The Pilgrim's Road Thousands upon thousands of pilgrims have flocked to Lindisfarne since 698 C.E. Pilgrims reached the Holy Island by walking across the sands at low tide. The Pilgrim's Road is a very treacherous road. One must be careful to avoid the quicksands, and many pilgrims have been caught in the advancing tide, even in our own century. These towers were erected to provide refuge from the tides should a pilgrim be caught in the sands. The quicksands and other dangers along the road prompted officials to erect posts to guide the pilgrims safely from the mainland to the Holy Island in 1860.
Today there is also a modern metal-covered causeway which connects Holy Island to the mainland.
Even so, the trek across the sands is still a difficult one. One sinks down in the sands, slips on the omnipresent sea weed, and must fight the brutal wind for every step. Continue our journey down the Pilgrim's Road . Clicking here will open a new window. Once you are finished with this discussion, close out the window to return to the virtual tour of Lindisfarne.