Bamburgh & Holy Island
Here’s how to pedal through Northumberland’s highlight reel! This route connects two of Northumberland’s most iconic destinations via beautiful coastal countryside, all in one day’s easy cycle. Holy Island, also known as Lindisfarne, is a special place and cycling across the Causeway in the pilgrims’ footsteps is an unforgettable experience. Beautiful Bamburgh village is the perfect start and end point, with its historic castle and great food & drink places to refuel. It’s a ~3.5 hours easy/ medium difficulty E-Bike ride along National Cycle Route 1.
Check out our interactive route guide, must-see highlights, and on-route food & drink recommendations below.
View of Lindisfarne Castle, with tarmac road leading right up for an easy yet scenic adventure.
Key info for this ride:~38 miles round trip from Bamburgh to Holy Island and return
Approx. 3.5 hours ride round trip, at a medium pace on an E-Bike (not including time exploring on the island, lunch, photo stops etc)
Easy/ medium difficulty ride along National Cycle Route 1. No off-road sections. Mostly very quiet roads, with some traffic in/ out of Bamburgh and on the approach to Lindisfarne. Two A1 crossings, each with a crossing set-up for cyclists but not recommended for younger kids.
We recommend returning into Bamburgh via Budle Bay for the best views of the Castle (i.e. leaving Cycle Route 1 for the last stretch – see map below). Another top tip is to use the lovely farm cycle-path from Barn at Beal to Holy Island causeway, to avoid traffic.
Essential to check the Causeway safe crossing times here before you set off
Route Map: 
Click to check out our interactive route map here (free to use, plus you can download on the Komoot App to follow during your ride)
Top Highlights to visit on Lindisfarne:Holy Island Causeway: Take the pilgrims road onto the island, only accessible at low tide. Stunning coastal vistas all the way and a memorable experience to venture across. 3 miles long, flat, easy to cycle (although the E-Bike engine definitely helps if windy) and best experienced on a bike!
Lindisfarne Castle: The iconic 16th century castle, with a fascinating history. The Gertrude Jekyll walled garden is also worth a visit.
Holy Island Harbour: Nostalgic small fishing harbour, between the village and the castle. See the traditional old fishing huts made from upturned old boats, each with their own quirky character (we love the new pink one!). Also a great spot for photos.
The Lough/ Holy Island nature walk: Get off the beaten track, away from the crowd, and see wild Holy Island’s quiet side. This is my personal ‘must see’ way to visit the island. The Lough is an old fish pond built by the monks, now a flourishing nature reserve with lots of rare birdlife living in the pond and surrounding marshes. It has a new, cosy bird-watchers hut in place, which is the perfect quiet spot to enjoy the view and take a breather. I recommend walking up the Crooked Lonnen lane with good views of the castle (a short walk out of the village, easy to find on Google Maps), then turn left at the end when you meet the beach and follow the sign-posted route to the Lough and around the fields & beaches back to the village. Make sure to park and lock up the bikes in the village first, as this track is not suitable for cycling. Approx. 45 mins walk in total.
Lindisfarne Priory: Step back in time exploring the historic 12th century ruins of the Priory, with a museum nearby.
Where to eat & drink along the route: Bait at Bamburgh (Bamburgh): Excellent coffee hut at the beach, with stunning views of the Castle and the Farne Islands. 2 mins cycle from the village centre.
R Carter & Daughter (Bamburgh): Homemade cakes, sandwiches, sausage rolls and more.
Potted Lobster (Bamburgh): Our go-to place to eat in Bamburgh. Friendly vibe and delicious menu packed with local fish & shellfish. Very popular so definitely book in advance.
The Bean Genie (Fenwick): Cute little coffee shop, right on the route in the village of Fenwick. Perfect pit-stop half-way along the route.
Barn at Beal (Beal): Located on the route, a short distance from Lindisfarne Causeway. Our go-to favourite for lunch or an afternoon snack on this route. Yes, they’re not technically on Holy Island but that’s a plus - because their view is off-the-charts stunning, looking across the full vista of Holy Island and Bamburgh. Plus a great menu of well-cooked, hearty dishes using lots of locally-sourced produce.
Pilgrims Coffee (Lindisfarne): An iconic local hotspot, with coffee roasted on site and conveniently located in a walled garden on Lindisfarne village’s main street. Will usually have a queue, but worth it!
Pop-up food trucks/ fresh crab sandwich shacks (Lindisfarne): These vary year-to-year, but Lindisfarne usually has a few independent food trucks offering a small menu (fresh, local crab rolls and similar) in the summer. Look out for them by the harbour or near the car park. Rustic but tasty.
793 Spirit & Soul (Lindisfarne): Cool gin distillery based on Holy Island. Their beautiful shop is worth a visit for a souvenir (we love their candles, as well as the artfully bottled spirits), plus they have a new speak-easy gin bar on-site with a great castle view.
This route really showcases the best of Northumberland, so we hope you enjoy it as much as we do! Any questions just get in touch.
