To the Island of Tides

Summary

In "To the Island of Tides," Alistair Moffat travels to – and through the history of – the fated island of Lindisfarne. Walking from his home in the Borders, through the historical landscape of Scotland and northern England, he takes us on a pilgrimage in the footsteps of saints and scholars, before arriving for a secular retreat on the Holy Isle. Lindisfarne, famous for its monastery, has long been a place of sanctuary. It is an island rich in history: the Romans knew it as 'Insula Medicata'; it reached the height of its fame in the dark ages, even survived Viking raids, before ultimately being abandoned after Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries. Today the isle maintains its position as a space for retreat and spiritual renewal. "To the Island of Tides" is a meditation on the power of place, but also a more personal journey; a chance for a personal stocktaking and a reflection on where life leads us.