The longest day

When the alarm went at 3:30am yesterday morning it didn't seem such a good idea to get up early and watch the sunrise on the longest day, however as we drove towards the dawn we realised why we had  taken part in this experience. It was just so beautiful.....





We joined with 30 others on the top of Black Down Hill  located in the heart of the South Dorset Ridgeway. This is an ancient land of Stones and Bones, it has been populated for over 6,000 years and is full of Bronze Age round barrow cemeteries and sinkholes,and Iron Age forts.


We met at a stone sculpture that has recently been built. It comprises of four large pillars with windows that capture perfectly the sun rising and setting on the longest and shortest days of the year.


As we waited for the sun to rise we were entertained by musicians and a story teller. We stood in the middle of the circle and the sound of the gongs completely enveloped us.


 The alignment of the stone worked perfectly as the sun rose right in the middle of the window! It was a  very special moment.

If you are interested  this video takes you to this location in winter.

Sarah x

Comments

  1. Such a great experience! I’d have been there too Sarah.

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  2. What a wonderful moment and to think people have been witnessing the same moment each year going back centuries and will continue to see this moment long after we are all gone. I expect the music made it even more special and atmospheric.

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  3. What a wonderful way to mark the solstice. I'd love to so something like that one year.

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  4. That must have been an AWE-some feeling! thanks for sharing the m;oment!

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  5. Not a morning person.
    But it does look beautiful, and I would love to have experienced the music with it.

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  6. That must have been wonderful, but I don't think I could have got up so early!

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  7. Very special photos Sarah. Must have been a wonderful experience on such a beautiful day. B x

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  8. I love this ancient practice of aligning the human spirit with the movement of the earth and kiss of the sunrise. What a fantastic place to be, Sarah!

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  9. Now that is really making the most out of life. Don't miss a thing. Maybe some Druid or whatever ancestors in your blood.

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  10. How beautiful, and lovely that a new sculpture has been added to such an ancient landscape. Gorgeous weather, I imagine it was very well worth the early start. CJ xx

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  11. We just returned from the UK and Isle of Wight. Loved loved your early sunrise and such a late sunset! It must be about an hour different from here. This looks just gorgeous and what a treat!

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  12. A wonderful idea to build those windows. The video is beautiful and atmospheric, such ancient and sculptured landscape set to a beautiful song.

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  13. That was a lovely video and beautiful song! What time did the sun rise that morning? It was well worth it.

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  14. I can imagine your reluctance to get up at 3.30am! but early sunrises are spectacular. I once climbed a mountain above a Cathar stronghold in the south of France to watch the sun rising above the Corbière mountains. It was very memorable. I loved the video you linked to, what a beautiful part of the country you live in.

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    1. It must have be equally incredible watching the sun rise from that location, the scenery around that area is spectacular! Sarah x

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  15. Good to have you posting again, and a beautiful occasion too. I'll have to visit the sculpture when time permits.

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  16. Well worth getting up early for... I think!

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  17. Around here where I live the Summer Solstice goes unnoticed, no one even mentions it. It sounds like a great event to go and listen to music and tune in to the history.

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  18. What a wonderful thing to do, I wish I could have been there and such an evocative location. Who were the musicians?

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    1. They didn't say who the Musicians were, think they were friends of Martin Maudsley our local story teller.

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  19. Sooooo lovely....
    Warm hug from Titti

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