A gaunt ruined castle on a lonely Northumberland headland, reached only on foot along the coast from Craster
Open to visitorsan English Heritage site — check opening times and admission before you go
Substantial ruinsruined, but plenty survives above ground
Dunstanburgh Castle sits by itself on a headland on the Northumberland coast, and the first thing to know is that you cannot drive to it. The usual way in is a walk of a little over a mile north from the fishing village of Craster, along a level coastal path, and the ruin grows slowly larger ahead of you the whole way, which is a large part of the pleasure.
It was begun in 1313 by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, a powerful and quarrelsome cousin of the king, and it was one of the largest castles in the north of England. John of Gaunt, another royal duke, later strengthened the great twin-towered gatehouse. Its working life was fairly short: it changed hands and was badly knocked about during the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century, and it has been a ruin ever since. English Heritage looks after it, and the National Trust owns the surrounding coast.
Take a windproof layer, because the headland is exposed. Back in Craster the village is known for its smoked kippers, and to the north the wide sweep of Embleton Bay makes an easy addition if you carry on along the Northumberland Coast Path.
More at the National Heritage List entry
