nearest town.  Here you will find a Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Lidl, ALDI, Marks & Spencer Food Hall and Co-op along with numerous independent deli’s, butchers, bakers and other shops selling excellent quality local produce.

 

Mick Oxley Gallery

The gallery is a lovely open space with coastal themed artworks. Mick also lives in Craster so his work is authentically local and he is one of the most well-known artists in Northumberland. Click HERE to visit his website.

Parking in Craster

 

There is ample parking at Craster, just before you reach the harbour there is a large car park on your right, behind the Tourist Information Centre.  There are public toilets here.  The car park continues to an overflow into a former quarry site, though it can still get full very quickly at the weekends and in the summer months.  Please be very careful when parking here, there are signs saying you must park within a bay or you will receive a fine.

We would always encourage visitors to travel by public transport whenever possible, up to date information is provided by the Northumberland Coast AONB here.

 

The History of the Village

 

Craster is named after the Craster family who had held the estate since 1272.  Walking into the village from the car park or bus stop you’re greeted with a lovely view of the harbour.  The harbour was built to commemorate the death of a member of the Craster family who died while serving in the army in Tibet in 1904.   The memorial is still visible on the harbour wall, as are the remains of a much taller structure at the end of the harbour that was used to lift stone from the nearby quarry (now the car park) on to the boats in the harbour.

The stone from the quarry, which was shut down in 1939, was shipped to London where it was used for kerb stones, it is now a nature reserve under the protection of the Northumberland Wildlife Trust.

Nearby is Craster Tower, an 18th century mansion incorporating a mid 14th century Pele Tower which belonged to the Craster family. The property was enlarged in 1666 when a two-story manor house was built on to the east side of the tower.  Most of the estate was sold by Sir John Craster in 1965 and the tower is now residential apartments.

Perhaps the main reason most people visit Craster, apart from to enjoy its natural beauty as an authentic Northumbrian fishing village, is to visit Dunstanburgh Castle.  The Castle is most easily accessible from Craster, but it is still a walk of about a mile along the stunningly beautiful coast.  Carrying on beyond the castle will take you to the historic seaside hamlet of Newton-by-the-Sea with its quaint little pub, famous for its delicious crab sandwiches and own beers, brewed at its on-site micro-brewery.

The village itself has many circular walks, Robson’s Smokehouse (world famous for their kippers), the Mick Oxley Gallery, fishing trips from the harbour and fine golfing in the area.

Click here to read about more to do in Craster.

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Not sure where to start?

 

We know the area and all of our cottages inside out, so if you have any particular queries, please don’t hesitate to call or email us. We’re more than happy to help!

Telephone: 01665 710 700 or click here to email us your enquiry.

SAMPLE OF OUR COTTAGES NEAR CRASTER

Craster

Crabcake Cottage at Craster

Sleeps: 6 2 Dogs

Holidays from £519

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Fuchsia Cottage near Embleton

Sleeps: 4 No Dogs

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Sea View near Craster

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VIEW ALL OUR COTTAGES IN CRASTER