village · Northumberland

Places to stay in Craster

A Craster holiday house or an Embleton inn? Compare bases for harbour time, coastal walking and Howick's gardens.

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More about staying in Craster

Craster is a small harbour village where a longer stay gives the coast time to set the pace. Choose a whole house in the village for meals and evenings of your own, or an inn in Embleton when you want serviced rooms and a different starting point for the coast. Dunstanburgh is a rewarding walking destination, but the harbour, smokehouse and nearby gardens give a stay more variety than a single out-and-back excursion.

Craster village and its harbour — Craster · Photo credits

FIND YOUR BASE

Choose your base for Craster

Craster: settle into a village house

Crasterway is a four-bedroom holiday house in Craster with a kitchen, garden and two-car parking. It makes sense for a family or friends who want several nights in one place and will use the shared living space.

Good for: Groups and families planning a longer self-catering stay.

Before you choose: Confirm the date-specific minimum stay and arrival directions with the owner. The published address is Craster, Northumberland; do not assume a harbour-front position or a particular street from the village name.

Embleton: inn rooms and a different coast base

The Dunstanburgh Castle Inn stands in Embleton village, north of Craster. Choose it for a room-and-pub stay with Embleton Bay as a separate coastal outing, visiting Craster when you want the harbour and smokehouse.

Good for: Couples and shorter stays that do not need an entire house.

Before you choose: This is not accommodation at Dunstanburgh Castle or in Craster. Plan the route from the village to the shore and your return; the castle still involves walking.

EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS

Places to stay in Craster on the map

See where hotels and holiday rentals sit around Craster, then choose dates to explore your options.

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ROOM FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Our researched picks in Craster

Researched accommodation shortlist

Crasterway offers a whole house for a longer group stay; the Dunstanburgh Castle Inn offers rooms in Embleton for a different village base and shorter-break flexibility.

Self-catering house · Craster

Crasterway

A Craster whole house for several nights with family or friends, using the kitchen and garden between harbour and coast outings. Confirm minimum stay and the owner's exact arrival instructions.

Bedrooms comprise a king with en-suite shower room, two doubles and a twin.
There is a family bathroom plus a downstairs cloakroom.
The operator publishes parking for two cars.

Before you book: Confirm the date-specific minimum stay, sleeping arrangement, stairs and bathroom requirements with the owner. Request the exact arrival address and parking-entry directions before travel; the public website gives the village rather than a street address.

Visit official website

More details and sources

Craster, Northumberland

A four-bedroom holiday house in Craster with a kitchen, shared living space and an enclosed garden.

Sources checked 2026-09-24

Inn · Embleton

The Dunstanburgh Castle Inn

An Embleton inn for a separate village base and a shorter room stay. Craster and the castle are outings from here, not facilities at the hotel.

Operator currently advertises 16 en-suite bedrooms.
The inn is in Embleton village, not at the castle gate.

Before you book: Confirm the room type, beds, floor and bathroom access, and any dining arrangements before booking.

Visit official website

More details and sources

Front Street, Embleton, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 3UN

An Embleton village inn with en-suite rooms, a bar and gardens.

Sources checked 2026-09-23

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

Explore places in Craster

town · Northumberland

Alnwick

Choose between an Alnwick town evening and an outskirts base for castle, garden and coastal outings.

Make it your kind of break

FAMILY BREAKS

Match the house to the whole party

Crasterway's four bedrooms comprise a king with en-suite, two doubles and a twin, plus a family bathroom. Confirm stairs, bathroom needs, parking and the minimum stay before sharing the booking between households.

QUIET BREAKS

Leave a harbour evening unplanned

Keep one evening for the harbour and a meal at your chosen base rather than another drive along the coast. A whole house suits cooking together after a walk; an Embleton inn suits returning for dinner without planning provisions.

A LITTLE ROOM TO EXPLORE

A longer Craster stay with one major walk

Start with the working harbour, set aside a full coastal day and use Howick for a change of scene before leaving. Extend this outline to the house's required stay.

Arrival: Craster harbour and smokehouse shop
Settle in and explore the harbour village. L. Robson's shop offers a link to Craster's smoked-fish tradition; check its opening before buying provisions, and do not expect an unbooked factory tour.
Full day: Dunstanburgh from Craster
Walk the coastal approach to Dunstanburgh Castle in conditions suitable for your party. Make time for the ruins and the same return walk, keeping dogs controlled around working farmland and wildlife.
Departure or extra day: Howick gardens
Visit Howick Hall Gardens and Arboretum within its seasonal opening calendar. Treat it as a garden outing, with the tearoom available to garden visitors, rather than assuming a tour of the house interiors.

Less time? For a short inn break, keep the harbour and one coast walk. A whole-house booking may require several nights, so confirm that before applying a one- or two-night itinerary.

BEFORE YOU CHOOSE

A few useful details

Can I drive to Dunstanburgh Castle?

There is no visitor car approach to the castle gate from Craster. English Heritage describes a 1.3-mile walk across rugged farmland from the village, followed by the return journey.

Is the smokehouse shop a public factory tour?

The operator describes its traditional smoking business and shop. A shop visit should not be treated as permission to enter production areas or as a guaranteed guided tour.

Can I just use Howick's tearoom without visiting the gardens?

Howick currently states that the Earl Grey Tea House is for garden visitors. Plan it as part of a garden visit and check seasonal opening first.

Is Howick open through winter?

Its operator publishes a seasonal 2026 calendar extending into November, rather than year-round daily garden opening. Check the exact date before making it your indoor or winter fallback.

Does a National Trust membership work at Dunstanburgh?

The castle is owned by the National Trust and managed by English Heritage; English Heritage currently confirms free entry for National Trust members. Check the current booking and proof requirements before visiting.

Explore the wider area

Northumberland

How we put this guide together

Our base comparisons are editorial recommendations informed by official visitor and transport sources. Property facts come from the operators linked on each card. We have not inspected or stayed at these properties, and inclusion is not a rating or paid placement.

Sources checked 2026-09-24. Check current arrangements before travelling.