Holy Island, or Lindisfarne, is cut off from the mainland for about 5 hours at each high tide. Its history began with the arrival of St Aidan in 634 A.D. at the invitation of the Christian King Oswald of Bamburgh Castle. The finest surviving works of art from Lindisfarne are the beautifully illuminated gospels, which are housed in the British Museum. There is a charming village on the island where the principal attractions are the priory, which dates back to 1093, and its wonderful museum. The main landmark of the island is the 14th century castle built to keep the Scots at bay. The castle was restored as a home by the famous architect Sir Edwin Lutyens in the 1900s and houses a collection of antique furniture and pictures. There are plenty of things to see on the island, including the old priory, and the little harbour where the upturned boats of old have been made into huts. There are good views from here of both little Lindisfarne Castle, which looks lovely in spring when its slopes are covered with buttercups, and the haunting silhouette of Bamburgh Castle down the coast.