Lindisfarne (Holy Island)
Holy Island, United Kingdom
A tidal island with the ruins of an early Christian priory and a small castle. The causeway floods twice a day: check the safe crossing times before you drive over.
Around 635 the Irish monk Aidan founded a monastery on the island. St Cuthbert lived and worked here, and the Lindisfarne Gospels, now in the British Library, were probably produced here in the early 8th century. Vikings ravaged the monastery in 793. The ruins you see today belong to the Benedictine priory, resettled from Durham in the 11th/12th century and dissolved in 1537. The castle was built around 1550 from the priory's stones; Edwin Lutyens later converted it into a holiday home for Edward Hudson, founder of Country Life, and Gertrude Jekyll designed the small walled garden around 1911.
The causeway, about 5 km long, is flooded by the North Sea twice a day. Check the safe crossing times in advance (published by Northumberland County Council, among others) and allow some spare time. There are pay-and-display car parks in the village, and the castle is about 1.6 km away on foot. Allow at least three hours.
- Nearest town
- Holy Island, United Kingdom
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 55.6690, -1.8010
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually May–September. Cold, short days in January. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- United Kingdom: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Drive on the left. Some bridges and tunnels charge tolls.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Barn at Beal campsiteCampsite6 km from Lindisfarne (Holy Island)TentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Brock Mill Farm CLMotorhome stopover7 km from Lindisfarne (Holy Island)Motorhomes
- Budle Farm CampsiteCampsite7 km from Lindisfarne (Holy Island)TentsCaravansDrinking waterWaste disposal
- Waren Caravan & Camping ParkMotorhome stopover8 km from Lindisfarne (Holy Island)TentsCaravansMotorhomesShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Beadnell BayCampsite16 km from Lindisfarne (Holy Island)TentsCaravans
- Proctors SteadMotorhome stopover25 km from Lindisfarne (Holy Island)TentsCaravansMotorhomes
All campsites in United Kingdom · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Lindisfarne (Holy Island)?
Lindisfarne (Holy Island) is in Holy Island, United Kingdom, at GPS 55.6690, -1.8010. It is about 9 km from Bamburgh.
Can you camp near Lindisfarne (Holy Island)?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Barn at Beal campsite, about 6 km away; within 25 km there are 50 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Lindisfarne (Holy Island)?
Lindisfarne (Holy Island) is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Northumberland’s coast of castles.
What is there to see near Lindisfarne (Holy Island)?
Places worth a stop nearby: Bamburgh Castle (9 km), Dunstanburgh Castle (24 km), Alnwick Castle (29 km) and Jedburgh Abbey (52 km).
When is the best time to visit Lindisfarne (Holy Island)?
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually May–September. Cold, short days in January. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)