Summary of Visiting Holy Island of Lindisfarne
After spending the day on Farne Island the day before, we decided to start our day nice and chilled by visiting the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.
When visiting the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, it’s crucial to pay special attention to the tides. This is something that some visitors have unfortunately learned the hard way! Each day, the sea cuts off the island, separating it from Great Britain.
This may sound like a thrilling adventure until you realize the risks involved!
Typically, this separation occurs twice daily, so if you decide to explore this beautiful location, ensure to check the tide times for accurate information on when it’s safe to cross.
For our visit, it was after 11 am, allowing us to leisurely enjoy our morning. Keeping this in mind, we indulged in our usual breakfast treats at the Joiner’s Arms before making our way slowly north toward Holy Island itself.
As we approached the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, we quickly realized how hazardous this road could potentially be.
The road itself is built on sand and may appear as a regular flat road. However, it gets submerged when the tide rises, and during high tide, you wouldn’t even notice a road exists. The difference between low tide and high tide here is astonishing.
That being said, with proper planning, there’s no reason to worry. Tides can indeed be hazardous, but usually, this happens when people are unaware of the timings. As we drove across the seabed and dunes, it felt like we had entered a different world.
It was a surreal experience that hardly resembled England at all.
Visiting Lindisfarne Castle had always been on my mind since my university days when I passed it frequently. Therefore, after parking, we headed directly to the castle.
As we walked towards Lindisfarne Castle, we quickly realized the imposing nature of the entire area, especially as the castle is constructed atop an ancient volcanic tuft amidst the rolling hills.
Historically, the island has a wealth of religious significance intertwined with a legacy of fierce battles. More than 1,300 years ago, Christian evangelicals lived peacefully here until the Vikings crossed the North Sea.
After the bloody massacre, it is often regarded as the starting point of the Viking age and their dominance in Northern Europe.
Fortunately, there were no Vikings present during our visit, allowing us to enjoy our exploration of the holy island of Lindisfarne in peace. 😉
The stunning views from the castle’s height were impressive.
Apparently, the Lindisfarne Priory was actually one of the older sites you can still visit. With that in mind, we strolled across the island to the village area itself. After a little exploration, we made our way back.
As we wandered around, I got instant flashbacks to our visit to Whitby Abbey and how magnificent these structures must have been in their prime.
Much like other priories and monasteries, many succumbed to Henry VIII’s reign when he dissolved the monasteries and seized their wealth.
The ruins are beautiful, comprising of several well-preserved arches and other structures on the site itself.
A beloved local beverage on Holy Island is the sweet Lindisfarne Mead. It resembles fortified wine, similar in strength to Port, and is crafted from honey. Long ago, the monks on the island created and consumed mead to fortify their spirits for service to God.
Although those monks have long since vanished (most likely facing health issues), the secret recipe remains alive, still produced at a single location on the island.
As soon as we learned of this, we had to make the trip to St Aidan’s Winery. Yaya, in particular, is a fan of sweet tasting drinks and was eager to try the mead. As I was driving, I abstained, yet Yaya thoroughly enjoyed a couple of glasses!
As our time on the island was drawing to a close, we had to map out our return journey to Morpeth for our train back to London.
We were fortunate to have a brief 20-minute window to swing by Pilgrims Coffee House for a coffee. It’s a quaint establishment that you might overlook if you are not aware of its location, especially since it is nestled behind a historical walled garden.
As we settled down with our coffees, a sense of nostalgia enveloped us. It was a moment of reflection upon the incredible few days we had spent exploring Northumberland and visiting the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.
Perhaps, Yaya was just feeling the lingering effects of the mead!
