Lindisfarne (variant spelling, Lindesfarne) is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England also known as Holy Island. A causeway connects the island to the mainland of Northumberland and is flooded twice a day by tides something well described by Sir Walter Scott: For with the flow and ebb, its style Varies from continent to isle; Dry shood o'er sands, twice every day, The pilgrims to the shrine find way; Twice every day the waves efface Of staves and sandelled feet the trace. Large parts of the island, and all of the adjacent inter-tidal area, are protected as Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve to help safeguard the internationally important wintering bird populations. The name Lindisfarne derives from Farne meaning "retreat" and Lindis, a small tidal river adjacent to the island. The monastery of Lindisfarne was founded by Irish born Saint Aidan, who had been sent from Iona off the west coast of Scotland to Northumbria at the request of King Oswald around AD 635. It became the base for Christian evangelising in the North of England and also sent a successful mission to Mercia. Monks from the community of Iona settled on the island. Northumberland's patron saint, Saint Cuthbert, was a monk and later Abbot of the monastery, and his miracles and life are recorded by the Venerable Bede. Cuthbert later became Bishop of Lindisfarne. At some point in the early 700s the famous illuminated manuscript known as the Lindisfarne Gospels, an illustrated Latin copy of the <b>...</b>