We know a lot about this event as the raid echoed throughout Western Europe because the island was the bastion of Christianity in Britain. The accounts of Viking arrival were captured by Christian scribes in their chronicles. At the end of 6th century Lindisfarne was occupied mainly by about 30 monks who were busy praying, reading, working the land, copying manuscripts by hand. They were helped by novices, and civilians. They built their place from nothing really. They were accustomed to visitors arriving by boat which might explain the fact why some of them came out to the beach to welcome them when they saw approaching Viking ships...until they noticed dragons and shields and realised the visitors were not traders.

Lindisfarne some times is and sometimes isn't an island. You get there by road but only when the tide is low and the road resurfaces from under the sea. It is not completely dry giving the impression that you could be swallowed by the waves any minute.