A short visitor's guide to Embleton, Northumberland: things to do, places to eat and drink, and what's on through the year.
Embleton is a quiet village in Northumberland, set a short distance inland from the coast with the hamlet of Christon Bank a mile to the west. The village sits within easy reach of some of the most unspoilt shoreline in the north-east of England.
The draw for most visitors is the coast, in particular Embleton Bay: a sweeping sandy beach with the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle visible at one end and the dunes backing the bay on the other. The village of Craster, famous for its kippers, is just under four miles away and makes an easy half-day extension.
Embleton Bay (NE66 3DT) is consistently rated one of the finest beaches on the Northumberland coast: a long arc of sand backed by dunes, with pub, shop and lifeguard cover on site. The bay looks across to the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle to the south, making it as scenic a stretch of coast as you will find anywhere in the county. For anyone with an interest in dog-friendly holiday cottages in Embleton, the beach is a particularly good option as dogs are welcome.
Embleton is a small village, but the parish church of the Holy Trinity houses a notable curiosity: Book by the Sea Embleton Church Library (NE66 3UW), a community lending library installed inside the church, making it a pleasant stop for readers looking for something for a rainy afternoon.
The Grey's Inn on Stanley Terrace (NE66 3UZ) is the village pub, a short walk from the beach and well regarded for its selection of local ales and freshly prepared food served throughout the week. It is dog-friendly, which makes it a natural stop after a walk along Embleton Bay.
Embers at Eleanor's Byre (NE66 3DW) is a wood-fired pizza operation on the road between Embleton and Craster, open since 2019 and widely regarded as the best of its kind in Northumberland. The kitchen, oven and seating area are all hand-built, and the dough, sauce and wood all come from the producers themselves. It is a genuinely distinctive place to eat and draws visitors from well beyond the village.