📌 Lindisfarne, Northumberland
★★★
Lindisfarne – or Holy Island – was one of Britain’s first centres of early Christianity, and Lindisfarne Priory marks the end of a popular pilgrimage and long-distance route: the 62-mile St Cuthbert’s Way. A monastery was first founded on Lindisfarne in the early 7th century, ordered by King Oswald of Northumbria. His past links with Argyll led him to appoint a bishop from the island of Iona, but this Celtic branch of Christianity was replaced by the Roman one in 664, implemented by Cuthbert, who eventually became Bishop of Lindisfarne. Today’s ruins date from the early 10th century: a Benedictine priory constructed by monks from Durham, but ravaged by the Wars of Independence and closed in 1537 on the orders of Henry VIII’s commissioners. There’s also a smallish but interesting museum covered in the admission fee, and the site is shared with the active church of St Mary the Virgin which can be explored free of charge.
🌍 Location
📌 South end of Crossgate Lane, south side of Lindisfarne (Holy Island) village
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NU 126418
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.669312,-1.800851
🚌 Infrequent bus to Lindisfarne on limited dates only
🚗 Car park (charge) at north end of village. ⚠️ Island access via the tidal Lindisfarne Causeway – check online for safe crossing times
📝 Key info
⌚ Generally daily, April to 3 November 2024 & February half term; Wednesday to Sunday in March, mostly weekends, 4 November to February
🎫 £7.70+ adult / £4+ child depending on season / free for English Heritage members – discount for booking online
