The Holy Island of Lindisfarne (Northumberland)
Lindisfarne is a small island (just 3 by 1.5 miles) off Northumberland’s coast, with just 200 residents, but 650,000 yearly tourists. The island is surrounded by a nature reserve, home to many birds and native seals.
Always check the tide times, as it’s common for people to get stranded and have to be rescued from their cars, when the road to this island disappears.
Read more on tidal causeways. And keeping dogs safe by the seaside.
If you’re a fan of the TV detective drama Vera, although parts of it are filmed elsewhere (Newcastle, Hexham and Alnmouth), the main character’s home is filmed on Lindisfarne, which was featured in the episode The Rising Tide.
Home to Many Religious Hermit Saints
Many religious hermits would spent years here. Local boy St Cuthbert was regarded as the world’s first religious environmentalist. He guarded sheep, and campaigned for the welfare of eider ducks. It’s said that otters would dry his fur, after he’d gone for a swim!
It’s said that he became a monk, after witnessing angels carrying St Aidan’s body to heaven. Craving isolation, he returned to live on Inner Farne, after serving as Bishop of Lindisfarne. After he died, his body was taken back to Lindisfarne, where the many claimed miracles at people who prayed by his grave, led to him being declared a saint.
St Aidan of Lindisfarne is the religious hermit credited to bringing Christianity to pagan lands. He arrived here from the Scottish island of Iona, where he would walk the streets performing miracles, and converting people with his love.
The other two saints associated with this tiny island are St Eadberht (a bishop who is now buried in Durham cathedral) and St Eadfrith (who created the Latin manuscripts for the Lindisfarne Gospels).
