Holy Island

Enjoy a day trip across the Causeway to  the beautiful Holy Island -

This pint-sized island holds  pubs and  cafés a-plenty, a  coastal castle and an ancient priory that are all waiting to be discovered. Holy Island becomes separated from the rest of the world and completely inaccessible twice a day.

This place of worship, tranquillity and breath-taking beauty was the home of St Cuthbert, who allegedly held the power of spiritual healing.  Across the causeway you will find the 12th century  Lindisfarne Priory, the epicentre of Christianity in Anglo Saxon times and once the home of St Oswald. Ransacked by marauding Viking raiders in the 8th century, the evocative ruins of Lindisfarne Priory include the famous ‘rainbow bridge’ which spirals skywards with the ghost of a long-vanished tower.

Perched on a rocky plateau overlooking the island sits  Lindisfarne Castle, which holds its own history predominantly marked by military defence. From around 1570 onwards, garrisons of soldiers were placed here to man weapons and keep their eyes on the horizon for potential trouble. Based on the impeccable condition of the castle when it was discovered in 1901, it is thought that the military history here was a relatively quiet one. Today, National Trust look after the castle so you can enjoy the fabulous architecture and the striking sea views.   Holy Island remains a place of pilgrimage today.

As well as the wealth of history within its tidal walls, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne has an exciting array of wildlife. Its island status protects tidal mudflats, saltmarshes and dunes which together form the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. Look out for wildfowl in the autumn and wading birds over winter on the reserve. Plus, spot pale-bellied brent geese flying in from Svalbard (Spitsbergen) to spend the winter on Holy Island.

The first stop en-route to Holy Island is a visit to Heighley Gate & Wyevale Garden Centre where you will stay for up to an hour.

The coach will then continue to Holy Island where you will stay for up to 4 hours.