Wet and windy few hours on Holy Island - 9th May 2026

It was raining when I got the bus from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Holy Island where I spent a few hours.  Unfortunately, it was damp and very windy all day - but I still managed to see some interesting things before getting the bus back to Berwick at around 4.00 pm.

Lindisfarne Castle on top of a small steep hill

Two Ringed Plovers on the beach

The markers on the land opposite Holy Island

Oystercatchers on the wet beach

Pretty pink Clematis in Gertrude Jekyll's garden

A thistle-like flower in the garden

Sheep sheltering from the strong wind

Fluffed-up male Reed Bunting on the edge of a tree

Female Roe deer

and with a male

Sheep with black heads

Blackbird parking warden!

Swallows landing on the narrow road while feeding

and joined by a Pied Wagtail

Huge Gorilla outside the takeaway - a very strange animal to find on Holy Island!

 

Birds, sheep, flowers, Lindisfarne castle, priory and Emmanuel Daymark - a walk round Holy Island - 19th June 2024

I visited Holy Island by bus and began my walk at the harbour where a Pied Wagtail was perching on top of a boat hut

Ruins of the Priory

Poppies in a field in front of the Priory

Flowers growing in front of one of the houses in the village

Viper's Bugloss on the path towards Lindisfarne castle

Valerian growing below the castle wall

Swallow perching on top of the National Trust hut at the entrance to the castle

Shorn sheep!

Lindisfarne Castle

Eider ducks in the sea at the edge of the island

Close view of a Swallow perching on a branch in front of the viewing window in the bird hide

Mute Swans and nine large cygnets on the lagoon in front of the bird hide

Adult and juvenile Swallows perching on the roof of the bird hide

The bird hide

Reed Warbler in reeds on the path leading from the bird hide

plus a Sedge Warbler

Male Reed Bunting singing while perching on top of a shrub near the bird hide

Emmanuel Daymark at the far end of Holy Island

Common Spot and Pyramidal Orchids growing wild in the grassland

Chinese Water Geese in the farmyard at the edge of the village

Lindisfarne Castle viewed from the village

Wren singing from a bare branch on tree near the village

I arrived on Holy Island by bus from Berwick-upon-Tweed at about 10.30 and had lots of time to walk round the island as, due to the tide times, the return journey was not until 17.00.  I was very glad it was a lovely sunny day and I was able to really enjoy my visit there.