Tucked away in the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this charming fishing  village is brimming with character and serves up the freshest fish you could hope for.

Just eight miles from Alnwick, you’ll discover Craster, nestled along the Northeast coastline. Most people venture here for one reason – to sample its legendary Craster kippers – and there’s one renowned establishment that does them better than anywhere else.

L. Robson and Sons kipper smokehouse is the destination that attracts visitors from far and wide, all eager to taste its kippers, which are dispatched from this very location throughout the nation. The fish is reportedly so exceptional that it is thought to be supplied to the British Royal Family themselves.

The business still cures the locally caught  fish in the traditional smokehouses, which date back more than 130 years. Craster has subsequently built a formidable reputation as the birthplace of what many consider the best kippers in Britain, a distinction endorsed by numerous celebrated chefs across the UK, according to the smokehouse website.

Additional destinations for food enthusiasts include the highly-rated restaurant, The Jolly Fisherman, which provides breathtaking sea views whilst diners enjoy mouth-watering meals. One patron commented on TripAdvisor: “Came here for our second time (after 2 and a half years), and this place is STILL one of our favourite places for seafood!

“We opted for a lighter lunch this time, and I had a prawn and crayfish sandwich, and my husband had the crab sandwich with a side of chips. JUST as amazing as our very first visit was! We’ll continue to come when we’re this side of the country! Highly recommend!”.

Following a visit to sample some of the finest seafood in the region, tourists can make their way towards the captivating ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. Whilst only fragments of the once magnificent fortress survive, what remains offers a fascinating glimpse into its storied past.

The structure traces its origins to 1313, when Earl Thomas of Lancaster commissioned its construction, with historians revealing it was designed to challenge the authority of King Edward II. Today, its weathered stonework sits serenely above the Northumberland coastline – alongside the Egyncleugh Tower, which rises majestically over Queen Margaret’s Cove.

A recent visitor shared on TripAdvisor that it was a “lovely peaceful walk”. They commented: “It’s about a 30-minute, fairly flat walk along the coast path to get to the castle, but it’s worth it.

“The views along the coast are fabulous, and there are sheep and cows grazing as you walk through them. The castle is peaceful to walk round with great sea views.”

Another visitor shared: “Dunstanburgh Castle is in a beautiful location overlooking the coast and surrounded by beautiful scenery. Most people visiting the castle walk along the coastal path from Craster village to reach the castle.

“The walk to the castle is mainly flat with a slight incline as you reach the castle entrance. The castle is a well-preserved ruin which is free to enter if you are an English Heritage or National Trust member.”