For a great day out in Northumberland, Lindisfarne is certainly worth a visit. With fascinating early Christianity and Viking history, an abundance of nature, beautiful beaches and an atmosphere that will leave you feeling an equal balance of eeriness and tranquillity, Lindisfarne will quickly steal your heart. Getting to the island is an adventure in itself via a causeway only passable during low tide. In this guide you’ll find everything you need to know about Lindisfarne including how to get there, what there is to do and all about its importance in British history.

Lindisfarne at a Glance

Parking: One main car park on Lindisfarne - pay and display either by cash, card or Pay by Phone App. £8.50 for 5+ hours

Safe crossing times for the Lindisfarne causeway: Plan your visit to Lindisfarne by checking the safe crossing times here.

Dog friendly: Yes but they aren’t allowed in the castle, except for assistance dogs. 

Facilities: Plenty of pubs, cafes, shops and public toilets.

Walk time: I recommend spending the majority of a full day here to see everything and to enjoy the beach.

Where is Lindisfarne? 

Lindisfarne is located just off the Northumberland coast in the north east of England. The tidal island is linked to the mainland via a causeway which is impassable during high tide, effectively cutting off Lindisfarne from the mainland.

What is the history behind Lindisfarne?

Wow! Where to start…

Cast your mind back to the Anglo-Saxons and 635 AD when St Aidan, an Irish monk, founded Lindisfarne Monastery after King Oswald granted him the small tidal island. In 670 AD, St Cuthbert, a monk from modern-day Scotland, arrived on Lindisfarne and joined the monastery. Eventually, he became the most important saint in northern England thanks to his mission of spreading Christianity to more remote villages and for his healing skills. 

After his death in 687, Lindisfarne was established as a major pilgrimage location. With visiting kings and other nobles, who bought gifts of money and valuable objects, the monastery once again grew in power and value. 

Viking attack on Lindisfarne

In 793 AD, Lindisfarne was subjected to a horrific attack from Vikings. This wasn’t the first Viking attack in England but it was historically significant as it was seen as an attack on the Christian heart of the Northumbian kingdom. The inhabitants of Lindisfarne were subjected to a violent attack, murder, torture and kidnap as well as having to watch treasure from the church being stolen, their belongings plundered and the destruction of the church. After the Viking attack, many of the monks fled the island to Durham and the importance of the monastery declined until the 12th century. However, a small Christian community did remain there until the 10th century. 

The Tudors and Lindisfarne

Eventually a priory was built and monks returned to Lindisfarne however in 1537, Henry VIII ordered its closure as part of the dissolution of monasteries. After its closure, it was used as a storage area for Henry VIII, becoming a naval base and military area. This led to the building of Lindisfarne castle in 1550 to defend from attacks from Scotland. 

Lindisfarne now

In the early 19th century, a local landowner attempted to restore the priory ruins however it eventually collapsed. The monastery buildings were finally excavated in the late 19th century and following this, the church was excavated and the walls repaired. Now, Lindisfarne is an incredibly popular tourist destination with the castle and priory ruins open to visit.  

Why does it also go by the name “Holy Island”?

After the Norman Conquest in 1066, monks from Durham added the name “Holy Island” when they looked back over the stories of Lindisfarne. Considering the incredibly important religious significance of Lindisfarne within Christianity it makes sense to give a nod to the religious history here. 

What is there to do on Lindisfarne?

Many people head over to Lindisfarne and only visit the castle and priory ruins but Lindisfarne has so much more to offer and it’s worth spending the whole day here to really get a sense of the island.

Lindisfarne Castle

The castle sits proudly at the end of the island and rises high on the cliff edge. Built as a defence strategy in the mid 1500s, you can explore the castle and its narrow passageways and vast rooms. The castle is only open from April to October and it gets busy so it’s worth arriving for opening time if you can. You can find all the details here on the National Trust website. The walk along the shore front is a great place and you can also visit the old lime kilns just beyond the castle. 

Lindisfarne Lime Kilns

In the 19th century, these kilns were used to produce quicklime for construction and agriculture. Limestone was brought from the quarry on the north of the island and the product was sent overseas via ships. The kilns on Lindisfarne are the best preserved in the country and are free to visit. You can find out more about them here. 

Lindisfarne Priory

Visit the ruins of Lindisfarne Priory and learn all about the Viking raid that devastated the island. All the information can be found on the English Heritage website. 

St Mary’s Church

This is the oldest building on Lindisfarne. It’s free to visit and found within the priory grounds. You can see Saxon architecture here and is home to a wonderful sculpture showing monks carrying the coffin of St Cuthbert. 

North Shore Beach

An absolutely breathtaking beach when the tide is out. The golden sand stretches for what feels like miles and miles on both sides with some great swimming here when the tide is higher. The sand dunes hide the beach from view on  the main road but it is easy to reach via a two minute walk from a small car park known as The Snook. This beach is quite exposed so remember to wrap up warm in some My Urban Trail thermals, especially if you're adventuring in autumn and winter. 

See the Lindisfarne causeway at high tide

Drive towards the causeway back to the mainland for an incredible experience. I parked my car here and enjoyed being completely alone watching the water gently retreat from the road. Birds flock here during this time so you can enjoy watching curlews, eiders and egrets. 

St Aidan’s Winery

Stop off here to try the locally produced Lindisfarne Mead. There is a large showroom with plenty for sale. There is also an adjacent gift shop. 

Visit St Cuthbert’s Island

A small island only accessible during low tide. This is where St Cuthbert apparently went when he wanted peace and quiet away from the priory. There are beautiful views across to Lindisfarne and the mainland from here and is a great place for watching wildlife such as birds and seals. It’s very easy to get cut off here so only visit if you are confident of the tide times. 

How do I get to Lindisfarne? 

Lindisfarne by car

Getting to Lindisfarne via car is across the causeway that is only accessible during low tide and slightly before and after. During high tide, the causeway is completely covered with water and access is impossible; people are regularly rescued after ignoring the warning signs. The safe crossing times are available on the Northumberland Council website so a day visit will need to be planned according to these. The causeway is accessed not far from the tiny village of Beal. 

Walking to Lindisfarne

For the more adventurous, there is also a walking route to Lindisfarne. Following the Pilgrim’s Way, the route follows vertical poles to lead you safely to the other side. The road was only constructed in 1954, so this walking route with the poles as waymarkers was the only way of finding a safe route from the mainland. 

Tips for walking to Lindisfarne

• The route follows very clear metal poles which stick up from the sand. You should stick closely to these but you can also follow the main causeway beside the road. 
• The walking route to Lindisfarne takes approximately 1.5-2 hours and is three miles long
• It is advised to set off around 2 hours before low tide so you are walking with the tide going out rather than coming in.
• Do not use the safe causeway crossing times on the council website as these are for cars. Instead check the safe crossings and aim to have finished the walk within the first half of the times marked as safe
• The route is muddy so either wear boots you don’t mind getting muddy or go barefoot 
• As an alternative, consider getting the bus across to Lindisfarne and then walking back if you don’t want to walk both ways. 
• Hire a local guide to help you navigate the sands to Lindisfarne if you are at all unsure.

Is there public transport to Lindisfarne? 

There is a local bus service (number 477) which runs on most days during the summer months from Berwick Station. However, this service can be as few as once a week from September to May. Check the timetable here.

Parking on Lindisfarne

The main car park for Lindisfarne is located at Chare Ends (TD15 2SE) with a short walk into the town centre, the castle and the priory ruins. Parking here is Pay and Display by cash, card or the Pay by Phone app. At the time of writing (November 2024), charges were as follows;

3 hours £6.50

4 hours £7.50

5 hours £8.50

24 hours £10 (but no overnight parking)

For coaches, blue badges and EV-Hybrid, there is another car park within the village off Green Lane behind the Lindisfarne Hotel. 

Can you stay the night on Lindisfarne? 

There are plenty of hotels, B&B’s and accommodation offering overnight stays on the island. 

Wild camping is strictly prohibited on Lindisfarne as is staying overnight in a campervan or motorhome. 

However, there is a lovely campsite in Beal, not far from the causeway crossing called The Barn at Beal. It has lovely pitches, great facilities and an onsite cafe too.

 

If you visit Lindisfarne please do let us know; we love to hear about your adventures!

For additional UK outdoor adventures, wild swimming, hiking routes and more, check my other blog posts here on MY URBAN TRAIL and follow me @Wild_0utdoors on Instagram.

Happy adventuring!