Lindisfarne Castle
I wanted to go back to Holy Island as I hadn’t seen it since I was 14 and on a school trip. That’s a long time ago, I mean yeah really!
My memories of it were squawking birds attacking my head; they don't much like humans on this bird sanctuary and I had to frantically wave my arms around to save my scalp being pecked.
I was also aware of the tides and the fact the island is cut off from the mainland for hours at a time. The timing had to be correct for us to visit, look around and get back before the North Sea flooded our car.
A calculation estimated we had around 4 hours to do what was needed, and so we drove over this desert looking scene toward the island.
The weather was overcast and displaying some nice formations. I knew I would get some good shots on this day.
I can't remember much about the village but there is one named Lindisfarne. There's also a 70's band who took the name of the village and made it their own.
I can't imagine what it would be like to be cut off from the main source of everything that matters but it seems they like it here.
Maybe tourists are not the thing in January as one old woman gave us a filthy look as we walked down this street and past the pub. Well, who cares... I really don't.
There were a few other people around as we walked the 2-3 miles to the castle which I knew was closed. Walking around it would have to do I suppose on this day.
All those cars did bear badges allowing them to drive so close. The walk was a good way to get some exercise, though I was wary of the parking meter dude, as we didn't pay.
The castle is located in what was once the very volatile border area between England and Scotland. Not only did the English and Scots fight, but the area was frequently attacked by Vikings.
The castle was built in 1550, around the time that Lindisfarne Priory went out of use, and stones from the priory were used as building material.
How much of it is the original stonework? Not a lot I would say having walked around it.
The side facing inland appears to be the original construct, the rest built later including the main castle part at a guess. Old stonework from the middle ages is quite distinct.
There were plenty of warnings on the island about having car races with the North Sea. I had to do a quick check and sure enough, there's a report here of a recentish sinking.
It was disappointing not to be able to enter the castle, but still good to go back and relive old memories. The memories this time were much different and we encountered none of those hostile birds.
What had happened to them I wonder?
@bingbabe insisted on running the stretch of land connecting the island and so I unceremoniously dumped her from the car around THREE miles before the crossing.
This gave me some time to get some shots as the sun was starting to dip. I feared she was going to have to race the North Sea but she made it in good time, trotting across this road to nowhere.
Lindisfarne Castle isn’t the most exciting place, especially when it’s closed. There’s a lot of history in this part of the UK and it is worth a visit if you are in the area.
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Truly staggering photographs!
Thanks!, I think I was lucky with the lighting conditions that day.
It's been on my to do list for a long time. Great pics although I do take offense at the no busking!!!
Not so far for you, just down the road in fact..I saw no buskers, not a one!
It's not far, I can't believe I've not been. Might pop down with my acoustic!!
A sound idea, watch out for the old hag who doesn't like tourists.
Best way of dealing with them old hags it's to marry them. They will learn them
She looked a little like this, get the divorce papers ready.. you can make your move and swoon her with tunes.
She looks remarkably like a Crows vagina. And thats not something I say often :OD
Nice shots!!
Thanks.
Very nice shots!
I love those mixed cloud sky shots. They can add a lot of "feel" to the photograph. maybe the birds left for better head pickens, not enough tourist and little tikes to take bites out of. Or someone at one point bought a lot of pigs in and the pigs ate all the eggs. They use pigs to control the nesting population at the lake Hood seaplane base and Air Strip in Anchorage. (they used to like nesting on the small island)
There was a walking area we didn't go to, maybe that's the breeding grounds. The only thing I can remember is the dive-bombing birds, it must have been traumatic!
I went about 20 years ago with the missus..... this review .... we will be going again this year in the summer
..... great photos and I remember some of the places .!! ..
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Well.. it will be open in summer.. as well as the priory which was also shut.. as was the pub.. in fact we were lucky the village was not barricaded up.
That is pretty awesome. Do you know if they have used that castle in any movies or anything like that. Even just the outside of it. It is very interesting that you can access it by car only when the tide is right. Great pictures!
It could well have been used, though much of it doesn't look medieval.
The brickwork has been replaced and it was probably wrecked by the Vikings during their raids to rape our women!
Wow! What an amazing place and you are such a great photographer! The car in the water was quite scary! This is a lovely place!
Yes it was a good one to visit, many things were closed.. January is like that in the UK.
These are gorgeous pictures, hard to imagine this is north of England in January.
It was a good day for photography, I was lucky!
We visited the island a couple of years back after driving past many times on the way to Scotland. We went around the abbey, but didn't go up to the castle as it was closed. The ruins are pretty enough. I guess it doesn't count as urbex when it's an official monument :) We bought some mead for a friend from the shop there and had a meal at the restaurant on the mainland. We did check the tides and had plenty of time. We may have to return when the castle is open, but our son is not generally impressed by ruins. He complained we spent too long in Pompeii.
Kids generally are not interested in history, that comes as we get older. I was just the same.
Not Urbex, but it was not branded as such. We did the abbey too, or is it a priory?.., not sure if that is worth a post by itself. I have some more snaps.
Did you taste the mead? That's something from the middle ages. Some of the buildings on Lindisfarne are ancient, that priory being one of them.
I meant urbex for me as I don't generally do it :) Been around plenty of ruins.
Sipped some mead, but not that into it. They had it at the beer festival, but expensive.
I imagine it to be thick, treacly and sickly. Close?
I think so. It obviously didn't make a big impression. Our friend who looks after the cat generally gets some form of booze from our travels.