Editing Lindisfarne (section)

==Geography and population==
[[File:Holy Island (Overview).jpg |thumb|upright=1.6|alt=19th century map |Holy Island (1866). The modern causeway connects to the west end of the island.]]
The island of Lindisfarne is located along the northeast coast of England, close to the border with Scotland. It measures {{convert|3.0|miles|km}} from east to west and {{convert|1.5|miles|km}} from north to south, and comprises approximately {{nobr|{{convert|1000|acres|abbr=off}}}} at high [[tide]]. The nearest point to the mainland is about {{convert|0.8|mile|km|abbr=off}}. It is accessible at low tide by a modern causeway and an ancient [[Pilgrimage|pilgrims']] path that both run over sand and [[mudflat]]s and which are covered with water at high tide. Lindisfarne is surrounded by the {{convert|8750|acre|adj=off|abbr=off}} [[Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve]], which protects the island's sand dunes and the adjacent intertidal habitats. {{As of|2011|03|27|df=y}}, the island had a population of 180.{{sfn|Office for National Statistics|2013}}

===Community===
A February 2020 report provided an update on the island. At the time, three pubs and a hotel were operating; the shop had closed but the post office remained in operation. No professional or medical services were available and residents were driving to [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]] for groceries and other supplies.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}} Points of interest for visitors included Lindisfarne Castle operated by the [[National Trust]],{{sfn|The National Trust|2020}} the priory, the historic church, the nature reserve and the beaches. At certain times of year, numerous migratory birds can be seen.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lindisfarne Castle |series=Historic Northumberland |website=Britain Express |url=https://www.britainexpress.com/counties/northumbria/castles/lindisfarne-castle.htm}}</ref>

{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 200
| image1 =Lindisfarne_Causeway.png | caption1 = Lindisfarne causeway at low tide, only land vehicular access to island
| alt1 = Road across mudflats
| image2 =  Come Back Later^ - geograph.org.uk - 16072.jpg| caption2 = The causeway flooding with a refuge box in the distance
| alt2 = Flooded road with white building
}}
===Causeway safety===
Warning signs urge visitors walking to the island to keep to the marked path, to check tide times and weather carefully, and to seek local advice if in doubt. For drivers, tide tables are prominently displayed at both ends of the causeway and also where the Holy Island road leaves the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]] [[Great North Road (Great Britain)|Great North Road]] at [[Beal, Northumberland|Beal]]. The causeway is generally open from about three hours after high tide until two hours before the next high tide. Tide tables giving safe crossing periods are published by [[Northumberland County Council]].{{sfn|Holy Island webmaster|2019}}

Despite these warnings, about one vehicle each month is stranded on the causeway, requiring rescue by [[HM Coastguard]] and / or the [[Seahouses]] [[Royal National Lifeboat Institution|RNLI]] lifeboat. A sea rescue costs approximately £1,900 (quoted in 2009, {{Inflation|UK|1900|2009|r=-1|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}{{inflation-fn|UK|group=lower-alpha}}), while an air rescue costs more than £4,000 (also quoted in 2009, {{Inflation|UK|4000|2009|r=-1|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}{{inflation-fn|UK|group=lower-alpha}}).{{sfn|Costello|2009}} Local people have opposed a causeway barrier, primarily on convenience grounds.{{sfn|BBC|2011}}{{sfn|Costello|2009}} One cause of issues is that the causeway may flood before the end of an officially "safe" period due to stormy weather.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0lp8z17kr0o|author=Jo Lonsdale |work=BBC News| title=Safe causeway times wrong, say rescued visitors|date=24 October 2024}}</ref>