Holy Island, also known as Lindisfarne, is a located a few miles off the Northumberland coast. Cut off twice a day by fast tides, the island has a charming village and boasts a wealth of history. Discover some of our favourite reasons to visit Holy Island below.
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Holy Island crossing times
The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is linked to mainland by a causeway. This is cut off twice every day by fast incoming tides. The island has many warning signs urging visitors walking to the island to keep to the marked path and check tide times and weather carefully. Check safe crossing times before your visit on the main website.
Holy Island has a wealth of history first recorded in the 6th century AD and the island remains one of the most important centres of early English Christianity. In 635 the Northumbrian king Oswald summoned an Irish monk to be bishop of his kingdom and granted Aidan Lindisfarne to build a monastery.
In the 670s a monk named Cuthbert joined the monastery and become Lindisfarne's greatest monk-bishop and most important saint in northern England. Following his death, Lindisfarne became the major pilgrimage centre in Northumbria that resulted in the monastery, and the island, growing in power and wealth.
Following the Viking invasions and the Norman conquest of England, a priory was re-built and ruins are still visible today. By the 18th century the ruins had become a popular tourist attraction for artists with many visiting to draw the church. Holy Island remains a holy site and place of pilgrimage for many. The island has a thriving community with activities such as bird watching, painting and fishing as well as a harbour, shops and inns.
Top tip: Head to the village winery to sample Lindisfarne Mead, the locally produced alcohol of Holy Island.
Dating back to the 16th century, Lindisfarne castle is has recently been renovated and offers some of the best views of the island.
As well as its majestic exterior, the interior of the castle has been redecorated to mirror how the rooms would have looked in the early 1900s when owned by Edward Hudson, founder of Country Life magazine. Edward converted the fort into a mock castle to create a comfortable residence with decorative brick flooring and moulded roof beams.
Perfect for an escape from bad weather, more information and booking can be found on the National Trust website.
The island is surrounded by sandy dunes dotted with the remains of old buildings that were created as part of the lime industry. The Links is an expansive sandy beach located to the north of the island. The dune covered area is part of the Lindisfarne Nature Reserve with many rock pools that are visible when the tide is out.
The island also has other beaches; North Shore, Coves Haven and Sandham Bay with breath-taking scenery all year round.
Seals can be seen resting together throughout summer at many locations on the island, particularly on the sandbanks between St Cuthbert's island and the mainland. You can often hear the seals wailing in the afternoon and evening, and sometimes spot them swimming in groups between the sands and the castle.
The island also has a large hide built close to the harbour that offers a clear view over a wetland area with local wildlife. The free attraction has interactive displays and information for children about the local wildlife.
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