Holy Island

Home of St Cuthbert and the Lindisfarne Gospel

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is cut off from the mainland twice a day during high tide. During these times the causeway leading to the island (“Holy Island Causeway”) is submerged, either in parts, or entirely, and it is impossible to cross.

Please use the link below to view the tide times but be aware they are only an approximate guide.

Tide Times

Lindisfarne Castle

In 1549 a small fort was built on a high rock known as Beblowe, the highest point of the island overlooking the harbour. Elizabeth I improved the structure by adding a gun platform. However when James I came to the throne he combined the Scottish and English thrones so there was no need for the castle. In later years the castle was used as a coastguard lookout and become a tourist attraction .

In 1901 it became the property of Edward Hudson the owner of Country Life Magazine. He employed Sir Edwin Lutyens to refurbish the building in the Arts and Crafts style. The Walled Garden was designed by Gertrude Jekyll between 1906-1912.

The castle, garden and nearby lime kilns have been in the care of The National Trust since1944. There has been major renovations and restoration work from November 2016 to April 2018.

The Lindisfarne Castle closes for the winter but reopens sometime in March

Upturned Herring Boats

The tradition of transforming old herring boats into storage huts started more than 100 yrs ago for practical reasons. Local fishermen stored their nets, tools and other equipment in them.

The upturned boats are coated with tar to make them watertight but being so close to the sea for a long period of time the sheds still become rusted and decayed. Those further from the sea and nearer to the castle fair better.In the 19 century fishing from the harbour of Holy Island was at its peak.

St Cuthbert, Patron Saint of Northrumbria

Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (c634-687)was an Anglo Saxon saint of the early Northumbria church. He became Prior of Melrose and then Lindisfarne. After a short trial living as a hermit on the small inlet just off Lindisfarne now known as St Cuthbert's Island, he retired in 676 to Inner Farne where he devoted himself to prayer. His successful efforts to protect birds (St Cuthberts (eider) duck) made him one of the earliest wild life conservationists.

When he died on Inner Farne he was buried at Lindisfarne, however during a Viking attack, for wealth, on the island the monks took his body first to Chester le Street and then finally to Durham Cathedral.