My second favourite day this year, the first was when our puppy arrived, was this day; 21 June Summer Solstice. This requires getting up early, to go and find a spot where you have a clear view of the life giving sun rising. My chosen spot was Hengistbury Head. Another place where you have to walk a good mile and a half to get to. But the prize is always well worth it, as the walk itself is a scenic one. There's a choice of three routes to get to the beach huts at Hengistbury Head. You can take the beach route, which is ideal if you want a slow wander, or you can take the steep route, and go up over the head, but since on this day I had only half an hour to get to the beach before the sun came up, I took the road route, which takes you next to the nature reserves, and meadows. I wasn't the only one there, as I have said before; people get everywhere, and I could see folk on the head top waiting for the show to begin. However, I was the only one on the beach. Even the people in the beach huts were still asleep. I had the entire beach to myself on the morning of the longest day. Heaven! Arrived in time to have a cup of tea on the rocks, go for a little paddle in the warm sea, and absorb everything of this magical morning. The day before I was debating whether to go and watch the sun rise at Stonehenge; for some reason people think this is the only place to go and be all at one with the spiritual side. But I disagree. Being surrounded by 15,000 people at 5am doesn't sound very spiritual to me, no peace, no feeling. If the summer solstice has any significant meaning to you, I think it's much better to enjoy it in a place that has a special meaning to you. 

Photos by Suzanne Singleton

My second favourite day this year, the first was when our puppy arrived, was this day; 21 June Summer Solstice. This requires getting up early, to go and find a spot where you have a clear view of the life giving sun rising. My chosen spot was Hengistbury Head. Another place where you have to walk a good mile and a half to get to. But the prize is always well worth it, as the walk itself is a scenic one. There's a choice of three routes to get to the beach huts at Hengistbury Head. You can take the beach route, which is ideal if you want a slow wander, or you can take the steep route, and go up over the head, but since on this day I had only half an hour to get to the beach before the sun came up, I took the road route, which takes you next to the nature reserves, and meadows. I wasn't the only one there, as I have said before; people get everywhere, and I could see folk on the head top waiting for the show to begin. However, I was the only one on the beach. Even the people in the beach huts were still asleep. I had the entire beach to myself on the morning of the longest day. Heaven!
Arrived in time to have a cup of tea on the rocks, go for a little paddle in the warm sea, and absorb everything of this magical morning.
The day before I was debating whether to go and watch the sun rise at Stonehenge; for some reason people think this is the only place to go and be all at one with the spiritual side. But I disagree. Being surrounded by 15,000 people at 5am doesn't sound very spiritual to me, no peace, no feeling. If the summer solstice has any significant meaning to you, I think it's much better to enjoy it in a place that has a special meaning to you.