Pilgrims Way to Holy Island

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is down the Northumberland coast from the border of England and Scotland, not too far from Edinburgh. Except for a few hours, twice a day, it is isolated by the tides. When the waters recede, there is a causeway for cars, bikes, and walkers, but for intrepid and inspired hikers there is another, ancient, route to the island: through the sands and mudflats, via the Pilgrims Way.

Covering a mere thousand acres at high tide, the island measures only three miles across. The nearest point to the mainland is about a mile from the shore, accessible over the paved causeway constructed in the mid-1950s. Until then—for 1,300 years—the Pilgrims Way footpath, marked with a line of upright poles, was the only access to the island.

The semi-dry route comes by its pious name honestly, as some have claimed the island to be one of the most important religious sites of Anglo-Saxon England. Lindisfarne’s original monastic community was founded in 635 CE by St. Aidan, an Irish monk from Iona, Scotland. This was during the period of Northumbria’s conversion to Christianity, and the monks here prospered. But by the end of the eighth century, the wealthy little island became a favorite target of Viking raiders, driving the order off. They didn’t return for 400 years.

But return they did, and beginning in the 12th century the island prospered as a religious site again, until Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries in 1537. After this, the old abbey was left to fall into ruins.

All access to the island is covered at high tide, including the causeway, and while driving it is a novelty, it’s not as much fun as following the old route. Be sure to start your crossing on a falling tide and keep to the marked path according to these detailed instructions. Tide tables are displayed at each end—for both the causeway and Pilgrims Way. Once across, there is a small village, the historic abbey ruins, two lighthouses, a fishing harbor, and a castle high on a rock. Holy Island is also important ecologically, surrounded by an 8,750-acre Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve.