Dunstanburgh Castle was built in the 14th century. It’s the largest castle in Northumberland, England. Now just a ruin, the castle sits in isolation on a dramatic coastal headland. The setting is just as impressive as the castle itself.

History Of Dunstanburgh Castle

Dunstanburgh Castle was built in the 14th century by the Earl of Lancaster, the wealthiest nobleman in England at the time. It played an important role in the 15th century Wars of the Roses, but fell into disrepair at the end of the 16th century. Read more about the history of Dunstanburgh Castle here.

Getting To The Castle

Thanks to its incomparable setting on a hilltop overlooking the sea, getting to Dunstanburgh Castle is half the fun. You do need to be prepared for this as you cannot drive right up to the castle. The only way to access the castle is a 1.5 mile walk along the coast.

It’s a beautiful walk though, with the castle looming in the distance and getting closer and more impressive with every step. On a clear day the views are stunning and it’s a flat, pleasant walk with open fields on one side and the sea on the other. On a windy or rainy day this may not be such a pleasant walk as it’s very exposed to the elements.

You’ll likely encounter sheep on the walk, but cows are possible too.

To start the walk park in the town of Craster, famous for its kippers. There’s a dedicated paid car park in the village, or you may find a spot along the road where the walk starts.

Dunstanburgh Castle

Once you reach the castle you can climb up the rocky hill to explore the large complex of this once-magnificent castle. You’ll want to spend your time walking around the ruins and imagining what it was like to live or visit here. The most well-preserved parts of the castle are the gatehouses including the twin-towered Great Gatehouse with its massive rounded towers. You can really get a sense of how impressive the castle would have looked in its heyday.

Also spectacular are the elevated coastal views. Get as high as you can in the castle and peek through the window slits in the thick walls. The views are magnificent on a clear day, you can see all the way up the coast. Even if you’re not a history buff, it’s easy to see why these castles were built high up on hills – not only was it a symbol of power and presence, but you’d easily be able to see intruders coming from miles away.

Given that it’s a ruin and a little harder to access, the castle is far less commercialised than other nearby castles like Alnwick and Bamburgh. Its remoteness means fewer visitors and lends it a desolate air, adding to the whole moody feel of the place.

Family-Friendly

The kids will enjoy the walk to the castle in the open countryside. They will then have the whole castle as their playground. They can be a little freer at Dunstanburgh than some other historical buildings – they are able to run around the ruins of the castle finding hidden rooms, climbing secret staircases and letting their imaginations run wild.

Dunstanburgh is not suitable for prams as there is uneven ground, rocky hills and steps.

There are portaloos onsite but no running water to the castle.

Tickets for Dunstanburgh Castle

Dunstanburgh Castle is managed by English Heritage.

Entrance tickets are £9.50 for adults. You can book online for a 15% discount on the ticket prices.

Further Afield

Northumberland has more castles than any other county in England. Due to its position on the northeast coast it was constantly attacked by the Vikings and Scots and has played pivotal parts in many turbulent periods of British history. Most notably, Northumberland was where the Vikings first landed in England and attacked the nearby Lindisfarne Priory, spreading shockwaves across the land.

There are many other castles to explore nearby including the superbly well-preserved Alnwick Castle and Bamburgh Castle.

Northumberland is a beautiful county to explore with coastal villages, incredible history and beautiful countryside.

If you love castles and you’ve always wanted to stay in one you need to know about Langley Castle Hotel, also in Northumberland. I’ve written a full review of this medieval castle hotel here.

We recently visiting Dunstanburgh as part of a month-long road trip around England. Read about our day at Dunstanburgh here.

Getting There

The village of Craster where the Dunstanburgh Castle walk starts is a 50 minute drive from Newcastle and 15 minutes from the town of Alnwick. You’ll need a car to explore this area.