Christian Holiday Cottage, Holy Island

Christian Holiday Cottage, Holy Island — Following St Cuthbert’s Journey

This Christian holiday cottage, Holy Island, sits down a quiet lane in Lowick, a short walk from the village centre and its two pubs, with views straight across to the Kyloe Hills from the front of the cottage. Holy Island itself is just eight miles away, making this a genuinely well-placed base for exploring Lindisfarne, its deserted beaches, and the wildlife along this stretch of coast, alongside Bamburgh, Seahouses, and the Cheviots further inland. The cottage sleeps four to five across ground-floor and attic rooms, with a log burner for colder evenings and a recently refurbished shower room.

Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, is one of the true cradles of English Christianity. The Irish monk Aidan founded its monastery in 635, sent from Iona at the request of King Oswald to re-establish the faith across Northumbria, and it became a centre of learning that produced the Lindisfarne Gospels around 710-725. On 8 June 793, Viking raiders sacked the monastery in an attack so shocking to contemporaries that it’s still widely regarded as the opening act of the Viking Age in western Europe.

Those very Kyloe Hills visible from the cottage hold the next chapter of the story. Around 875, with Viking raids continuing, the monks of Lindisfarne fled the island carrying the body of their most beloved bishop, St Cuthbert, and are said to have sheltered on their first night at what’s now called St Cuthbert’s Cave, a natural sandstone overhang still reachable on foot today. Their journey lasted years before Cuthbert’s remains finally found a permanent home at Durham Cathedral in 995, but this quiet Northumberland hillside was where it began.

Seahouses, already named above as the departure point for boat trips to the Farne Islands, is also where St Cuthbert’s story reaches its quietest chapter. He retired there as a hermit in 676, building a simple cell on Inner Farne and instituting rules to protect nesting eider ducks, still known locally as “Cuddy’s ducks” after him and thought to be among the earliest bird protection laws anywhere in the world. He died there in 687, and the islands remain one of Britain’s great seabird sanctuaries to this day.

The whole route between the two, much of it now waymarked as St Cuthbert’s Way, threads through exactly the countryside this cottage sits in, and on a clear day the walk above the cave offers views to Holy Island, Bamburgh Castle, and the Farne Islands all at once. It’s a genuinely rare thing: a landscape you can drive, walk, or simply look out at from the window, that has carried the same story for well over a thousand years.

The wider North East and Yorkshire region is worth browsing for anyone planning a longer trip, and the English Heritage history of Lindisfarne Priory is a good place to start before visiting the island itself, including the causeway safe-crossing times you’ll need to check before setting out. Few holiday cottages anywhere can claim quite this much genuine Christian history within sight of the front door, spanning fourteen centuries in a handful of miles.

Perfect for:

Clergy and church groups drawn to Lindisfarne, St Cuthbert’s Cave, and St Cuthbert’s Way
Families wanting an excellent base for Holy Island, Bamburgh, and Seahouses
Walkers keen to explore the Cheviots or follow part of St Cuthbert’s Way
History lovers wanting genuine Anglo-Saxon and Viking-age Northumberland
Dog owners, with up to two dogs welcome for a small weekly charge
Birdwatchers keen to see the Farne Islands’ eider ducks and seabird colonies

Location

Coomb’s Cottage, Lowick (near Holy Island), Northumberland
Easy access by car from A1, about one hour’s drive north of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Nearest Town
Berwick upon Tweed is 10 – 15 minutes by car.

Local Area

The cottage is located down a quiet lane just a short walk from the centre of the village. The village has two lovely pubs that serve a high standard of food. We also have a wonderful village store. There are plenty of good supermarkets in nearby Berwick.
The cottage is 8 miles from Holy Island and so is an excellent base to explore the island and the nearby (often deserted) beaches and wildlife. Bamburgh with its ancient castle, and Seahouses (traditional seaside village with boat trips to Farne Islands) are also just a short car journey away. Nearby Wooler is the gateway to the Cheviots where superb walking is to be found. Day trips to Edinburgh on the train from Berwick also recommended.
This land of the Northern saints with its big open skies, beautiful remote scenery and fascinating history is the perfect place for retreats and time away from it all.

Facilities

The cottage is very cosy and guests comment on its warm and friendly atmosphere. Lovely views across to Kyloe Hills (location of St Cuthbert’s Cave) from the front of the cottage.
Cottage sleeps 4/5 and consists mainly of ground floor accommodation with a king size bedroom and twin bedroom. Bathroom recently refurbished with large walk-in shower. Well equipped kitchen with washing machine and dishwasher. Comfortable lounge with leather sofas and log burner, large smart TV. Dining room/conservatory leading onto rear courtyard ideal for BBQs.
Fairly steep stairs lead to attic room where there is additional accommodation – ideal for teenage guests.
Free WiFi. Car parking on front driveway for two cars. Storage facilities for bikes etc. Travel cot and high chair provided. Bedlinen and towels provided. Welcome pack consisting of local goodies.

Additional Photos

Click to enlarge

A cosy living room in a Christian holiday cottage on Holy Island, featuring brown leather sofas, an orange accent wall, a wood-burning stove, shelves with decor, a basket, framed art, a piano, and warm lighting.

A cosy living room in this Christian holiday cottage on Holy Island features a brown leather sofa with red cushions, a piano against the wall, a standard lamp, a mirror, framed art, and a wooden chair beneath white stairs. Warm lighting creates a welcoming atmosphere perfect for relaxation and reflection.

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, black worktops, stainless appliances, utensils hanging on a rack, a sink, and a bright red wall with a visible wooden ceiling beam—perfect for preparing meals during your stay at this charming Christian holiday cottage on Holy Island.

A neatly made bed with grey bedding and two pillows, wooden frame, bedside tables with lamps on each side, a checked curtain, and a black-and-white photo on the wall above the bed create a cosy ambience in this inviting Christian holiday cottage on Holy Island.

A cosy Christian holiday cottage bedroom with two single beds, each with grey bedding. A wooden bedside table with a lamp sits between them. Leaf-patterned curtains hang on the back wall, evoking the serene beauty of Holy Island. A small lamp and wastepaper bin are near one bed.

A cosy attic bedroom in a charming Christian holiday cottage, featuring a low bed with a blue floral duvet and pillows. Sunlight streams in through a small skylight, and a white door stands slightly open against cream walls—perfect for relaxing after exploring Holy Island.

A modern shower with tiled walls, a rainfall showerhead, and a round mirror on the right wall—perfect for refreshing after a day exploring Holy Island. A wooden door with a black latch is partially visible on the left, adding rustic charm to this Christian holiday cottage retreat.

Sunny outdoor patio of a charming Christian holiday cottage with a black charcoal barbecue, a glass table, two chairs, a wooden bench, white walls, potted plants, and a small building with a tiled roof under a cloudy sky—an inviting retreat inspired by the peaceful atmosphere of Holy Island.

A golden wheat field under a partly cloudy blue sky, with distant green hills and trees in the background, evokes the peaceful landscape near Holy Island. Two faint tractor tracks curve through the field, reminiscent of tranquil days spent at a Christian holiday cottage on the coast.

Costs

Prices range from approximately £450 – £700 for 7 nights (normally Friday to Friday) depending upon season. Short breaks also available at reasonable rates.
The above prices are discounted for Holy Hols users as we are keen to promote use of the cottage to the Christian community. Further discounts are available for clergy and Christian workers.

Energy Provision:
All fuel costs included in price.

Availability

Available all year round.
Arrival and Departure times:
Check in after 4pm and check out by 10am
Pets:
Dogs allowed (2 maximum) at cost of £20 per dog per week.

Contact the Owner

If you are interested in making a booking, or you would like further information, please get in touch using the following details:
Name: Jon and Fiona Grogan
Email Address: jon.grogan@blueyonder.co.uk

Coomb’s Cottage, Lowick, (near Holy Island), Northumberland