10/05/19 - A Tour of Holy Island

Distance - 5 Miles
Gecocaches - 3
Pub - The Ship Inn, Allendale Brewery Pennine Pale Ale
Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine, Nov 2010, Walk 24

A trip to this part of the world was never going to be complete with a visit to Holy Island.

Tide Times checked and we have from 10:30am till 4:30 to complete a quick circuit.

Nice to leave the day tripping tourists behind at the car park.   They make their way to the priory and castle, we make our way North along a farm track.   Knowing when to stop is not as easy as you would think - the OS Map marks sand dunes almost identically to beaches.

Heading North through the Dunes

Its some reward when we do get there, as we have  a Emmanuel Head Bay almost to ourselves.  Guide Dog in Training Joy behaves herself impeccably with a Black Lab she makes friends with.

To have this bay almost to ourselves

Guide Dog Joys Playmate

The good behaviour disappears when we walk down the easy coast of the Island.   Multiple disgraces involving dead birds.   We accepted it when she came back with a cormorant in her mouth but back on the lead she went,  after scaling a cliff to get at an as yet unidentified cadaver.

If it was a bird, it was a bloody big one.

Lindisfarne castle and priory are the honeypot highlights - the daytrippers were right - and we have saved this but of the walk for last.

Lindisfarne Castle

Plenty of photos before we have to make a decision on which pub for lunch.

Unlike pubs called Railway Arms, Ship Inns never fail and this was no exception.   After a week of unseasonably cold May temperatures, it was a delight to be in their sun trap beer garden with a superb Allendale Pennine Pale Ale - waiting for fishfinger sandwiches.

Another great Ship Inn

Guide Dog in Training Joy is not having my Pale Ale

A fitting end to a week of walking in a special part of the country.