Stonehenge Summer Solstice Tour 2011

Our friends at the Stonehenge Tour Company have just announced their 2011 Summer Solstice Tour. See itinerary below. Works out cheaper and far less hassle if you are travelling from London. See link at bottom of page.  Needless to say there are limited spaces on this tour - a rare opportunity!


STONEHENGE SUMMER SOLTICE ‘EXCLUSIVE’ TOUR – JUNE 21st 2011 After the huge success of our tours in previous years we are delighted to announce our 2011 departure.

Each year on the 21st June visitors from around the world gather at Stonehenge overnight to mark the summer solstice and to see the sunrise above the stones. At dawn the central Altar stone aligns with the Slaughter stone, Heel stone and the rising sun to the northeast.

"A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity!”
STONEHENGE SPECIAL ACCESS TOUR

Each year on the 21st June visitors from around the world gather at Stonehenge overnight to mark the summer solstice and to see the sunrise above the stones. At dawn the central Altar stone aligns with the Slaughter stone, Heel stone and the rising sun to the northeast.

The Summer Solstice is the most important day of the year at Stonehenge and a truly magical time to be there. It’s an ad hoc celebration that brings together England’s New Age Tribes (neo-druids, neo-pagans, Wiccans) with ordinary families, tourists, travelers and party people – 1000′s of them!

For many the impulse to arrive at Stonehenge in time for the Solstice is a little like all those people drawn to the strange rock in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It’s akin to a spiritual experience. Anyone who has witnessed the crowd become silent as the sky begins to brighten can attest to that. You will enjoy 3 – 4 hours within the circle at sunset on June 20th or sunrise on June 21st. The small group (16 people) nature of this tour means you can have a real personal experience.

They are offering two departure options for this special tour:
TOUR OPTION 1:
Depart central London at 5pm June 20th. Mini Coach Travel to Stonehenge with guide and spend 3 – 4 hours inside the circle and witness the sun setting, Druid Ceremony and festivities. Back to London at 1am

 TOUR OPTION 2:
Depart central London at 1am June 21st. Mini Coach Travel to Stonehenge with guide and spend 3 – 4 hours in side the circle and witness the sun rising, Druid Ceremony and festivities. Back to London at 8am
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

This is not like our traditional guided ‘Private Access’ tour. Although this tour is guided it does not visit other attractions and is not everyone’s cup of tea, however those who do participate will never forget it and will surely ‘tell the tale’ for many years to come…… Please take the time to view our images / video of previous ‘Solstice Tours’.

For those of you who have not visited this sacred site, we should mention that the complex is roped off. Visitors observe the stones from a distance and are not permitted within the temple complex……….our ‘Summer Solstice’ tours allow you to be amongst the stones and to actually touch them.
N.B. With this exception English Heritage do not allow any other ‘private access’ tours between 16th June and 1st July

English Heritage provides Managed Open Access to Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice and works closely with agencies, and people from all sectors of the community, in order to create a peaceful occasion – ensuring an event that can be safely enjoyed by all and protects Stonehenge and its surrounding Monuments.

Due to the nature of this ‘special access’ tour and the strict entry conditions that English Heritage impose please register your interest for this tour on the form (see link) and we will contact you with booking details and terms and conditions. This is on a first come first serve’ basis.

http://www.stonehengetours.com/html/summer-solstice-tour.htm

Stonehenge Tour Guide

Stonehenge marks winter solstice 2010 despite the snow

Snow and ice failed to stop people visiting Stonehenge to watch the sunrise on the winter solstice.

More than 2,000 people gathered at the stones which were surrounded by a thick blanket of snow.
As well as the traditional druid and pagan ceremonies, a spontaneous snowball fight erupted as people enjoyed the cold weather.

The winter morning mist obscured the actual sunrise which took place just after 0800 GMT.

Among the Druids, hippies and sun worshippers were those just curious to experience the spiritual event at the site, on Salisbury Plain, in Wiltshire.
'Peaceful atmosphere'
Serving soldier of 15 years Lance Corporal Paul Thomas, who fought in Iraq, was "knighted" with a sword by senior druid King Arthur Pendragon.
Formerly known as John Rothwell, King Arthur changed his name by deed poll.

He also performed a handfasting - a pagan marriage ceremony - inside the stones.


The shortest day of the year often falls on December 21, but this year the druid and pagan community marked the first day of winter on 22 December because the modern calendar of 365 days a year - with an extra day every four years - does not correspond exactly to the solar year of 365.2422 days.

During the winter solstice the sun is closer to the horizon than at any other time in the year, meaning shorter days and longer nights.
Peter Carson of English Heritage said: "Despite the cold weather, over 2,000 people attended and it was a cheerful and peaceful atmosphere.
"Stonehenge looked spectacular in the snow and it was a great way for people to start their festive season."
Mr Carson said this year saw an increase in families joining the celebration as well as the number of people coming from overseas.
"The popularity of the winter solstice has grown over the years as more is known about Stonehenge and the winter solstice and the whole celebration has grown in popularity," he said.

A good time was had by all........................

External links:
http://blog.stonehenge-stone-circle.co.uk/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-12061134
http://www.stonehengetours.com/

Stonehenge Tour Guide

Stonehenge 'an ancient sign of the times'

A South African grandmother has spent R300, 000 to publish her book, which she believes proves that Stonehenge in the UK was a prehistoric calendar

Booysen, 66, said this week she examined various ancient structures to prove her theory, including the Chichen Itza Pyramid in Mexico and the world's largest stone circle, The Great Circle at Avebury, in Wiltshire, England.

Booysen said the physical make-up of the various structures, whether the number of steps or the placement of rocks, all added up to 365, representing the number of days in a year.
Archeologists believe Stonehenge was built in three stages but, over the millenniums, the original structure suffered damage as a result of bad weather and pillaging.
Experts have theorised that Stonehenge, about 150km west of London, may be a calendar, a burial ground or a temple.
Booysen has long been fascinated by stone monuments.
"I love a mystery. I've always had an interest in Stonehenge and, for my 50th birthday, my husband sent me to England and I finally saw it. Booysen joined a 'special access' tour with the Stonehenge Tour Company
"It was wonderful. I just knew that it must have some significance. Why would those people drag those stones all the way there?"
Booysen said her interest in a book on Stonehenge peaked after watching a documentary in June 2006 in which it was reconstructed from polystyrene.
She said she hoped her book, available via her website as an e-book, would appeal to academics and those interested in Stonehenge.
She said the book was very technical and contained calculations and diagrams to explain her theory.
"I'd like people to understand that the people who built this monument were absolutely brilliant. It's not just a pile of rocks."

Stonehenge Tour Guide