This morning, after a slow grind through Edinburgh's perpetual traffic jam in a taxi down to the station, we bid farewell to Scotland, and after 45 minutes we were standing in the sunshine at a bus stop, having a really good conversation with a couple of Canadian chaps, an academic on sabbatical, and a children's author looking for some inspiration. Funny how in random encounters there are people you really would like to know better. But, we all liked onto the bus, us with our luggage and now a large bike box, they got off with day packs to explore, and we didn't see them again.
A beautiful day today, and the island was teeming with day trippers, all the car parks full and tour buses lined up side by side. But, the nice thing about being on an island separated by a causeway covered by the tide is that the elemental force of nature calls the shots. The tide table says that the causeway is not safe to cross after 5 today, so the place empties, and now there are just the 180 permanent residents and a few hundred tourists, and we are all here until next low tide whether we like it or not. It gives the place a peaceful air, knowing we are cut off from the rest of the world.
Our hotel is right next to the ruins of the Lindisfarne Priory, and our room has fantastic views of the Priory on one side and out across stone fenced meadows over the boat harbour and off to the castle.
It still feels like a simpler way of life here - the pub where we had dinner was a bit rough round the edges, but friendly and with good basic food. The village consists mostly of lovely small stone cottages, many covered with climbing roses.
We wanted somewhere quiet to have a rest before the next stage of the trip, and sitting on a seat by the Ouse looking out at the little island and listening to the waves on the beach, I think we might have found what we were looking for. It is a magical, beautiful place once the crowds recede.