Craster

An interesting fishing village and harbour with a reputation for the most delicious oak-smoked kippers (herring) in the country. Dunstanburgh Castle is reached via a 1 mile coastal walk from Craster car park

The commercial fortunes of Craster, as with those of many other coastal havens reliant on the white fish trade declined with the advent of large scale trawling. However all was not lost, for the whinstone platform thrusting into the sea nearby provides lobsters and crabs with an ideal environment in which to thrive. Now these shellfish are harvested for most of the year. Walking up from the harbour, you soon come to the mainstay of Craster's economy today - the Kipper factory, an enterprise started at the turn of the century. Kippers are smoked Herrings. The raw fish were formerly locally caught, but now come to Craster from the ports of north-west. To smoke Kippers in the traditional manner takes between 12 and 16 hours. The season lasts from May to September.

About a mile from the village is Craster Tower, dating from the 15th century. This is the home of the Craster family, who have been associated with the area since before the Norman conquest.

Further information from:

Craster Community Website

Dunstanburgh Castle

English Heritage

Craster Kippers

Return to Where to go list.