Welcome to my personal thoughts and images of the summer solstice sunrise at Stonehenge.

Since June 1999, when I thought it would be nice to see the last summer solstice sunrise of the millennium at Stonehenge, I have taken myself and my video camera to welcome the Sun. At the time, 1999, I was bitterly disappointed by what I witnessed and honestly thought that would be it as far as freer access to the stones was concerned, and after all the hard work of the druids, the police, English Heritage and other interested parties to allow more people in to the monument on this special day.

I was therefore surprised when I heard in June 2000 that more open access was to be given to the stones. So hoping things would be better I took myself and my camera once again to welcome the sun. And what a difference a year makes.

2001, I came back, wondering how many more people would turn up, whether the atmosphere would be the same and hoping for a glimpse of that special moment when the Sun crests the horizon. Was I disappointed? Well you'll have to read about it for yourself ...

And then in 2002, I came back again. Only this time I felt there was a marked change in the atmosphere - not helped by the rain I suppose - which made me wonder what the next year would bring.

Well, the next year, 2003, has been and gone and I'm still wondering what the future will hold for the celebrations - how many more people can the celebrations take? Surprisingly though, I'm also seeing a bit of a weather pattern emerging - can you see it yet?.

For those of you who wish to visit Stonehenge you should know that the monument is looked after by English Heritage and they have a website which includes details about the Summer Solstice opening times. Click on the link below -

http://tinyurl.com/coat

for details of opening times, special events, etc.

Regards, Neil
August 2003



Solstice Sunrise - 1999


Solstice Sunrise - 2000


Solstice Sunrise - 2001


Solstice Sunrise - 2002


Solstice Sunrise - 2003


Text and images, except drawing of Stonehenge, are © Neil Leacy.

Stonehenge illustration by Heywood Summer F.S.A. taken from the book 'Stonehenge, Today and Yesterday' by Frank Steven, published 1924.