Walking the ancient Pilgrim's Route Holy Island

FINAL CALL FOR PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LINDISFARNE

There are a few remaining places on the bus for our pilgrimage to Lindisfarne on 5 September. If you would like to join us please put cash in an envelope clearly marked with your name and the required number of seats, and post through the parish office door as soon as possible. 

Cost: £10 per adult; £5 per child

For those pilgrims planning to walk the pilgrim's route please see important information below:

Walking the ancient Pilgrim’s route to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne

Length: 3 miles

Time: 75 – 90 minutes

Safety first: Tides cover the Pilgrim’s Way very quickly, and can catch you by surprise if you’re not careful.

Route information

Like saints, monks, villagers and (of course) pilgrims you can walk to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne along the ancient route that has been used long before a modern road was introduced to allow the fast crossing of cars. This is the original route that anyone visiting the island had to follow for centuries, until the 1950s, when the causeway road was built.

The Pilgrim’s Way is marked out by poles in the sand and is more direct than the causeway road (used by all other traffic)

What to wear for crossing the Pilgrim’s Way

The suggestion is that you only attempt to cross the Pilgrim’s Path barefoot or in wellingtons or waterproof footwear. The route is muddy and you will end up with muddy legs. You may wish to carry a bag with your normal footwear with you, with a towel to wipe off your feet at the end of the path. Consider taking sun cream, a hat and a bottle of water (to drink from, and then to wash the sand from your feet on the other end.)

How to cross the Pilgrim’s Way safely, with tides in mind

IMPORTANT: the council’s safe crossing times for Holy Island are only for the road. It is not safe to use them for the Pilgrim’s Way.

The Pilgrims’ Way should only be attempted on a receding tide and it should be completed before the tide turns into a rising tide.

On Saturday 5 September 2026, the causeway crossing times are 11.40 to 20.15.

The safe walking times are 11.40am (or sooner, if the water has receded,) until approximately 4pm. DO NOT begin to walk the Pilgrims’ Way after 4pm.

Walking the Pilgrim’s Way

The route starts at the road bridge/causeway refuge, towards the end of the causeway. Be careful of traffic when crossing the bridge as it is quite narrow here.

Opposite the refuge, look diagonally across to your right and you should see a line of stakes/poles going into the distance. Find a safe place to leave the road onto the sands and head towards the first pole.

Once at the first pole, follow the line of poles east and this will take you all the way to the end of the Pilgrim’s Path.

Along the way, you will see two pedestrian refuges, there for anyone who is caught out by the tides. Please note, these have no roofs and so are not protected from the elements. The lowest part of the Pilgrim’s Path (close to the Holy Island end) is often flooded. It is easier, if it is flooded, to skirt the flooded area and then go back to the straight path where it is drier. There will also be areas of mud and you may need to wade through small areas of water, which shouldn’t be more than a foot or so deep. Be prepared to get muddy legs. At points, especially in the middle, the mud might be slippery, so watch your step.

At the end of the path, there is a bench where you can clean your feet and put your socks and shoes on, if you have walked barefoot. Holy Island village is only a 5 minute walk from this spot. Follow the path behind and to the left of the bench towards the village, crossing over close to the car park entrance, from where you follow the pavement to the village centre.