We decide to take our van over to Lindisfarne rather than cycling. Weather is still changeable and cycling in the rain is no fun.

After checking the tide times we leave around 11am. This is our second visit here. It’s busy on a Sunday so there’s lots of people around.

We decide to walk to Lindisfarne Castle and give The Priory a miss this time. We were lucky enough last time to have The Priory almost to ourselves so think we’ve already seen it at it’s best. We spot a couple of deer in the fields on the way.

The castle stands proud and imposing on a crag on a corner of the island right on the coast. We visited here last time as well but it’s a quite different experience today. In 2018 it had just reopened after major restoration work and it’s rooms were empty. Today it’s dressed for a party being hosted by Edward Hudson, founder of Country Life magazine. It was renovated in 1912 into an Edwardian holiday home by Sir Edwin Lutyens. There’s an audio art installation too that was interesting. A very different and enjoyable visit.

We wander to the coast and then to the walked garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll before heading back into the village just as it starts at hail! Thankfully it passes in five minutes.

A quick visit to the Lindisfarne Gospel garden and a craft shop to buy a fridge magnet and a Christmas decoration.

Sunday deserves a roast so on the way back we stop at the Barn at Beal and enjoy a really delicious meal. T is excited to learn that this farm produces the barley in his favourite beer, Timothy Taylor Landlord! We stayed at the campsite here in 2018 but at £32 a night we thought the price was just too steep this time but you can’t beat it’s position overlooking Holy Island.

It’s a nap for me when we return as T watches England beat Ukraine. Random bits of telly and ham butties for supper. Another good day.

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