Holy Island was never a quiet holiday destination, but now the hordes had something new to enjoy.

The recent storms had transformed the muddy harbour bay into a wide expanse of soft golden sand. It was perfect for sunbathing, as a picnic spot, or a place to leave your clothes while you took a quick dip in the North Sea.

The bay was already a wonderful vantage point from which to photograph the castle in the day time, and to observe the stars in clear skies at night. The new beach now made it the number one tourist attraction of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.