Pictures of Lindisfarne

About Lindisfarne

Each day for several hours the beautiful island of Lindisfarne is cut off by the tide from the mainland. Tide permitting it can be reached via a causeway, otherwise it is reached by boat.

This is a peaceful, holy place where little causes disturbance save for the haunting cry of the curlew and the noise from the huge population of wildfowl and wading birds who use the island as a feeding ground. Holy Island's sands and Fenham Flats now form Lindisfarne Nature Reserve.

St.Aiden first came here as a monk in the year 643 to found a monastery at the behest of King Oswald of Northumbria. This was destroyed by the Danes in the 9th-century, but somehow the famous Lindisfarne Gospels of the 7th-century survived. This superb masterpiece of English-Celtic art now lies with the British Museum.

Visitors to Lindisfarne can expect to see the romantic ruins of Lindisfarne Priory, and perched on a steep rock is the stunning outline of Lindisfarne Castle, built to defend against the Scottish raiders in around 1550 but which fortunately has never had to fire a shot. The castle was a ruinous fortification until it was rebuilt by noted architect Edwin Luytens at the turn of the 20th-century.

On the sands surrounding Lindisfarne there is usually a scattering of old fishing boats and quaint fishing huts can still be seen, these are used for storage by local fishermen who go out in search of lobster and crab. Fishing for herring was once central to the life of the islanders, but recent years has seen a decline in the yield from the sea.

This is now mostly a place for visitors who enjoy the tranquil atmosphere and take pleasure in the sight of the island's ancient cottages tumbled together in narrow street's and squares.

The real focus of Lindisfarne is that of a place of pilgrimage, this is endorsed by the stunning statue of St. Aiden and by the churches and residential centres for Christian worship, fellowship and prayer.

There is a Heritage centre featuring the story of the Lindisfarne Gospels through a series of exhibits, here you can learn a little of the island culture. Souvenirs can be purchased from the Heritage gift shop.

St.Aiden's Winery lies at the centre of the village, it makes the unique Lindisfarne Mead which is renowned all over the world as a "nectar of the god's" it is a delicious blend of honey, herbs and white grapes fortified with fine spirit, it is said to be a real aphrodisiac!

That Lindisfarne is a very special place there is no doubt, all who visit are touched by the sheer joy of the place and its wonderful spiritual atmosphere.