The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is a tidal island accessed by a paved causeway which is cut off by the North Sea twice in every 24 hours. It’s therefore essential that you check the safe crossing times before planning a trip!
Holy Island is famous for its medieval religious heritage. The 12th century Lindisfarne Priory was the epicentre of Christianity in Anglo Saxon times and once the home of St Oswald. The island is still a place of pilgrimage today, with the St Cuthbert’s Way walk crossing the sandy causeway and finishing up on Holy Island.
The island is also home to the 16th century Lindisfarne Castle, sitting majestically on top of a sheer rock face. There’s also a picturesque village with plenty of great cafes and shops, a harbour with fantastic sheds created from up-turned boats, and wonderful scenery surrounding you wherever you look.
Holy Island can be busy at the height of summer, so if you want to escape the crowds head to the beaches on the north side of the island where you can walk for miles and explore the saltmarshes and dunes which together form the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve.
You can find out more about Holy Island and access safe crossing times at this website:
www.visitnorthumberland.com/holy-island
Great for dogs because they can get a good walk around the castle (although only assistance dogs are allowed inside) and there’s a host of dog-friendly cafes in the village, including the highly-recommended Pilgrim’s Coffee House (also featured in our Northumberland Guide). The vast beaches on the north side of the island also provide miles of running to tire out even the most energetic of dogs.
Great for kids because they’ll love the excitement of crossing the causeway with sand on either side of (and sometimes on) the road. They’ll also enjoy exploring the castle and the ruins of the priory, and there are plenty of cafes in the village to keep them fed and watered.
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Old Salt Cottage
Interesting boat sheds at Lindisfarne harbour
Beautiful views across the bay to Ross Back Sands and Budle
Vast expanse of beach at the north side of the island
Lush meadows and sand dunes on Holy Island
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Unless otherwise stated, all content and photography © Kevin & Claire Allan 2024. We make every effort to keep details up to date, but cannot guarantee accuracy of information.
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