Stonehenge Summer Solstice Celebrations. Managed Open Access 2015

2 06 2015

English Heritage is pleased to be providing Managed Open Access to Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice on 20th – 21st June 2015.  Please help them to create a peaceful occasion by taking personal responsibility and following the Conditions of Entry and guidelines set out on these pages. CELEBRATING THE SUMMER SOLSTICE AT STONEHENGE  Stonehenge is an ancient prehistoric site and has been a place of worship and celebration at the time of Summer Solstice since time immemorial.

Stonehenge Summer Solstice 2012

Stonehenge Summer Solstice Sunrise

During Managed Open Access for Summer Solstice at Stonehenge, we support all individuals and groups conducting their own forms of ceremony and celebration providing that they are mutually respectful and tolerant of one another. Stonehenge is a place seen by many as a sacred site – please respect it and those attending. English Heritage continues to work closely with the many agencies and people from all sectors of the community and we would like to thank them for their help and support. Parking and entry to the Monument will be free, subject to the Conditions of Entry. Please do not arrive at the Solstice car park or Stonehenge in advance of the opening times listed below. Please note: As Summer Solstice this year occurs on a Saturday/Sunday, the roads around Stonehenge will be very busy. We strongly advise visitors to leave their cars at home and travel to Stonehenge using public transport.   The nearest train station is Salisbury and there will be a regular bus service from Salisbury to Stonehenge. Please follow @eh_stonehenge on Twitter for travel updates on the night.

Solstice Events UK are offering their usual tours and transport options from London and Bath.  They can be booked here

TIMINGS FOR SUMMER SOLSTICE AT STONEHENGE
  • SOLSTICE CAR PARK OPENS 19.00 hours (7pm) Saturday 20 June
  • ACCESS TO STONEHENGE MONUMENT FIELD19.00 hours (7pm) Saturday 20 June
  • LAST ADMISSION TO SOLSTICE CAR PARK 06.00 hours (6am) Sunday 21 June – or earlier if full
  • STONEHENGE MONUMENT FIELD CLOSES 08.00 hours (8am) Sunday 21 June
  • SOLSTICE CAR PARK TO BE VACATED 12.00 hours (12 Noon) Sunday 21 June

We hope the weather will be kind and wish you a peaceful and celebratory solstice.

SUNSET AND SUNRISE

Sunset and sunrise occur at the following times:

  • Sunset on Saturday 20th June 2015 is at 21.26 hrs (9.26pm)
  • Sunrise on Sunday 21st June 2015 is at 04.52 hrs (4.52am)

Visit the English Heritage Website for full details The Stonehenge News Blog Follow @ST0NEHENGE on twitter for frequent updates


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First Day of spring: Stonehenge crowd gathers for Equinox sunrise

22 03 2015

The first day of spring has been marked by more than 800 revellers who gathered at Stonehenge to watch the sunrise.

Stonehenge-Spring-Equinox-2015 (54)

Despite a cloudy forecast, @St0nehenge tweeted the gathering had been “blessed with a perfect sunrise”

Druids and pagans were joined by a mass of revellers at the ancient monument to celebrate the spring or vernal equinox.

Open access to the stones was given from first light, 05:45 GMT, by English Heritage which manages the site.

Senior druid King Arthur Pendragon, who performed the sunrise ceremony, said: “We’re lucky, we used to get 200 people but now it’s up to nearly 1,000.”

Despite a cloudy forecast, @St0nehenge tweeted that the gathering had been “blessed with a perfect sunrise”.

“A lot of people are coming out to sacred places to celebrate the turning of the wheel, which is what paganism is about,” said Mr Pendragon.

“We don’t worship nature, we worship the divine through nature and so we worship at the times of the year when it’s auspicious – spring, summer, autumn and winter.”

English Heritage opens the ancient stone circle for the spring equinox as well as the winter and summer solstice

Full article (source) and more images at the BBC website: (Nice to see the BBC’s reference to our twitter account)

Follow us here for all the latest / ongoing Stonehenge news: https://twitter.com/ST0NEHENGE

There are many some fantastic images on the Stonehenge Stone Circle Flickr page

Merlin at Stonehenge
The Stonehenge News Blog


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Categories : Stonehenge Vernal Equinox

Stonehenge Spring (Vernal) Equinox Open Access Arrangements 2015

13 02 2015

English Heritage will welcome people to Stonehenge to celebrate the Spring (Vernal) Equinox on Saturday 21st March.
Expect a short period of access, from  first light (approximately 05:45am) until 08:30am.

• Access to Stonehenge will cease at 0830h and the cooperation of all of visitors in ensuring the monument is vacated at this Stonehenge Equinoxtime would be most appreciated. Please note that, in previous years, access for the Equinox ceased earlier at 0800h, however English Heritage has permitted an additional half an hour within the monument for our visitors.

• Temporary toilets (Porta-Loos) will be available at the monument once the site is open for public access. This includes a provision for those with disabilities.

•The Cafe and Shop at the new Visitor Centre at Airmans Cross should be opening for visitors from approximately 0800h on the morning of Saturday 21st March. Please note that the toilets at this location will also become available for use at this time. Although the Cafe will be opening only hot and cold drinks will be available for the first hour. Pasties etc will become available after 0900h.
There will be no access to Stonehenge via the A344.

Accessible parking is extremely limited and is booked on a first-come-first-served basis. Please apply to lucy.barker@english-heritage.org.uk. Accessible parking opens at 5am.

English Heritage Website

Solstice Events UK are offering their usual small group tour visiing Stonehenge at sunrise on the Spring Equinox: Book here

Merlin at Stonehenge
The Stonehenge News Blog


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Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 2014

15 11 2014

English Heritage will once again welcome people to Stonehenge to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Sunrise is just after 8am on Monday 22nd December and visitors will be able to access the monument as soon as it is light enough to do so safely. Conditions of entry will be posted shortly.

Stonehenge Winter Solstice

Please be aware that parking is very limited and there is a thirty minute walk, in low light, from the parking areas to the monument.

Why 22nd December?

Many people – not least diary manufacturers – believe that the Winter Solstice always falls on 21st December. But the celebration of the winter solstice at Stonehenge is not fixed to a specific calendar date – this is because of a mismatch between the calendar year and solar year. (The actual time of the Winter Solstice this year is on December 21st at 23:03 GMT)

The solstice is traditionally celebrated at the sunrise closest to the time when the sun is stationary before beginning its transit to the north or south. This year this occurs late on 21 December, hence the winter solstice celebrations take place at sunrise on 22nd December.

Conditions of entry

Further information and the conditions of entry for the Winter Solstice at Stonehenge will be posted here a month in advance of 22nd December.**

Do not climb or stand on any of the stones – this includes the stones that have fallen. This is in the interest of personal safety, the protection of this special site and respect for those attending. As well as putting the stones themselves at risk,
climbing on them can damage the delicate lichens.

If do not have your own transport and are travelling from London then Solstice UK Events are offering their usual transport option with an expert guide.

**Stonehenge is a world renowned historic Monument and seen by many as a sacred site – please respect it and please respect each other!

The new Stonehenge visitor centre is well worth a visit and opens at 9.30am. Visit the English Heritage website
Directions to Stonehenge
Download the free English Heritage Stonehenge Audio Guide here
English Heritage Winter Solstice Link

Merlin at Stonehenge
Follow Twitter@st0nehenge for Solstice updates
The Stonehenge News Blog


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Categories : Stonehenge Winter Solstice 2014

Stonehenge Autumn Equinox (Mabon) 2014

21 09 2014

Autumn Equinox Stonehenge Open Access Arrangements: 23rd September 2014

This Tuesday Druids and pagans converge on the windswept English plains of Wiltshire to observe the annual rites of autumn. The occasion is the equinox, when the tilt of Earth’s axis is suspended between 12 hours of night and 12 hours of daylight.

Druid at Stonehenge.

Dawn: Stonehenge Autumn Equinox 2013

Mabon marks the middle of harvest, it is a time of equal day and equal night, and for the moment nature is in balance. It is  a time to reap what you have sown, of giving thanks for the harvest and the bounty the Earth provides. For finishing up old projects and plans and planting the seeds for new enterprises or a change in lifestyle. Mabon is a time of celebration and balance.

Actual Date and Time of Autumnal Equinox: 02.29 23rd September 2014

Access to the Stonehenge Monument Field from 06:15 (or first light) until 08:30 on 23rd September 2014
Parking is on both sides of Byway 12 – no parking on A344
Access to the Byway from 19:00 on 22nd September 2014 via the A344
Exit via A344 closes at 09:00 on 23rd September 2014
Disabled Parking: 8 spaces available in the VTS turning circle. These are permit-only and must be booked in advance by contacting Lucy Barker at lucy.barker@english-heritage.org.uk
**Conditions of entry

The new Stonehenge visitor centre is well worth a vist and opens at 9.30am. Visit the English Heritage website
Save time and buy entrance tickets in advance here:
Directions to Stonehenge: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/directions?lang=en&gclid=CMCjxJnd8cACFYXJtAod1xMAhw
Download the free English Heritage Stonehenge Audio Guide here: http://wp.me/pQAXF-yH

If do not have your own transport and are travelling from London then Solstice UK Events are offering their usual transport option with an expert guide. It can be booked here

**Stonehenge is a world renowned historic Monument and seen by many as a sacred site – please respect it and please respect each other!

Do not climb or stand on any of the stones – this includes the stones that have fallen. This is in the interest of personal safety, the protection of this special site and respect for those attending. As well as putting the stones themselves at risk,
climbing on them can damage the delicate lichens.

Merlin at Stonehenge
Follow Twitter@st0nehenge for Equinox updates


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Stonehenge Autumn Equinox 2013

22 08 2013

The Autumn Equinox occurs at 8.44pm on Sunday 22 September 2013. 

Celebration of the Autumn Equinox will take place at Stonehenge at sunrise on Monday 23rd September 2013.

Stonehenge Autumn Equinox Visitors wishing to celebrate the Autumn Equinox at Stonehenge will be given access into the monument when it is considered sufficiently light and therefore safe to do so. This is likely to be from approximately 6.15am.

Sunrise that morning will be at approximately 6.56am. Visitors will be asked to vacate the site by 8am.

Please note that access to Stonehenge might not be possible if the ground conditions are poor or if it is considered that access might result in severe damage to the monument.   Limited facilities are available at Stonehenge for the duration of the access although these facilities will not be open prior to the access commencing.

If you require disabled parking, please email Sally Gardner at sally.gardner@english-heritage.org.uk.

Lin: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/events/autumn-equinox-sh-23-sep/

The Autumn Equinox

Autumn Equinox (also known as Mabon or Harvest Home) is celebrated when day and night are of equal duration before the descent into increasing darkness and is the final festival of the season of harvest.

In nature, the activity of the summer months slows down to the hibernation for the winter. For many Pagans, now is time to reflect on the past season.

It is also a time to recognise that the balance of the year has changed, the wheel has turned and summer is now over.

Astrologers will recognise this as the date the sun enters the sign of Libra – the Scales of Balance.

This is one of the least celebrated of the Pagan festivals although a harvest festival may be held to thank the Goddess for giving enough food to last the winter.

Merlin @ Stonehenge
The Stonehenge News Blog


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Stonehenge Winter Solstice 2012

11 12 2012

English Heritage will once again allow people access to Stonehenge for the celebration of the Winter Solstice, the first day of the winter season. Sunrise is at 8.09am on Friday 21 December and visitors will be able to access the monument as soon as it is light enough to do so safely. Entrance is free and will be available from roughly 7.30am until 9am, when the site will close – before re-opening as per usual to paying visitors at 9.30am.

Stonehenge Winter Solstice 2012

Stonehenge Winter Solstice 2011

The exact time of the Solstice this year, when the Earth’s axial tilt is farthest away from the sun, is at 11.11am on 21 December, however it is generally accepted that the celebration of this special event takes place at dawn and therefore access is permitted at Stonehenge earlier that morning.

Over the last few years, the popularity of Winter Solstice has grown considerably, with many families and young people joining the druid and pagan community in the celebrations. Two years ago, 2,000 people attended Winter Solstice and in 2011 that figure more than doubled to a record 5,000 people.

Peter Carson, Head of Stonehenge, said: “We are delighted to offer people a warm welcome to Stonehenge this Winter Solstice but as facilities are limited, we are not able to accommodate any more people than last year. We don’t have the luxury of using nearby fields in winter for parking and encourage people to make use of the special bus service running from Salisbury. We are working very closely with the local authorities and agencies plus the druid and pagan community to ensure that access to Stonehenge will once again be a success.”

Additional notes
Access may not be possible if the ground conditions are considered poor or if it is felt that access might result in severe damage to the monument.
Public have in previous years used byway 12 for parking on the morning of 21st December. Additional car parking for approximately 800 cars will be available on the A344 (which will be closed to through traffic), plus the Stonehenge Visitor Centre Car Park.

Connected:
New theory of a Winter Solstice Sunrise Alignment –Solstice and the Winter Solstice leaflet (ISBN 9780957093010)
(Background on the Winter Solstice Sunrise Alignment theory is here)
Countdown to doomsday. Stonehenge Winter Solstice 2012

Link source: http://www.sarsen.org/2012/11/winter-solstice-at-stonehenge-2012.html

Winter Solstice updates: Follow Stonhenge on Twitter –  https://twitter.com/ST0NEHENGE

Merlin says “Respect the Stones”

Merlin @ Stonehenge


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Categories : Druid ceremony, English Heritage, mayan calendar, Pagans, Visit Wiltshire

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