The Holy Island of Lindisfarne (with saints!)
Lindisfarne is a small island ( 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 birds and native seals.
It’s known for being the home of hermit saints in the past including St. Cuthbert (who campaigned for eider ducks, and otters would dry his fur after a swim in the chilly North Sea!) And St. Aidan.
When out walking, always follow the Countryside Code, to keep all creatures safe. At the coast, read how to keep dogs safe by the seaside.
If walking to Lindisfarne, set off 2 hours before low tide (walk with the outgoing not rising tide) and avoid poor weather/dusk, and wear good boots. Most people use the hopper bus.
Always check the tide times, as it cuts off twice a day by the North Sea, and many people don’t look at warning signs, and have to be rescued.
More on St Cuthbert (the ‘wonder worker saint!)
It’s amazing that people don’t read more about our saints, as their miracles (which were well documented) are far more interesting than reading about reality TV!
As well as protecting local wildlife, St Cuthbert (a Northumbrian Celtic monk) was also a hermit who performed all kinds of strange good goings-on!
He was known to protect local eider ducks, and legend was that otters would dry his skin with their fur, after he had swam in the chilly North Sea.
Some miracles included:
- Calming a raging sea, so stranded monks could return to shore.
- Stopping a strong wind that was hindering boatmen carrying wood.
- Extinguished a fire, saving a village by the power of his prayers.
- He reportedly purified the Farne Islands of demons on his arrival.
- He also knew when he was going to die. And when he did, examination of his body found it had not decayed, after 11 years.
