Mention the word Lindisfarne, and some will think about an island off the coast of Northumberland. Others will think of a folk rock band with Alan Hull, one of the most prolific songwriters the country has seen. Either way, both have a strong connection to the North East of England.
The island, probably the most famous of the Farnes, is often referred to as Holy Island because it is steeped in religious history. St Aidan arrived on the island around 635AD and a monastery was quickly established. The monastery continued its work under the stewardship of St Cuthbert, however the work came to a bloody end in 793AD when the Vikings invaded, slaughtering many of the monks. Despite the island lying off the coast of Northumberland, the association remains strong with the monks of Durham. Indeed the remains of St Cuthbert are entombed within Durham Cathedral.
Today, the island boosts a tightly knit community. The religious links remain strong, yet the island can be seen in the news for the wrong reasons when people ignore the tide timetables. Access to and from the island is over a causeway which floods at high tide. Ignore the times at your peril so always check with the island’s website for safe crossing times.
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