NEWGRANGE, IRELAND: WINTER SOLSTICE

Newgrange is one of the best examples in Ireland and in Western Europe, of a type of monument known to archaeologists as a passage-grave or passage-tomb. It was constructed around 3200BC, according to the most reliable Carbon 14 dates available from archaeology. This makes it more than 600 years older than the Giza Pyramids in Egypt, and 1,000 years more ancient than Stonehenge.

Newgrange is best known for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the Winter Solstice sun. Above the entrance to the passage of the mound there is a opening called a roof-box.  On mornings around the winter solstice a beam of light penetrates the roof-box and travels up the 19 metre passage and into the chamber. As the sun rises higher, the beam widens so that the whole chamber is dramatically illuminated. Tour information

ROLLRIGHT STONES: WINTER SOLSTICE

The Rollright Stones is a ancient site located on the Oxfordshire/Warwickshire border in England. The complex consists of three main elements, The Kings Men stone circle, the King Stone, and the Whispering Knights.

Winter Solstice - Dancing up the sun
Sunday 21st December 7.30 a.m

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AVEBURY STONE CIRCLE: SUMMER AND WINTER SOLSTICE

Celebrations will take place in the Avebury stone circle 20–22 June 2016, culminating with sunrise on June 21st

At the summer solstice, Avebury is expected to be busy and camping space is limited. We also expect our car park to be full very early. Alternatives to camping are very limited. We want you to come and enjoy a peaceful solstice but would ask you to consider using some of the other official campsites nearby or perhaps just make a short trip for the main celebrations to save having to camp overnight

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STONEHENGE: SUMMER AND WINTER SOLSTICE

Each year on the 21 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 importance of the day to our ancestors can be traced back many thousands of years, and many stone circles and other ancient monuments are aligned to the sunrise on Midsummer's Day. More information