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A small coastal resort in Northumberland, with a fishing village, an old wooded quarry and a ruined castle with a seabird colony.
Craster and Dunstanburgh Castle has a good mix of coastal habitats providing for a range of interesting species, including a seabird colony, and good shelter and food for migrants arriving from across the North Sea. Among the birds you can observe are Gavka, Sjeverni zovoj, Troprsti galeb, Sjeverna trepteljka, Oštrokljuna njorka, Morski Vranac, Oštrigar, Kameničak and Veliki Pozviždač.
Bus services X18 from Newcastle to Berwick and 418 from Alnwick to Belford both call at Craster. Car parking available at the entrance to the village (pay & display). Note the car park can be busy and is often full in summer. Access to Dunstanburgh Castle is by foot or cycle only; the castle is built on a clifftop offering close views of Sjeverni zovoj, Troprsti galeb, and Oštrokljuna njorka. Seawatching from the castle for other seabirds can be worthwhile. In spring and autumn, look for passage migrants like Sivkasta Bjeloguza and Planinski kos on the walk up to the castle.
The old quarry behind the car park is now a wooded bird reserve, the Arnold Memorial Reserve, with a variety of species including locally scarce Planinska sjenica. The small harbour usually has Kameničak and Morski žalar in autumn and winter. The circular route indicated on the map is about 6 km.
For gourmets, Craster is famous for its kippers (smoked herring) - these are a delicious must-try food for visitors.
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