Disclaimer! This pilot is offered as a guide and the information contained is as perceived by the author at the time of his survey. It is intended as supplementary information and is no substitute for up-to-date navigational charts. It should be used only in conjunction with all other relevant guides and safeguards.
Holy Island (Lindisfarne) is a superb venue for the dinghy sailor. It offers both sheltered all-tide sailing for the novice through to adventurous options for the more experienced sailor, in an area of outstanding natural beauty. An annual DCA rally takes place each end of May Bank Holiday. www.tmtr.com/rally Holy Island is cut off by tides that cover the Causeway 2 hrs before and 3 hrs after high water. Berwick-on-Tweed lies 10M to the north-west; the Farne Islands lie 6M to the south-east. There is little high ground locally therefore Bamburgh and Holy Island castles make unmistakable orientation points. The sheltered sailing is over Fenham Flats and Holy Island Sands, a wide, esturine area of sand and mud within Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve and 'The Harbour' which never dries and provides good LW sailing. Holy Island is really atmospheric. It attracts tourists but isn't spoiled by them and their requirements. Most depart before the Causeway covers.
For accommodation there is a choice of one hotel, two pubs, and a handful of B&Bs. Last year DCA favoured 'The Ship' as evening HQ and restaurant. Other facilities are: Post Office, telephone, souvenir shops, off licence and public loo with cold water washing sink. Provisions are all but unavailable. Of interest are: the Priory, the Castle, round-the-island walks, the Church and the village itself. Cashback is available in 'The Ship'. The Harbour Master, Mr Tommy Douglas (01289 389248) must be paid £2/day or £5/week. His house is the one closest to the water tower. Then you may proceed past the 'NO VEHICLES BEYOND THIS POINT' sign to the grassy area before The Ouze. The slipway is owned by the Local Authority and used by the fishermen. It is over by the fishing shacks but outside the harbour wall that protects The Ouze. Vehicles and trailers may be left nearby on the grass. Light boats can be hand launched across the sand directly into The Ouze -2 +2HW, The slipway area has been found useable by DCA at all-tides.
'The Ouze' is a small drying inlet near the village protected from any incoming swell by 'Long Ridge' a shingle bank in the entrance. Anchor somewhere near the beached and abandoned trawler (the owner's intention was to make another shed). Coarse sand gives way to squishy mud a couple of hours after HW. As the tide recedes you will see that some local small boats use 'fisherman' anchors with upraised flukes ready to penetrate the hulls of the unwary! The Harbour contains a handful of deepwater moorings for fishing boats and visiting yachts. The fast tidal streams scour the sand away and even at low water the dinghy sailor can have a satisfying sail. Be aware of the reversal of tidal streams when tide covers or uncovers the Causeway by either allowing or stopping water spilling over from the north. Low water is the best time to explore the channels draining Holy Island Sands and Fenham Flats. The circular channel links with South Low (the stream flowing under the Causeway) at a point favoured by hundreds of Grey Seals known by DCA as Seal Junction.
Last year we observed a colony of maybe two hundred animals - no kidding! They are of course hated by fishermen but loved by the visitors. Across The Harbour lies Guile Point with its sinister obelisk shaped deep water leading line marks. Landing here is possible from a creek that tucks in behind the point giving shelter from an onshore wind. This offers an excellent place for barbecues, picnics or an afternoon snooze. Off the south-west tip of Holy Island is tiny St Cuthberts Island with the remains of a ruined chapel. Deep water and good holding can be found in a channel to the west called 'The Basin' (seen left at half-tide). The Royal Northumberland Y.C. pilot book recommends it for yachts but I've never seen any there. It gives good shelter from a NE to SE blow. On the north side of the island is Coves Haven, guarded by fingers of rock projecting seawards, a small sandy beach makes a good place to stop for a picnic.
The outlying reefs are populated by yet more seals. At HW springs it is possible to circumnavigate Holy Island. Arrive at the Causeway as it is about to flood and from your vantage point of the Refuge you will see Goswick Sands cover. Recently (2001) the best course was to head NNW parallel to the mainland until off Middle Shiel then head NNE to sea. This is best left to experts only as to get it wrong will leave you stranded on an exposed beach. The deepwater route back into the harbour is to follow the buoyage and pick up the obelisk leading-line on Guile Point to Burrows Hole, then turn to starboard on Holy Island leading-line which takes you into The Harbour. Local shallow draught craft in settled weather will take a short-cut close to the Castle known as Hole Mouth. For pictures, detailed Island facts and history refer to the Northumbria Tourist Board website www.ntb.org.uk Public Transport: Mainline Railway to Berwick-on-Tweed then Bus service No 477 - Holy Island. Daily running times alter to suit the tides. Go to www.jplanner.org.uk for timetable.