October 8, 2014

Now You Can Explore the Sights and Sounds of Stonehenge on Your iPhone

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Now You Can Explore the Sights and Sounds of Stonehenge on Your iPhone 

Stonehenge has been mystifying people for quite a long time, but getting to the massive circle of standing stones could pose a problem for many. Happily, the Stonehenge Experience app for iOS tackles this problem with gusto, aiming to bring you the sights and even the sounds of Stonehenge regardless of where you may be.

The app was released earlier this month for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch by Ribui Ltd. Once activated, the app goes through several interactive vignettes explaining the arrangement of the stones, when they were erected, how we think the pillars were constructed, and so on. It’s sort of like a virtual tour of the site, being narrated by an unseen woman with a fabulous British accent.

Though the idea of a tour-in-your-pocket might sound disappointing, each “section” of the tour is interactive in some way. You can pinch and slide your view around all of the presentations, and scrub the slider back and forth to advance. In some cases, this moves time backward and forward on screen, causing stones to rise up out of the ground or the sun to move across the sky. You can also jump straight to a menu that allows you to access each segment at your leisure.

In addition to the stones themselves, the app also encompasses several nearby sites, including burials and earthworks. These are presented, Google Maps fashion, from the menu page. While light on information, the app lets you “excavate” some of these sites by swiping your finger across the screen. This is kind of silly, but does introduce the user to some of the region’s permanent residents.

By far, the most impressive feature of the app is a 360º view of the stones from within the circle. It’s designed to deliver an alternate-reality experience, where moving your phone or iPad around changes the view. That’s pretty neat, but the Stonehenge Experience goes a step further and uses your device’s built-in microphone to deliver what the app’s creators claim is the sensation of hearing what it’s like within the stones. One of the apps designers explains:

This is by far the most fun part of the app, which seems kind of silly since it’s just an audio filter. However, it adds a level of interaction that’s surprisingly fun

Having never been to Stonehenge, I can’t say if the app lives up to its claims of faithfully recreating the entire experience. However, I can say that I had an enjoyable time playing around with it. The actual educational content of the app seemed pretty on-mark, although I am far from an expert. That said, the $2.99 price point might seem a bit steep for a little toy like this, with limited re-use value.

If you’re looking to experience Stonehenge on a phone, I am not sure you can do much better.

(The Stonehenge Experience via New Scientist)
Mary Sue:  http://www.themarysue.com/stonehenge-app/

Stonehenge Guided Tours offer a free download of this app for all their customers.

Stonehenge Tour Guide

 

October 5, 2014

Christmas and Festive tours this winter including Prehistoric Stonehenge.

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We are now taking bookings for December 2014.  We have our regular classic Christmas sightseeing coach tours and some new exclusive trips on offer this festive season. Some day tours are now including the fabulous Salisbury Christmas market and carols in Salisbury Cathedral this year.  Other tours include Bath, Windsor, The Cotswold’s and some include traditional pub lunches.  While the weather may be getting Snowhengecooler, London’s Christmas season is just warming up. England acquires a special sparkle around Christmas time. The weather is frosty and the Christmas lights are twinkling. England is a truly magical place to explore at Christmas

Stonehenge Sunrise Access Viewing Tour – December 19th 2014

We have arranged with English Heritage for you to experience a unique guided visit to this ancient sacred site – beyond the fences and after the crowds have gone home. Walk amongst the stones and experience the magical atmosphere within the inner circle. Include’s Bath and Lacock. Click here

Stonehenge Solstice Sunset Viewing Tour – December 21st 2014
The Winter Solstice is the most important day of the year at Stonehenge and a truly magical time to be there. Exprience the new English Heritage visitor centre and witness the sun setting plus Avebury Stone Circle and Salisbury Catthedral / Christmas Market. Click here

Stonehenge Winter Solstice Sunrise Access Tour – December 22nd 2014
The Winter Solstice is the most important day of the year at Stonehenge and a truly magical time to be there. Witness the sun rising from within the inner circle of Stonehenge at dawn. Click here

Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and the Roman Baths – Christmas Eve (24th)
See the ancient monoliths at Stonehenge, visit the magnificent Windsor Castle and the Georgian City of Bath, where we visit the Roman Baths. Click here

Stonehenge, Windsor and Bath with traditional pub lunch – Christmas Day
Luxury coach tour with professional guide
Explore the heart of England on Christmas day & see Royal Windsor, historic Stonehenge and Georgian Bath. Plus enjoy a festive lunch in a classic British country pub with Roast Turkey and all the trimmings! Includes festive pub lunch – Click here

Stonehenge and Bath with fish and chips pub lunch – Boxing day (26th) December 2014
With Champagne reception and lunch included
See Windsor, Stonehenge, Salisbury and Bath all in a day. Includes Champagne reception at Windsor, fast track entrance at Stonehenge and a classic country pub lunch. Fast track entrance at Stonehenge –Click here

Stonehenge, Windsor and Bath – NEW YEARS DAY (1st January 2015)
All entrance fees included
Prehistoric Stonehenge, Elegant Bath and Royal Windsor all lined up for a fabulous New Year! Includes Festive Lunch – Click here

27th – 31st December Tours

During this festive period between the 27th and 31st of December, we are pleased to provide our full range of tours whether its a London sightseeing tour or a visit to Stonehenge

Stonehenge Guided Tours
The Stonehenge Experts
www.StonehengeTours.com

 

October 5, 2014

Soldiers at Stonehenge: A new special exhibition is being launched at the Stonehenge visitor centre in November

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All of our Stonehenge guided tours include a visit to the new Stonehenge visitor centre. We look forward to showing our customers the new ‘First World War’ exhibition this winter.

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Salisbury Plain and the journey to the First World War.

A new special exhibition is being launched at the Stonehenge visitor centre in November to tell the story of the Stonehenge War memorial at Stonehengelandscape, its neighbouring communities and how they were dramatically altered by the Great War.  During the First World War, the World Heritage Site was at the heart of Salisbury Plain’s military training ground and the Wiltshire landscape was dramatically transformed.  A 25 mile area around Stonehenge became home to the largest complex of military training camps in the world, as soldiers dug intricate networks of trenches in an attempt to replicate conditions on the Western Front.

This exhibition will open in November 2014. It tells the story of the Stonehenge landscape, its neighbouring communities, and how they were changed by the First World War.

Visit the English Heritage Website and see ten of the exhibition objects and images in…

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September 12, 2014

Bradford researchers help uncover hidden secrets of Stonehenge

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We specialise in guided tours of Stonehenge and its landscape. Tours depart from London, Salisbury and Bath. Here all the latest theories with one of our local Stonehenge experts: http://www.StonehengeTours.com

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Bradford archaeologists are part of an international research team that has uncovered a host of previously unknown archaeological monuments around Stonehenge in a project that will transform our knowledge of this iconic site.

Operation Stonehenge: What Lies Beneath, can be seen on BBC iPlaver here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04hc5v7/operation-stonehenge-what-lies-beneath-episode-1

Results from the Stonehenge Hidden Landscapes Project are unveiled today at the Stonehenge_new_monumentsBritish Science Festival in Birmingham. They show how, using new remote sensing techniques and geophysical surveys, the team has uncovered 17 previously unknown ritual monuments around the site, along with dozens of burial mounds – all of which have been mapped in minute detail.

Researchers at the University of Bradford are partners in the project, which is led by the University of Birmingham and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology, in Austria.

Alongside previously unknown features, the team has also uncovered new information on other monuments, including…

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September 8, 2014

Stonehenge is a tourist mecca that still retains an air of magic and mystery.

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Grand, centuries-old cathedrals distinguish Great Britain’s cities and towns, providing spiritual nourishment to those who visit. These places of worship seem ancient almost beyond imagination. But long before Gothic cathedrals … long before recorded history even, Britain’s stone circles were this land’s sacred spots.Stonehenge Sunrise Tour

Stonehenge is the most famous of these – and has a new visitors center to serve nearly 1 million annual sightseers. As old as the pyramids, this site amazed medieval Europeans, who figured it was built by a race of giants. Archaeologists think some of these stones came from South Wales – 150 miles away – probably rafted then rolled on logs by Bronze Age people.

Most believe stone circles functioned as celestial calendars, and even after 5,000 years Stonehenge still works as one. As the sun rises on the summer solstice (June 21), the “heel stone” – the one set apart from the rest – lines up with the sun and the altar at the circle’s center. With the summer solstice sun appearing in just the right slot, prehistoric locals could tell when to plant and when to party.

Despite the tourist hordes, Stonehenge retains an air of mystery and majesty (partly because smartly designed barriers, which keep visitors from trampling all over it, foster the illusion that it stands alone in a field).

While Stonehenge is viewable only from a distance, Britain is dotted with roughly 800 lesser-known stone circles. A favorite is Avebury. Just 19 miles north of Stonehenge, it’s 16 times as big. And Avebury is a megalithic playground, welcoming kids, sheep and anyone interested in a more hands-on experience. Visitors are free to wander among its 100 stones, ditches, mounds, and curious patterns from the past, as well as stroll in the village of Avebury, which grew up around and even within this fascinating 1,400-foot-wide Neolithic circle.

In the 14th century, in a frenzy of religious paranoia, Avebury villagers buried many of these mysterious pagan stones. Their 18th century descendants hosted social events in which they broke up the remaining stones. In modern times, the buried stones were dug up and re-erected. On a recent visit, enjoying the half-mile walk along the perimeter path, I tried to make sense of the earthen ditch and bank, grateful for the concrete markers showing where the missing broken-up stones once stood.

In the moorlands of southwest England, smaller stone circles composed of weathered craggy rocks are even more evocative. (Good local maps mark them.) Windswept and desolate, Dartmoor National Park has more of these than any other chunk in the country. On one visit, I trekked from the hamlet of Gidleigh through a foggy world of scrub brush and scraggy-haired goats on a mission to find a 4,000-year-old circle of stone. Venturing in the pristine vastness of Dartmoor, I sank into the powerful, mystical moorland – a world of greenery, eerie wind, white rocks and birds singing but unseen. Climbing over a hill, surrounded by sleeping towers of ragged, moss-fringed granite, I was swallowed up. Hills followed hills followed hills – green growing gray in the murk.

Then the stones appeared, frozen in a forever game of statue maker. For endless centuries they waited patiently, still and silent, as if for me to come. I sat on a fallen stone, observing blackbirds and wild horses. My imagination ran wild, pondering the people who roamed England so long before written history, feeling the echoes of druids worshipping and then reveling right here.

The Castlerigg Stone Circle is a highlight in England’s Cumbrian Lake District. While just off the main road near the town of Keswick, it feels a world away. With each visit I marvel at how the stones line up with the surrounding mountain peaks. Sitting alone (except for the sheep) in the middle of this circle of stones, drenched in lush and pristine Lake District beauty, I imagined dancing druids, and dancing flames, and the fear that winter would snuff out spring forever.

Scotland has its own breed of stone circles. At Clava Cairns, set in a peaceful grove of trees just a few minutes’ drive from Inverness, are the remains of three thought-provoking stone igloos, each cleverly constructed with a passageway that the sun illuminates, as if by magic, with each winter solstice.

Nobody knows for sure what these stone circles meant to the people who built them. But their misty, mossy settings provide curious travelers with an intimate and accessible glimpse of the mysterious people who lived in prehistoric Britain.

When in Britain, strive to find your own private circle – an obscure, weathered bit of 4,000-year-old mounds and ditches with a couple of surviving upright stones. Come just as darkness is chasing out the twilight, and imagine rituals from the dank and misty past. The chill and the wonder will combine to leave you with a lifelong memory.

Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. Email him at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.  Link: http://www.buffalonews.com/columns/rick-steves/stonehenge-is-a-tourist-mecca-that-still-retains-an-air-of-mystery-20140907

Join us on a Stonehenge guided tour and experience the mystery for yourself

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September 2, 2014

Answers to some of Stonehenge’s biggest questions.

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Stonehenge is one of the most speculated about prehistoric landmarks in the world and it is located right here in Britain.

Close to quaint countryside Wiltshire holiday cottages, it is easy to visit and many often base whole holidays around this most famed of attractions. With English Heritage having recently opened a brand new visitor centre, as reported in this previous article on our sister site, curiosity over Stonehenge has never been higher.

Following on from this article on Stonehenge we have asked the experts for answers to some of Stonehenge’s biggest questions.

Why is Stonehenge so important?

As mentioned earlier, English Heritage recently opened a new visitor centre. The centre has plenty of information about the site and the Druids that not only answer some of the questions visitors might have about the monument, but also provoke new questions. Their recently opened Neolithic Houses show reconstructions of how they think the people that built Stonehenge lived, provoking thoughts on the people of the times themselves. To read more about these fascinating houses see this VisitWiltshire article.

Stonehenge Neolithic Houses

Here English Heritage themselves tell us a bit about why they think Stonehenge is so important.

• “Stonehenge is the most architecturally sophisticated and only surviving lintelled prehistoric stone circle in the world.

It is a unique prehistoric monument that forms part of an extraordinary ancient landscape so rich and varied that it was designated a World Heritage Site in 1986.

It does not stand in isolation, but forms part of a remarkable archaeological landscape of early Neolithic, late Neolithic and early Bronze Age monuments. This landscape is a vast source of information about the ceremonial and funerary practices of Neolithic and Bronze Age people and helps to shed light on how prehistoric society was organised.”

– English Heritage

For more information on Stonehenge from English Heritage, see the StonehengeEH Facebook page where they regularly post the latest news and views on this fascinating site.

Further to English Heritage, Stonehenge.co.uk acts as the ultimate guide to the historic site. From how it was built to visitor information and resources on other ancient sites in the area, the independent website is a great guide for planning a trip to the Wiltshire area. Here they shed some light on the historic structure.

• ‘The importance of Stonehenge rests with its longevity, unique position, but above all its enduring enigma. We shall never truly know its origins or the thoughts of those clever people who designed, built, embellished and maintained the site. Experts may come and go, but their delving and surmise may be no better than that of any other. Long may it last.’

– Stonehenge.co.uk

Why do you think people are still so intrigued by Stonehenge and its history?

VisitWiltshire have some fantastic current information of the Stonehenge site. Here is what they said about Wiltshire’s most famous landmark.

Stonehenge in Golden Light

• ‘We think the reason people are so intrigued by Stonehenge is because of the mystery that still surrounds it. There are so many different theories about how it was constructed and why it is where it is. Continuous archaeological discoveries in the area keep the mystery alive too as bits of the puzzle are slowly unveiled.’

– VisitWiltshire

When visiting the Wiltshire area and staying in English country holiday cottagesit is definitely worth going to VisitWiltshire’s website for local information on what to do and see.

Are there any guided tours of Stonehenge?

For those looking to take a tour of the area the options are endless – whether you want to go it alone with the information provided in this guide or use one of the reputable tour guides in the area, both are sure to make for an unforgettable experience of this magical landmark.

Stonehenge Guided Tours are fantastic Stonehenge tour experts and have been operating small group guided tours of Stonehenge since the early 1990s. They offer a highly personalised and professional service that is ideal for individuals, families and groups. Here is what they said about Stonehenge:

• ‘Stonehenge – Britain’s Best Historic Site Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument without parallel. Voted ‘Britain’s Best Historic Site’ and ‘UK’s top wonder’ in a list of the country’s unmissable attractions, the ancient site also topped a survey of the ‘Seven Wonders of Britain’. Part of an ancient landscape, Stonehenge is one of the most thought-provoking and keenly debated ancient monuments in the world.’

– Stonehenge Guided Tours

Are there other historical sites to see as well as Stonehenge?

If you want to explore further afield once you have visited Stonehenge to gain a greater understanding of the area and its relevance to the site, there are some great tour operators that provide some fantastic insights. The Stonehenge Tour company is operated by Salisbury Reds and they cover a wide area and have plenty to offer their guests by way of information and views of the magnificent local landscape.

The Stonehenge Tour

• ‘Stonehenge is a historical, famous landmark, over 5000 years old. It is truly magnificent and mysterious and many visitors are in awe of such a wondrous monument.

The tour is a unique way to experience Salisbury, Old Sarum and Stonehenge – tour bus visitors get priority upon arrival to Stonehenge and you don’t have to worry about booking a time slot. Our all-inclusive ticket includes Stonehenge admission and a cathedral donation.

There are fantastic views from the top deck as well as a knowledgeable commentary throughout the trip. Visitors can board the tour in the city centre at stop U in New Canal or from the rail station.’

– The Stonehenge Tour

What exactly are Druids?

In answer to this question we though it better to go to the people themselves and asked Aes Dana Grove or, as they are better known, the ‘Amesbury Stonehenge Druids’ if they could shed some light on their practices and tell us about their faith and traditions.

Stonehenge Druids

• “Druids are the priests of the native spiritual tradition ‘the old religion’ of the peoples who inhabited the islands of Britain and Ireland, spreading through much of Europe. It is increasingly understood, and within the Druid community acknowledged, to be of an older indigenous if ever-evolving religious tradition sourced within these islands.

As an ancient pagan religion, our belief is based on the reverential, sacred and honourable relationship between the people and the land. In its personal expression, it is the spiritual interaction between an individual and the spirits of nature, including those of landscape and ancestry, together with the continuities of spiritual, literary and cultural heritage.

Druids may be men or women, or any social class, and born to any race. In ancient times the Druids were an educated spiritual elite who coordinated resistance to expansion of the Roman empire into France and Britain and hence were outlawed under Roman law and vilified in some cases by this enemy who wrote many of the historical accounts.

In 2010 the Druids became once again a recognised religion in England and Wales ending nearly 2000 years of social exclusion.”

– Frank Somer, The Stonehenge Druids

You can find out more and see for yourself at www.stonehenge-druids.org.

Expert View: What is the most interesting question you have ever been asked about Stonehenge?

Kindly, Mike Parker Pearson of the Institute of Archaeology and a well-regarded English archaeologist specialist of Neolithic Britain provided us with his insight into the wonders of Stonehenge.

• “Ramilisonina, my colleague from Madagascar who I have worked with for many years, asked me in 1998 if I realized that Stonehenge was built for the ancestors. I laughed at first but it soon dawned on me that he had a really interesting insight. That led to the start of the Stonehenge Riverside Project 4 years later, and to a complete reinterpretation of Stonehenge.

Books of relevance are my paperback ‘Stonehenge’ published by Simon Schuster, and Marc Aronson’s ‘If Stones Could Speak’ (for younger readers) published by National Geographic. If you take a look at them, you’ll find plenty of information of interest to visitors.”

– Mike Parker Pearson

You can read more on Pearson’s views on the ancient site in his publications, ‘If Stones Could Speak: Unlocking the Secrets of Stonehenge’ and‘Stonehenge: Exploring the greatest Stone Age Mystery’.

Image Credits: Visit Wiltshire, English Heritage, VisitWiltshire/Paul Chambers, The Stonehenge Tour- Diana Jarvis, Aes Dana Grove

Article source: http://www.hideaways.co.uk/news/answers-to-stonehenge-s-biggest-questions

Hideaways offer a carefully chosen selection of english country cottages, country homes, farmhouses and apartments in rural and coastal settings and in historic towns and cities throughout the West Country, Wessex, the South East and the Heart of England: http://www.hideaways.co.uk/

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August 17, 2014

Stonehenge Tours from London versus Public Transport

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This recent article in the Independent Newspaper proves that joining a Stonehenge guided sightseeing tour from London is far easier, faster and much cheaper than attempting to use Britain’s complicated public transport network

Tourists left baffled by Britain’s ‘peculiar’ transport system

Foreign tourists trying to reach Stonehenge by public transport must put up with Stone Age speeds, a new report has found.  Barriers to Overseas Visitors’ Use of Public Transport”, commissioned by VisitBritain from Social Research Associates, slams the UK’s transport operators for baffling overseas visitors and dissuading them from venturing beyond London.Visit Stonehenge

Britain’s “peculiar” transport system makes access from London to some leading tourist attractions exasperating. The journey to Wiltshire’s ancient stone circle begins with South West Trains from London Waterloo to Salisbury. Next, tourists must take a six-minute walk towards the city centre, followed by a half-hour bus ride to Shrewton. “Here, a wait of up to an hour can occur, until a Connect2Wiltshire bus continues on a 20-minute journey to Stonehenge,” say the researchers. 

The 9.5-mile segment from Salisbury station to Stonehenge can take two hours, averaging below 5mph. The report calls it: “Public transport at its most fragmented and unhelpful.”

Many visitors are barely off the plane before their public transport problems begin. The Heathrow Express from the UK’s main gateway into the capital is described as “the most expensive airport connection anywhere”. The report say the operator “steadfastly refuses to provide any onward journey information on the train”.

A Heathrow Express spokesperson said: “Our on-board TV provides onward tube and taxi travel information which is supplemented by on-board announcements detailing the location of the taxi rank and London Underground stations at Paddington.”

The report also criticises UK train operators’ refusal to use any language other than English or Welsh on websites. In contrast, German Railways’ site offers nine languages, while French Railways provides English and German translations.

The report concludes: “While persisting with our peculiarly British way of doing things, we have to make the adverse impact on visitors as little as possible.” 

Baffling public transport has not dulled overseas visitors’ appetite for the UK. The first six months of this year set a new record for incoming tourism. On average, 90,000 visitors a day arrived in Britain between January and June – up eight per cent on 2013.

Full article here: http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/tourists-left-baffled-by-britains-peculiar-transport-system-9669957.html

Be wise and book a guided sightseeing tour!

Stonehenge Guided Trips
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June 28, 2014

2015 Stonehenge Private Access Tours. Book your Sunset or Sunrise Tour in Advance

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Book your 2015 sunset or sunrise tour in advance

2015 Stonehenge Access Tours

Stonehenge Special Access tours are available most but not all months of the year, (no visits available in October and November and are not available on and around the Summer Solstice). Evening Special Access is only available in the summer months.

Demand for Stonehenge access tours far exceeds supply, dates are often sold out many months in advance. Do not expect to get tickets without ordering well in advance. Register your interest now by simple sending us your email address and we will offer you 2015 tours before they are published online, giving you the opportunity to secure your preferred travel date. These will include all operators and all itineraries with departures from London, Salisbury and Bath.

Email: Experts@StonehengeTours.com

2015 Private Group Tours
We specialise in arranging customised Stonehenge tours to suit your requirements. Our door to door service will take you wherever you want to go…….at the time and pace to suit you. Our personalised service gives you the ultimate freedom and flexibility without the worry of driving so you can all relax and enjoy the day.

Email: PrivateGuidedTours@StonehengeTours.com

Visit our website for details:

Stonehenge Guided Tours
The Stonehenge Experts
http://www.StonehengeTours.com

 

May 10, 2014

Summer Solstice Celebrations: Stonehenge Sunrise Tour

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Stonehenge Sunset and Sunrise Tour – 2014 Solstice Celebrations

The most famous prehistoric monument in the world, and now a world heritage site, Stonehenge stands alone in the vast empty tract of Salisbury plain. Its origins date back nearly 5,000 years and it has been home to pagan religion and spiritual worship, not to be mention public debate ever since. What was this vast collection of stones intended for? Was it observatory of the moon, a temple to the sun, or an elaborate cemetery? Who were the people who carried and carved these 40 ton rocks? Come and unlock the secrets for yourself and marvel at this remarkable and mysterious feat of ancient engineering and design, as we enjoy the wonderful celebrations that take place to mark the summer solstice.

The Sunset tour :

Mid Summer Sunset

Mid Summer Sunset

Join our Solstice Tour that departs London at lunchtime and heads west towards the site, taking time to enjoy the ancient stones at Avebury, before heading to picturesque Lacock for an early evening supper, included in the price. From here we journey to Stonehenge itself arriving at roughly 7pm, as it begins it’s annual celebration of the summer solstice. Huge crowds gather and there will be plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere of this historic event, walk amongst the stones, and observe the pagan rituals and ceremonies that take place at varying intervals throughout the evening. Please note there are two twenty to thirty minute walks involved during the day in order to see the celebrations at Avebruy and Stonehenge.

The Sunrise Tour:

Join our Premium Tour that departs London at 1am on the 21st June 2013 and heads directly to Stonehenge arriving at roughly 3am. The annual celebration of the summer solstice will be well under way by then as the atmosphere builds towards the sunrise, and the climax of the event. Huge crowds gather and there will be plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere of this historic morning, walk amongst the stones, and observe the pagan rituals and ceremonies that take place at varying intervals throughout the evening. Please note there is a twenty to thirty minute walk involved in order to get from the coach park to the event.

Summer solstice:

The solstice itself is an astronomical event that occurs twice each year as the Sun reaches its highest or lowest excursion relative to the celestial equator, with the sun appearing to have reached its highest or lowest annual altitude in the sky above the horizon.

The word solstice is comes from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstices, the Sun, as seen from earth stands still in declination before reversing it’s direction. Thus after the summer solstice the sun does not appear as high in the sky and daylight reduces. The solstice is therefore seen as the midpoint of summer in many cultures and is cause for celebration.

Pagan celebrations:

Like other religious groups, Pagans are in awe of the strength of the sun and the divine powers that create life. For many pagans, they believe that the Goddess took over the earth from the horned God at the beginning of spring and she is now at the height of her power and fertility. The summer solstice marks the marriage of the God and Goddess and see their union as the force that creates the harvest’s fruits. To celebrate many Pagans and non Pagans head to ancient religious sites including Avebury and Stonehenge, to conduct fascinating and colourful ceremonies throughout the night enjoying the last sunset and sunrise before the sun alters it’s direction once more.

Additional information:

Please note that as a responsible tour operator we have a duty of care towards the places we visit and in this case we ask you to be take great care when visiting the historic site. It is important that Stonehenge and its surrounding Monuments are preserved for future generations and we ask you not to touch the stones, and not to leave any litter at the site.

Visitors are requested to dispose of their rubbish carefully at the designated recycling and rubbish points located in the Solstice Car Park and at Stonehenge. Clear recycling bags will also be handed out on arrival.. Please do not drop litter – bag and bin your rubbish so the recycling team can gather them up. It is a very sensitive landscape and still used by local farmers so please respect their crops and livestock.

There are authorised catering facilities on the site and some personal food and drink is allowed to be brought onto the site. Please bring them in a small bag – large rucksacks are not permitted. Glass is not permitted and will be confiscated – many people walk barefoot and the livestock graze in the area throughout the year. A small amount of alcohol is permitted on the site amounting to no more than one bottle of wine, or 4 500ml cans of beer or cider. Please note consumption of alcohol on the coach is not permitted. Due to the large numbers of people who attend the vent, naked flames are strictly forbidden. Small ground sheets and blankets are allowed.

Please note that there will be a lot of walking on grass involved and we recommend bringing warm clothing, sensible footwear and a small umbrella if rain is forecast.

*Due to the nature of this special event, we cannot guarantee exact arrival or departure times from Stonehenge so all timings are approximate.

Limited spaces so book early

Visit our website for full details: www.StonehengeTours.com

Stonehenge Guided Tour

 

May 8, 2014

2014 Summer Solstice at Stonehenge

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Once again, we are offering a guided tours / transport from London to the Stonehenge Summer Solstice: Experience sunset or sunrise from within the inner circle. A magical experience – http://www.stonehengetours.com/summer-solstice-tour.htm

StonehengeNews's avatarStonehenge Stone Circle News and Information

English Heritage is pleased to be providing Managed Open Access to Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice on 20-21 June 2014. Please help us to create a peaceful occasion by taking personal responsibility and following the Conditions of Entry and guidelines set out on these pages. The full Conditions of Entry can also be downloaded from their website.

midsummer-sunset

We have a duty of care to ensure public safety and are responsible for protecting Stonehenge and its surrounding Monuments. If we are to ensure that future access is sustainable, it is essential that everyone observes and abides by these Conditions of Entry.

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.

During Managed Open Access for Summer Solstice at Stonehenge, we support all individuals and groups conducting their own forms of ceremony and celebration providing…

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