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Priory ruins and museum
Lindisfarne Priory
English Heritage's ruined priory with the 'rainbow arch', a museum with Anglo-Saxon name stones and a family trail; check the tide before visiting.
A mini guide to
Holy Island & the causeway coast
The tidal island of Lindisfarne, its priory and castle, and the mainland villages by the causeway
Photos
1 / 9Welcome to the area
The tidal island of Lindisfarne, its priory and castle, and the mainland villages by the causeway
Holy Island, also called Lindisfarne, is a tidal island off the Northumberland coast. A road causeway about three miles long joins it to the mainland at Beal, and the tide covers it twice a day. Northumberland County Council publishes safe crossing times and asks drivers to allow an extra 30 minutes for weather.
The village sits at the south-west corner of the island, between the ruins of Lindisfarne Priory and the harbour. Lindisfarne Castle stands on a rock to the east, with Gertrude Jekyll's walled garden and the lime kilns nearby. The rest of the island is dunes and shore inside the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. Places to stay on the mainland side are in Beal, Fenwick and Belford.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Castle
Lindisfarne Castle
16th-century fort on a rocky crag, altered by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1901 and now cared for by the National Trust.
Parish church
St Mary the Virgin, Holy Island
Parish church beside the priory on the site of St Aidan's wooden church of AD 635; restored in 1860.
Directions Report a problem with St Mary the Virgin, Holy Island
Garden
Gertrude Jekyll's walled garden
Small walled garden laid out by Gertrude Jekyll in 1911, north of the castle and looked after with it by the National Trust.
Directions Report a problem with Gertrude Jekyll's walled garden
Industrial heritage
Lindisfarne lime kilns
Lime kilns built by a Dundee firm in the 1860s below the castle; lime was burnt here until about 1900.
War memorial
Holy Island War Memorial
First World War memorial cross on the Heugh, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens; grade II* listed.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Holy Island & the causeway coast and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Check the crossing times first
The tide covers the causeway twice a day. Use Northumberland County Council's table and allow 30 minutes extra, as the council advises.
2
The Pilgrims' Way is different
The road times do not apply to the walking route over the sands. The council says to walk it in daylight, with local knowledge, and to finish before the middle of the safe period.
3
If you are caught out
Visit Northumberland says not to drive into rising water: wait for the next safe window, and call HM Coastguard if you are stranded on the causeway.
4
Parking
Visitors park in one of the two island car parks, which charge a small fee; there is no charge to visit the island itself.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Everything for Holy Island & the causeway coast
Lindisfarne (Holy Island)
More areas to explore
Photo credits
- Holy Island & the causeway coast (area photo): matthew Hunt, CC BY 2.0, source
- Lindisfarne Priory: Nicholas Mutton, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Lindisfarne Castle: Urbral, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- St Mary the Virgin, Holy Island: David Smith, CC BY 2.0, source
- Gertrude Jekyll's walled garden: Simon Cobb, CC0, source
- Lindisfarne lime kilns: Simon Cobb, CC0, source
- Holy Island War Memorial: Iain Lees, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Heugh Hill beacon: Phil Champion, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Cuthbert's Isle: Agnete, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve: Walter Baxter, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Emmanuel Head: Roger D Kidd, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Holy Island Waggonway: Alexander P Kapp, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Osborne's Fort: Dave.Dunford, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Snook Tower: Les Hull, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Lindisfarne causeway: Ian Capper, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Pilgrims' Way: James T M Towill, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Berwick-upon-Tweed: Whatlep, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring Lindisfarne (Holy Island)