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North East England
Craster

Craster Harbour – View of Dunstanburgh Castle loop from Craster

Routes
Hiking trails & Routes
North East England
Craster

Craster Harbour – View of Dunstanburgh Castle loop from Craster

Moderate

102

hikers

Craster Harbour – View of Dunstanburgh Castle loop from Craster

02:53

11.0km

90m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 26, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Northumberland Coast National Landscape

Waypoints

A

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

872 m

Craster Heugh

Forest

2

1.31 km

Craster Harbour

Highlight • Settlement

Small fishing village famous for its traditionally smoked kippers. A good starting point for hikes to the North and South along the coast, including a short walk to Dunstanburgh Castle. The Jolly Fisherman pub is a great stop, with good beer and food.

Tip by

3

1.31 km

Old smokehouse still in use today making the world famous Craster kipper.

Tip by

4

1.47 km

View of Muckle Carr

Highlight • Viewpoint

Muckle, meaning large, is the larger of the two islets offshore from craster harbour. They were the only protection to Craster before the harbour was built.

Tip by

5

2.51 km

View of Dunstanburgh Castle

Highlight • Historical Site

Great view towards the castle. Early in the morning you can see songbirds and seagulls as well as deer, hares and pheasants.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

6

4.16 km

Beautiful house with history by the sea with its own little beach next to it.

Tip by

7

4.26 km

Smugglers Cove (Craster)

Highlight • Beach

A small cove near Craster where legend has it the Vikings once accessed the beaches of Northumberland and Pirates hid their treasures.

Tip by

8

5.54 km

Iron Scars Beach

Highlight • Natural

A rocky outcropping just north of Sugar Sands. A very nice secluded spot.

Tip by

9

6.07 km

Howick Haven Rock Formations

Highlight • Viewpoint

The rocks on the North side of the haven reveal distinct layers of pale and black rock, formed in calm estuarine conditions. The black rock, made of shale or mudstone, settled in slow-moving water, while the paler rock, composed of fine-grained sandstone or siltstone, formed in slightly faster currents.

Keep an eye out for remnants of a marine sandbank and a thin coal seam, offering glimpses into the area's past. As you continue, notice the tabular crossbedding in the sandstone, resembling patterns formed by flowing water around obstacles. These layers showcase the dynamic forces that have shaped this remarkable landscape.

On the South side, a similar sequence can be observed, sans the coal. The sandstones, with their warm yellow to brown colors, owe their hues to ferric hydroxide, adding a touch of vibrancy to the scenery.

Pay attention to the subtle differences in the rock layers' orientation. The varying strikes—around 50 degrees on the North side and 30 degrees on the South side—hint at a fault's presence, influencing the land and guiding the path of the Howick burn.

Tip by

B

11.0 km

End point

Bus stop

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Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.47 km

2.14 km

712 m

475 m

216 m

Surfaces

7.64 km

2.17 km

924 m

166 m

< 100 m

< 100 m

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Elevation

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

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Weather

Powered by Foreca

Thursday 11 June

19°C

11°C

35 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 31.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

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