Dunstanburgh Castle

A ruined medieval fortress on a dramatic coastal headland

A ruin today, Dunstanburgh Castle was once one of the largest and most splendid fortresses in Northern England. Built on the foundations of an Iron Age fort in 1313 by Earl Thomas of Lancaster, the castle fell into disrepair following sieges during the Wars of the Roses. Situated on a remote headland of the Northumberland coast, the castle can be reached via a scenic coastal walk from the village of Craster.