Harbour Master’s House
Craster
From its elevated position above the small harbour of Craster village, this character stone cottage offers charm, style and, from its dining area and deck, the most breathtaking views of the rocky coastline, beaches and the captivating ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. Harbour Master’s House was formerly the salt and fish store for the nearby smokery, still famous today for its traditional Craster Kippers. It is very handy for the new gastro pub in the village, the Jolly Fisherman, and for the smokery’s seafood restaurant.
Careful renovation, by its owners at the end of 2019, using natural wood and linens, opens up the living space to one large area with bi-fold doors to the views and outside space providing a striking focal point. Plantation shutters and contemporary bathrooms sit comfortably against the backdrop of original features in this cottage. The small external terrace for sitting and dining is the perfect place to watch the harbour activity and the changing sea from sunrise to sunset, with the familiar outline of Dunstanburgh Castle in the background.
Read a review of Harbour Master’s House in Liz Earle Wellbeing magazine.

- First floor Master bedroom with king size bed, ensuite shower room, TV/DVD and sea views
- Prime location with bi-fold doors to a decked terrace for outside eating and enjoying the unrivalled views
- Open plan living/dining/kitchen space with cosy logburner
- Original beams, exposed stonework, slate floors and other interesting architectural features
- Tastefully furnished in linens and natural wood tones and Plantation window shutters
- Great village location, close to the pub, restaurant, cafe, art gallery and coastal walks
- Guest Leisure Club Membership (admission fee applies)
Accommodation
Ground Floor
- Living room with open fire, TV/DVD and two squashy sofas
- Narrow galley kitchen/dining area with integrated appliances
- Double Bedroom
- Twin bedroom (note beds are in l-shape)
- Bathroom with freestanding bath, underfloor heating and separate shower
First floor
- Master bedroom with king size bed and ensuite shower room
Externally
- Split level decked terrace with table and chairs for 4 people and stunning views
- Private gate from the terrace giving access to the harbour below (a bit precarious for children)
- Parking for 1 car on the drive of the cottage.
Please note floor plans are not to scale but for illustration purposes only.

Location
Harbour Master’s House is at the heart of this quaint fishing village and with the most spectacular position overlooking the iconic Dunstanburgh Castle. Craster has a pub, restaurant, tearoom, famous Kipper smokehouse and popular Mick Oxley art gallery. Both the Jolly Fisherman pub and The Craster Seafood Restaurant are superb places to eat and drink but be warned, booking is almost essential! The coastline is rocky at Craster, not a sandy beach.
For further information on the area, see our Craster section
Useful Details
See here what’s included in our Retreats stays
Please note that all of our cottages are non-smoking
No pets allowed at Harbour Master’s House
Heating
There is no gas in Craster village, so Harbour Master’s has electric heaters with underfloor heating in the kitchen diner and a real fire in the lounge.
Arrival and Departure
Arrival: 4pm ( 3pm from Nov-March)
Departure: 10am
Recommendations
Ideal for two couples wanting a village location or a family with older children. Perfect for bird watchers, sea lovers and walkers.
Children at Harbour Master’s House
With a 2 starfish rating, it is perhaps more suited to older children, as the cottage is perched on the rocks above the harbour. Not ideal for toddlers as there is no garden, but a split level decked area. However, the cottage caters for infants and young children with a range of toys and books for rainy days and the Coastal Retreats sponsored village playground is just a few minutes walk from the house. A travel cot (please bring your own cot linen) and highchair are available on request.
Please note: Whilst we take great care to represent our properties and their facilities as accurately as possible, the décor, furnishings and facilities shown in images and video tours may occasionally be subject to minor change.
Candid Comments
As there is no gas in the area, the heating here is a mixture of wall-mounted electric heaters, underfloor heating and an open fire.
The twin bedroom is quite small but perfect for children or teenagers.
Mobile reception is almost impossible in Craster.
There is a parking bay for one car and its quite tight. The cottage is next door to the village pub so you may hear the early morning ale deliveries every now and then