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Holy Island Northumberland

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Latest Photo

View from Holy Island Heugh, looking south on a winter's daybreak. To the south one can make out Bamburgh Castle, and the low-lying Farnes to the southeast.
©
Chris Knox
Description
View from Holy Island Heugh, looking south on a winter's daybreak. To the south one can make out Bamburgh Castle, and the low-lying Farnes to the southeast.

Site Location Details

Site location details and google satellite image for Holy Island

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Site Details

3500 hectares of dunes and tidal flats surrounding a causeway connecting the mainland to Holy Island. The island itself is approximately 4 square km and includes farmland and a small village (pop c. 150) with gardens and a churchyard which can be excellent for migrants. There is a small area of open freshwater (The Lough) with a hide.

Address

Holy Island
Lindisfarne Reserve Office, English Nature, Beal Station, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland

Contact Details

Telephone: 01289 381470

Birding Sites in the Holy Island Area

Additional Site Details

Directions

Holy Island is 8 km east of the A1 approximately 15km south of Berwick-upon-Tweed. The turning is well signed. Look out for The Plough public house next to a petrol station.

Access

Access is 24 hours but note that the causeway is closed approximately two hours before and three hours after high tide twice each day.

Parking

There is a large public car park on the island just before the village, from which all birdwatching locations are accessible on foot.

Opening Times

See tide information in access summary.

Facilities

There is a hide overlooking The Lough with disabled access. Most areas are easily accessible on foot. Please observe parking restrictions around the village and use the public car park.

Key Areas / Routes

Key areas will depend on season, tide, weather and interest. In migration time the village gardens, churchyard and the paths through the fields (particularly the Straight and Crooked Lonnens) are all good as well as bushes in the dunes areas. At high tide there can be large numbers of shorebirds on St Cuthbert's Island below the church as well as along the causeway and even in the fields. In winter seawatching can be good off Emmanuel Head and also from the harbour.

Site Photographs

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Best regards,

The BirdGuides Team.

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British & Irish Records Archive Holy Island

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