Book with the owner direct
Owner/Property
Manager: Jane Riley
Book this House by contacting the owner
directly to confirm
price, property details and availability.
Booking directly with the owner means you pay the owners price with
no added booking fees or extra charges.
Overview
Description
Dunstan HallAn exceptional Grade II* listed Country Hall, perfect for multi-generational family celebrations, a retreat for your community or health & well-being group, or an inspiring, creative space for your colleagues or team. Bursting with period features, set within expansive grounds, this truly is a place where memories are made.
This exceptional ten-bedroomed country hall lies in an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), just under a mile from the picturesque coastal village of Craster, on the coast of Northumberland. Parts of the existing pele tower may date from the 11th century, whilst the rest of the house was built in the early 14th and 18th centuries, with the 18th-century wing rebuilt in the early part of the 20th century. The pele tower was rebuilt around 1310 as a watchtower for the nearby Dunstanburgh Castle, which was then being constructed. The unusual crowstepped top floor of the tower was created in the 16th century, when the then owners were no longer worried about maintaining defensive strength, and it was converted into a pigeon loft. Some of the fireplaces and stonework come from the lost Tudor house of Gloster Hill. There are spectacular coastal views to the east towards Dunstanburgh Castle. The beautiful beach at Embleton Bay is a mile or so north along a pretty bridleway. An excellent holiday base to enjoy the marvellous beaches, dunes and walks along the Northumberland coast. There are a wealth of historical and recreational sites, including Alnwick Castle and Garden, Bamburgh, Holy Island, Farne Islands, Warkworth and the Cheviot Hills. Craster itself is world famous for its kippers. Golf available locally. Shops ¾ mile, pub 400 yards.
Entrance hall with 15th-century fireplace. Sitting room with cleaded walls, Jacobean carved wooden fireplace and attached wooden brattish (fireside settle). Drawing room with Queen Anne panelling throughout, grand piano. Dining room with 14ft long oak refectory table, stone fireplace, Morris tapestries. Well-equipped farmhouse-style kitchen with large electric range. Breakfast room (seats 10) with 4-oven Aga. Tower, small sitting room with stone vaulted ceiling adjoining the main sitting room. Utility/toilet. Separate toilet. Tudor stone staircase and early 20th-century staircase to first floor: Large double bedroom with magnificent 18th-century panelling, window seats, cupboard leading to blocked door to lost second tower. Master double bedroom with window seats on two sides, 18th-century panelling, leading to tower twin bedroom. Double bedroom with ensuite shower room, looking west over the garden. Further twin bedroom with ensuite shower room, looking east to Dunstanburgh Castle. Bunk bedroom with panelling. Two single bedrooms, one with 2ft 6in bed. Two bathrooms, each with separate shower cubicle, one with bath. Further stand alone shower room (no toilet) Tudor stone staircase to second floor: 25ft long games room, TV. Twin bedroom, mullioned window facing west, leading to tower twin bedroom with window facing east to remains of a medieval garderobe.
Please note Dunstan Hall is a no smoking property and is adjacent to Stable Cottage (sleeps 4) and opposite Hemmel House (sleeps 6) Properties can be booked in combination for a larger group of guests and sleep 29 in total (please note there is one 2ft 6 bed in Dunstan Hall and one additional child's bed in Hemmel House in the study off the sitting room)
Bedrooms
10 (3 x king size beds, 4 x twin, 1 x bunk, 1 x single, 1 x single with 2ft 6 bed for a child - (see above for configuration)
Bathrooms
1 x bathroom (inc separate shower) 1 x large shower room, 2 x ensuite shower rooms, 1 x shower, 1 x utility/toilet, 1 x toilet.
Bedding
non feather bedding provided
Family
A cot and high chair provided
Extra touches
A welcome pack of essential items is provided
Pets
To ensure guests with allergies can be comfortable, there are no pets allowed (see terms and conditions)
Outside
Expansive lawned grounds and walled gardens to two sides of the property
Parking
Cars can be parked in configuration - there is parking for around 7 cars, depending on their size, but will require you to park up the side of the house and using the space next to the little outhouse and along the garden wall opposite the front door of Dunstan Hall. Consideration should be made for separate guests in the adjacent Stable Cottage.
Mod Cons
Superfast WiFi, electric range cooker, large fridge/freezer, separate drinks fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, microwave, 4 oven Aga, TV in upstairs games room and SMART TV in the main sitting room, for you to watch your own subscription channels. There is also a small TV in the Tower sitting room.
Usual check-in and check-out days are Friday and Monday, but please ask if you require anything different and we will do our best to accommodate that.
We will provide address and directions and key box number prior to arrival.
Accessibility:
Parts of Dunstan Hall date back to the 12th Century. As a consequence, there are a number of steps in addition to the staircases. One staircase is made of stone, which is uneven in nature. Some doorways are very low and there are lips at the doorways to certain rooms. The main staircases provide relatively straightforward access to the first floor. For specific detail on various areas that may accommodate a differently abled person, don't hesitate to get in touch.
25% deposit and a booking fee of £100 are required to confirm a booking. The balance is then required 8 weeks prior to your visit.
Bedroom Details
Bedroom 1
1 x King Bed
with ensuite shower room
Bedroom 2
1 x King Bed
Yellow Bedroom
Bedroom 3
1 x King Bed
red bedroom with twin bedroom off it
Bedroom 4
2 x Single Beds
Twin bedroom with shower room ensuite
Bedroom 5
2 x Single Beds
twin bedroom accessed via red King bedroom
Bedroom 6
2 x Single Beds
Second floor twin bedroom
Bedroom 7
2 x Single Beds
Tower twin bedroom accessed via second floor twin room
Bedroom 8
1 x Bunk Bed
First floor bunk room
Bedroom 9
1 x Single Bed
Full size single bedroom
Bedroom 10
1 x Single Bed
2 ft 6 bed in small bedroom (childs)
6 Reviews
Leave ReviewLots of tears from the children, leaving this beautiful property!
By The Jones Family on 31-May-2025Hello, We just wanted to firstly say a big thank you. Our extended family and all of the children have loved staying here. It has been magical for them, especially the garden! We have taken some lovely pictures of the house this week with beautiful red skies overhead. Once again thank you so much. There will be lots of tears from the children leaving this beautiful property. When we are home I will leave a review on your website. I do hope to rent one of your properties again in the future. Kind regards The Jones Family, May 2025
Dunstan Hall was the perfect location for a fantastic week of hiking in Northumberland.
By Amy's Walking Group on 30-Jun-2024Dunstan Hall was the perfect location for a fantastic week of hiking in Northumberland. We were a group of 20 mums from the USA, UK, Switzerland, Dubai, and Australia that met up and we could not have asked for a better home for the week. Jude and Jane were extremely responsive and made our stay extra special, helping with many of the logistics--recommendations for catering companies, restaurants, day trips, transport companies, and even local guides when ours broke her wrist. I can not thank them enough. We especially enjoyed a number of meals provided by Turnbull's in Alnwick. The 3 houses together gave us plenty of sleeping space for 20 ladies. Never an issue with enough hot water. Some of our hikes left right from the house, going north and south along the coast. The town of Craster is charming and offers a delicious restaurant (The Jolly Fisherman) and local music. The 3 properties each had their own charm--it was lovely to sit outside late afternoons at Dunstan for "Happy Hour." We enjoyed many meals around the huge dining room, and cooked breakfasts on the Aga stove. The Stables provided a quiet retreat, and Hemmel House was perfect for star gazing across the beautiful meadows. Thanks for a fantastic week. Amy +19 June 2024 Amy's Party, who booked all 3 Dunstan Properties, June 2024
"We were impressed by the place, the service and attention to detail"
By The Kerr Family on 30-Sep-2024A Memorable Anniversary Stay at Dunston Hall We recently celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with a family stay at Dunston Hall, and it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. The entire process, from booking to the personalized advice on activities and local attractions, was seamless and stress-free. The grandeur of Dunston Hall is truly remarkable, steeped in history, and this atmosphere was felt in every corner of the venue. The beautiful, well-maintained gardens added to the charm, providing the perfect setting for leisurely walks without the need for everyone to jump into cars. The facilities were top-notch, and we found everything we needed to make our stay comfortable and enjoyable. We had friends joins us from all over the place and they all said it was one of the best weekends they have had. We were so impressed by the place, the service, and the attention to detail that we’ve already rebooked for next year! We highly recommend Dunston Hall to anyone looking for a place that offers both history and relaxed luxury in a stunning setting. The Kerr Family, September 2024
"Thank you for your help arranging this special family get-together for my 70th"
By The Mason Family on 29-May-2025Hi Jude and Jane, I just thought I would let you know how much we enjoyed our stay at Dunstan Hall. The accommodation was perfect, a big enough table for all our family to sit together for our meals and play board games, but at the same time, there was a warm and cosy atmosphere. A fantastic house to play hide and seek. The beds were all very comfortable, and the number of bathrooms/ shower rooms was perfect for a large group of people. The garden was amazing, big enough to accommodate a few games of rounders which was such fun. We all feel the benefit of the break and didn’t want to leave. Thank you for your help in arranging this very special family get together for my 70th birthday. It was a perfect break. The Mason Family, May 2025
"Perfect for a chilled hen-do"
By The Heaney Hen Party on 27-Jun-2025Thank you, we had a fabulous time in Dunstan Hall! It was absolutely perfect for our chilled hen do. There was loads of space for everyone and the garden was beautiful. We loved yoga on the beach and had dinner at The Jolly Fisherman complete with dolphins swimming by. Lovely walks from the house. We just need another celebration as an excuse to return! The Heaney 'Hen' Party, June 2025
'Amazing place, wonderful location..."
By The Bee Family on 11-Jul-2025The Hall is an amazing place in a wonderful location. Everything we needed was catered for and more. The grounds are spectacular and were enjoyed immensely by all the different ages. Our six grandchildren in particular loved all the space to play and were reluctant to leave at the end of our holiday. Thank you also for your very attentive service. It is reassuring to know that someone is easily available and willing to help. We hope to return at some point. Kind regards The "Bee" Family, July 2025