Walk 12 - Dunstanburgh Castle - Northumberland - Walking Guides - Online store

walk summary

• Distance: 6 miles
• Time: 3 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Starting Point: Craster
• OS Map: Explorer 332

The walk starts in the beautiful fishing village of Craster, famous for it’s kippers, which are produced by the smoking of herring.One of the prettiest villages in Northumberland.

It takes in one of the finest stretches of coast in the country, passing Dunstanburgh Castle and two important sea bird colonies on your way, which provide homes for the seabirds Kittiwake, Fulmar and Shag (extra time should be allocated if you wish to visit the castle ruins).

You then pass inland and return through peaceful countryside, passing a lime kiln and a unusual pillbox made from concrete filled sandbags. A complete contrast with the first part of the walk.

It is one of the nicest coastal walks we have in Northumberland.

Distances and driving times to starting point

Newcastle - Distance: 40 miles

Sunderland - Distance: 50 miles

Hexham - Distance: 57 miles

Alnwick - Distance: 7 miles

Edinburgh - Distance: 88 miles

shepherd's notes

This walk guide contains route data which can be used in conjunction with your own GPS.

D R wrote ‘This walk was excellent - we extended it by walking on the "big rocks" across the bay and sitting for some time in the sand dunes just absorbing our surroundings'.

N N wrote 'I received my order on Saturday morning and completed the first of the walks that I ordered later that day.The walk was the one which begins in Craster. And yes I did buy kippers. The booklet was excellent and gave clear information'.

Northumberland is known for it's coast line. This walk explores one of the finest stretches of it.