Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve

Welcome to the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, a magnificent and ever changing coastal sanctuary situated off the historic coast of Northumberland. I am delighted to be your guide through this extraordinary landscape, where…

We are now making our way across the Holy Island Causeway, a ribbon of asphalt that provides a tenuous link between the island and the mainland. When the tide is out, as it is now, the causeway reveals the massive extent of the…

Having safely navigated the causeway, we arrive at the westernmost extremity of Holy Island, an area known locally as The Snook. The word snook is a wonderful piece of Northumbrian dialect, used to describe a piece of land that…

Moving inland from the car park, we enter the fascinating undulating terrain of the dune slacks. These are the low lying, bowl shaped depressions situated between the higher, drier sand dunes. …

We now march steadily toward the northern reaches of the island, an expansive, open territory known as The Links. Here, the landscape broadens dramatically into a vast system of wide dune slacks and stabilizing sand hills. …

As we pivot southward, walking alongside the main road that leads back toward the village, the landscape undergoes a profound transition. The dry, undulating sand dunes of the north begin to flatten and surrender to the tidal…

Departing the immediate grounds of the priory, we ascend the short, steep incline onto The Heugh. This prominent, rocky ridge runs along the southern edge of the village, providing us with an exceptional panoramic vantage point…

Leaving the volcanic ridge of The Heugh, we follow the eastern coastal path toward the dramatic silhouette of the castle. Just before we reach the fortress, we encounter a massive, almost industrial looking stone structure built…

Our final specific destination is the architectural marvel that has dominated the skyline throughout our walk, Lindisfarne Castle. Perched dramatically on the highest point of another sheer crag of volcanic Whin Sill, the castle…

As our exploration of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve draws to a close, we find ourselves back near the heart of the village, looking out once again toward the mainland. The landscape we traversed just a few hours ago has…