The Holy Island of Lindisfarne Northumberland Rain-Shadow Area
- Hermes & Hestia
- May 16, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 26, 2021
The historic island lies just off the Northeast corner of England just below Berwick-upon-Tweed. Lindisfarne is a tidal island and is reachable via a paved causeway when the North Sea tides permit. Climatic charts indicate that Holy Island, on average, is one of the driest parts of the country. It is a rain-shadow area - but it still does rain sometimes!
Locally the island is rarely referred to by its Anglo-Saxon name of 'Lindisfarne'. Following on from that murderous and bloodthirsty attack on the monastery by the Vikings in 793AD, it obtained its local name from the observations made by the Durham monks: 'Lindisfarne - truly a 'Holy Island' baptised in the blood of so many good men.... But its more appropriate title is, 'The Holy Island of Lindisfarne'
Sited atop the volcanic mound known as Beblowe Craig, Lindisfarne Castle is one of the most distinct and picturesque features of the Island and can be seen for many miles around.
Following the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, the Castle was built in the 1550's using stones from the demolished Priory. In 1901, Edward Hudson (founder of Country Life magazine) negotiated its purchase from the Crown and in 1902 Sir Edwin Lutyens (the well-known architect) began the conversion to create the Edwardian country house you see today. The Walled Garden (originally the Fort's vegetable garden but re-designed by Gertrude Jekyll in 1911 as part of the conversion) lies to the north of the castle some 500m away. Her plans were recreated by the National Trust and planted for the 2003 season.
The Holy Island has some of the most beautiful sunsets and rises I have ever seen!
Lindisfarne Priory on Holy Island was one of the most important centres of early Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England. It is still a place of pilgrimage today, the dramatic approach across the causeway adding to the fascination of the site.
St Aidan founded the monastery in AD 635, but St Cuthbert, prior of Lindisfarne, is the most celebrated of the priory's holy men - Buried in the priory.
From the end of the 8th century, the isolated island with its rich monastery was easy prey for Viking raiders. In 875 the monks left, carrying Cuthbert's remains, which after long wanderings were enshrined in Durham Cathedral in 1104, where they still rest. Only after that time did Durham monks re-establish a priory on Lindisfarne: the evocative ruins of the richly decorated priory church they built in c. 1150 still stand, with their famous 'rainbow arch' - a vault-rib of the now vanished crossing tower. The small community lived quietly on Holy Island until the suppression of the monastery in 1537.
Twice each day the tide sweeps in from the North Sea and covers the road. Tide times and heights can be accurately predicted from the phases of the Moon. Severe weather can produce offsets, particularly with strong winds from the North and Northeast. The causeway crossing times are forecasted 'safe' crossing times. Nevertheless, travellers should remain vigilant if crossing near the extremities.
Crossing Times
Map & Directions
More Information & References
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