66) Lindisfarne (aka Holy Island), Northumberland.

Route:
The island is located off the main Northumberland coast. To get to the island you have to cross the causeway, so you will need to check and stick to the tide timetable info. If you do get stuck on the island you will have to wait for the causeway to be passable when the tide goes out again. PLEASE be warned  - leave well before the causeway is to close, there are no barriers or gates to prevent you trying - but plenty of people have come to grief by trying to get across when they shouldn't!

https://www.lindisfarne.org.uk









You can go up to the castle but the last part of the path to the actual castle has steps. If you do head up to the castle you are rewarded with stunning views of the Northumberland coast, usually you can see the Farne Islands, Bamburgh Castle and looking back the whole island of Lindisfarne.

Facilities on site:
There is plenty of car parking on the island but in warmer months and at weekends these will be very busy. If you have a Blue Badge and want to avoid paying to park then ignore the first large carpark and head into the village-here you will find a specific Blue Badge car park.
On the island are numerous cafe's and pubs, there are also disabled toilets available.


Terrain:
The paths around the village are generally wheelchair accessible. The path up to the actual castle is steep but with a power chair or powered front wheel device such as the Batec Scrambler it is achievable.
There are numerous paths around the headland but these are on grass and it is quite rutted / hilly.
The harbour is a great place to spot visiting waders, seals and Eider ducks. 

The abbey is not accessible as there are steps leading to it, but its still a great place to visit with much to see from a little distance away. St Aidans church is accessible with a double opening door and ramp inside.

There is no need to describe a route around the island as its a fun place to discover on your own. Well worth a visit regardless of your physical ability.

What will you see?
The original priory was one of the first places to be attacked by the vikings, on the 8th June 793! a raiding party attacked the monks. Earlier Cuthbert (634 to 687), monk, Bishop and later hermit was a growing force in the Celtic church. He went to live as a hermit on the Farne Islands - which must have been very bleak....He was declared a saint after supposed miracles involving him during and after he died in 687.
Now according to history monks carried his body with them for several years - whilst in Durham one monk carrying his coffin stumbled - quick as a flash he came up with the " this is a sign that Cuthbert wants to be buried here!".. So he was buried in Durham. Later Henry 8th ordered his raiders to clear the wealth - Cuthbert's coffin was covered in precious metal and jewels. Supposedly when the raiders opened up the coffin his body was very well preserved.