Holy Island
Holy Island, Lindisfarne, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. However you name it, it’s a special place. No visit to the area would be complete without at least giving it a look. The site is important culturally as an important centre of Celtic Christianity. It also is home to a castle, several navigational markets and is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The nature reserve is also home to many species of birds. The Island definitely warrants a day to itself.
A Classic Holy Island View - Fisherman’s Hut Looking to Lindisfarne Castle, January 2025
Heritage Sites
The most obvious tourist attractions are the two heritage sites, Lindisfarne Priory and Lindisfarne Castle. The Priory dates back to 634 and is now operated by English Heritage. The castle is much more recent and in its current form was bought and refurbished around the turn of the last century. It is now owned by the National Trust. It’s worth checking the links as neither is fully open all year round.
The Harbour
The other popular location, particularly for photographers, is the area around the harbour and beach. Not only are there good views across to the castle, but the fisherman’s huts (upturned boats) make a great subject on their own. It’s worth keeping in mind that this is a working harbour - there’s plenty of interesting detail, but also plenty of working machinery. The island can also be a decent location for some night photography, but the lights from Bamburgh and beyond are brighter than you may imagine.
The Island
It’s worth venturing further afield. There’s a good walk out to Emmanuel Head, while the Snook (back towards the causeway) is well worth a look.
Nature
Berwick-upon-Tweed’s Elizabethan walls are among some of the best preserved town walls from the era within Europe. There were also the most expensive project undertaken during Elizabeth I’s reign. That the town changed hands 13 times between 1174 and 1482 underlines Berwick’s turbulent history as a border town. Asides from the history, a walk around the walls affords some great views of the town and coast.
The Causeway
Holy Island is tidal, meaning that access is only available for part of the day dependent on the tides. The causeway is longer than many imagine and the sea can come in faster than some appreciate. Seahouses RNLI get regular calls to rescue stranded motorists who ignore the warnings (or believe their BMW is somehow immune). Locals on social media are sometimes less than kind…
A guide to the safe crossing times is published here, although this is guidance only and it’s prudent to leave yourself some leeway. It’s also better to trust the evidence of your own eyes rather than the guide and, if in doubt, wait for the tide. The island is, however, well worth the crossing.
