Monday 7 March 2011

Island 14 - Lindisfarne/Holy Island

Lindisfarne or Holy Island is a tidal island located off the east coast of Northumberland.  The causeway, which is a metalled road, is a mile long and is uncovered for just over 3 hours either side of low tide.  The island is about 3 miles from east to west (due to a panhandle shape) and 1.5 miles from north to south. In 2011 the population was 180.

I first visited Lindisfarne on a day trip from Essex in the 1970s! It was a specially organised excursion train.  I have been back a couple of times since.

There is a hotel and several bed and breakfasts in the village.  There are also several cafés, a few gift/craft shops and a couple of pubs.

The ruins of Lindisfarne Priory are managed by English Heritage: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/lindisfarne-priory/

The priory was founded by St Aidan in 635 AD.  St Cuthbert (c634-687) was Prior of Lindisfarne and lived there when he wasn't living as a hermit on Inner Farne or away on missionary journeys.  Due to attacks by the Vikings the monks left at the end of the 8th Century and did not return until around 1150 when they stayed until the Reformation in 1537.

Lindisfarne Castle is owned by the National Trust and is open to visitors
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lindisfarne/
The castle was a 16th Century Tudor fort but was transformed by Edwin Lutyens into an Edwardian holiday home in 1903.  The walled garden was planned by Gertrude Jekyll.

Lindisfarne is visited by thousands of people each year but most of them don't venture beyond the village and the Castle.  I walked to and around the dunes on the north side of the island and hardly met a soul.

 War Memorial on The Heugh
 
Lookout Tower and War Memorial on The Heugh
 
Old Lifeboat House

 
 St Cuthbert's Island
This is a tidal island but on the day I visited it was a neap tide and the causeway did not clear.  
 
 Lindisfarne Castle
 
 Lindisfarne Castle

Lindisfarne Castle
 
Lindisfarne Castle from Gertrude Jekyll's beautiful walled garden
 
Potting shed in the walled garden
 
Walled garden in full bloom
 
Memorial to Gertrude Jekyll in the walled garden
 
Lime kilns
 
Looking south from inside the lime kilns
 
Cairn sculpture - looking north up the east coast

Impromptu sculptures
 Causeway
 
 Lindisfarne Parish Church and Priory Ruins
 
 Lindisfarne Gospel Gardens - a quiet tranquil spot, which most visitors seem to miss
 
 Lindisfarne Priory
 
 Statue of St Cuthbert
Lindisfarne Priory from the churchyard
 New life for old boats as sheds
 
 St Aidan at Lindisfarne Priory

 Lindisfarne Village

Heritage Centre
 
Cottage in the village
 
Crown and Anchor Inn
 
Cottage in the village
 
Ship Inn
 
St Cuthbert's Centre
 
 Pilgrims' Route across the sands

Seat overlooking the Pilgrims' Route

 Lindisfarne Priory

Lindisfarne Priory

West front of Lindisfarne Priory

Owl sculpture
 
Geese?
 
Hide
 
The Lough from the hide
 
Tern sculpture - looking north up the east coast

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