Lindisfarne Castle, Northumberland

Lindisfarne Castle is a 16th-century castle on Holy Island much altered by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1901. The island is accessible from the mainland at low tide by means of a causeway.

The castle is located in what was once the very volatile border area between England and Scotland. The castle was built in 1550, shortly after Lindisfarne Priory was abandoned, and stones from the priory were used as building material.

Lisdisfarne is a small castle and sits on the highest point of the island. Its position in the North Sea made it vulnerable to attack from both Scots and Vikings, and so the fort on Beblowe Crag was built around 1570 and this forms the basis of the present castle.

Elizabeth I then had work carried out on the fort to strengthen it and provide gun platforms. When James I came to power in England, he combined the Scottish and English thrones, and the need for the castle declined.

In the eighteenth century the castle was occupied briefly by Jacobite rebels, but was quickly recaptured by soldiers from Berwick who imprisoned the rebels; they dug their way out and hid for nine days close to nearby Bamburgh Castle before making good their escape.

In 1901, the castle became the property of Edward Hudson, a publishing magnate and the owner of Country Life magazine. He had it refurbished in the Arts and Crafts style by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

The walled garden, which had originally been the garrison's vegetable plot, was designed by Gertrude Jekyll between 1906 and 1912.

(Photographs courtesy of Trish & Chris Seymour).

Opening Times

Opening days and times for the castle vary, please check the website.

the garden is open, dawn to dusk, Tuesday to Sunday all year.

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Ticket Prices

Adult £6.95
Child £3.50
Family £17.40

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Disabled Facilities

Building: 500 yard steep cobbled path to admission point. Ground floor has steps, uneven floors, low doorways, very limited turning space. Many stairs with handrail to other floors. Passages and stairways are small and can be congested on busy days

Grounds: Partly accessible, steep slopes, uneven and grass paths, some steps and cobbles, undulating terrain. Sloping farm field to garden

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More Information

Telephone: 01289 389244

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