Island 463 - St Cuthbert's Isle, Lindisfarne, Northumberland

St Cuthbert's Isle is a small uninhabited tidal island located 200 metres off the south west coast of Lindisfarne or Holy Island in Northumberland.  The remains of a small stone rectangular medieval chapel can clearly be seen on the island.  The present chapel dates from the 13th century.  The site was partially excavated by Sir William Crossman in 1888. 

A large wooden cross has been erected at the eastern end of the chapel. 

A chapel dedicated to St Cuthbert (c635-687) is mentioned by Bede (AD 673-735) and is thought to refer to this island. The island was used by Cuthbert and his successor Eadberht as a retreat. 

Cuthbert became a monk in 651 after seeing a vision on the night that St Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne died.  He initially joined the monastery at Melrose and moved to Lindisfarne sometime in the early 670s where he became prior.  He moved to Inner Farne in 676 where he lived until he agreed to become Bishop of Lindisfarne in 685.  He died on Inner Farne in 687 and was buried in St Peter's Church on Lindisfarne.  Eleven years later his grave was open and his body was found to be undecayed. His body was placed in a wooden coffin in the sanctuary of the church.  Numerous miracles were subsequently attributed to him.  Following a Viking raid in 793 the monks left Lindisfarne, taking Cuthbert's body with them.  His remains were first taken to Norham on the River Tweed and then various other locations over the next couple of centuries before they were finally buried in what eventually became Durham Cathedral in 995.

I visited St Cuthbert's Isle at low tide on one of the lowest spring tides of the year in September 2018.  I tried to cross to it on a low neap tide several years ago but the rocky causeway did not clear on that occasion.  Thrift, sea mayweed, ragwort and bird's foot trefoil
were all growing on the island.

Cross and chapel ruins looking west

Looking east over the chapel ruins towards Holy Island

St Cuthbert's Isle

Looking south east from St Cuthbert's Isle towards Guile Point

Cross looking towards The Heugh

St Cuthbert's Isle from Holy Island

St Cuthbert's Isle from The Heugh

 

St Cuthbert's Isle from Holy Island

 

St Cuthbert's Isle on a sunny day in June 2024