Lindisfarne Priory

This medieval monastery sits on Holy Island off the Northumberland coast, where its stone ruins show Norman arches, column bases and sections of wall open to the sky. The most recognizable structure is a tall arch known as the rainbow arch, which frames the horizon beyond, while surrounding walls retain window openings and traces of vaulted ceilings.

Saint Aidan founded the monastery in 635, building a wooden church that later gave way to Norman stone construction after the Conquest. Viking raids in the late eighth and ninth centuries forced the monks to flee, ending the first great period of learning and worship on the island.

Pilgrims have walked to this site for centuries, drawn by the memory of early Christian learning and devotion that once flourished here. Today visitors arrive on foot across the causeway at low tide and find a place where the pace slows, encouraging reflection among the weathered stone walls and open sky.

The island sits about 5 miles (8 km) from the mainland via a causeway that floods twice each day, cutting off access for several hours. Visitors should check local tide tables before traveling to ensure they leave enough time to return before the water rises again.

When the monks fled in 875, they carried the relics of Saint Cuthbert with them and wandered northern England for more than a decade before finally settling in Durham. The rainbow arch earned its name from its curved shape, which some say resembles the curve of a rainbow across the sky.

Location: Holy Island

Inception: 1093

Founders: Aidan of Lindisfarne

Website: https://english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/lindisfarne-priory

GPS coordinates: 55.66917,-1.80083

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:49