Tuesday 21 June 2011




Druids celebrate summer solstice at Stonehenge

An eclectic mix of sun worshippers, hippies and pagans came out in force to celebrate the annual festival, along with many who were merely curious to experience the event.


English Heritage said more than 18,000 revellers from across the globe gathered to witness the traditional Pagan ceremonies and the sunrise on the longest day of the year.
Druid Arthur Uther Pendragon, formally known as John Rothwell, conducted the service at Stonehenge at the prehistoric site in Wiltshire which is meant to reconnect people with land and the seasons.
The word solstice comes from the Latin phrase for "sun stands still".
The Sun's passage through the sky appears to stop, with it seeming to rise and set in the same two places for several days.
Then the arc begins growing longer and higher in the sky, reaching its peak at the summer solstice. The solstices happen twice a year because the Earth is tilted by 23.5 degrees as it orbits the sun.

Summer Solstice June 21st 2011 Explained

Monday 20 June 2011

Stonehenge Weather 5 day forecast


This Amesbury weather forecast is generated by the Met Office Weather Widget
The Weather for Stonehenge.
Stonehenge is on an open exposed part of Salisbury Plain, please remember the wind chill factor can make it seem much colder than the forecast temperature. Make sure you have adequate clothing and in particular in winter a warm outer coat.

Stonehenge Weather Nearest observation centre


This Amesbury weather forecast is generated by the Met Office Weather Widget

Stonehenge Sunset Winter Image

Stonehenge Sunset Winter Image
Stonehenge Sunset Winter Image

Summer Solstice June 21st 2011 Stonehenge




English Heritage is pleased to be providing Managed Open Access to Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice from the evening of Monday 20 June through to the morning of Tuesday 21 June 2011.  Please help us to create a peaceful occasion by taking personal responsibility and following the Conditions of Entry.
Please note that a high volume of traffic is anticipated in the Stonehenge area on the evening of Monday 20 June 2011.
Where possible, please travel to Stonehenge using public transport.  The local bus company, Wilts & Dorset, will be running a service from Salisbury railway and bus stations to Stonehenge over the Solstice period. 
This bus service will start running at 1830 hours (6.30pm) on Monday 20 June and run regularly until 0115 hours (1.15am) on Tuesday 21 June. A service taking people back to Salisbury will start again at 0400 hours (4am) and run frequently until 0945 hours (9.45am). Access to Stonehenge from the bus drop off point is through National Trust farmland.
The buses will stop at any recognised bus stop along the line of the route, which is via Amesbury.

Bus Service Information

Wilts and Dorset Bus Company
www.wdbus.co.uk
Tel: 01983 827005

Train Information

South West Trains
www.southwesttrains.co.uk
Tel: 0845 6000 650
First Great Western
www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk
Tel: 0845 7000 125
National Rail Enquiries
www.nationalrail.co.uk
Tel: 08457 48 49 50
SUMMER SOLSTICE 2011  
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY AND INFORMATION 
Stonehenge is an ancient pre-historic site.  It has been a place of worship and celebration at the time of Summer Solstice since time immemorial.  
English Heritage is pleased to be providing Managed Open Access to Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice.  Please help us to create a peaceful occasion by taking personal responsibility and following the Conditions of Entry and guidelines set out below.  We have a duty of care to ensure public safety and are responsible for the protection of Stonehenge and its surrounding Monuments.  If we are to ensure that future access is sustainable, it is essential that everyone observes and abides by these Conditions of Entry. During the Summer Solstice access to Stonehenge, we support all individuals and groups conducting their own forms of ceremony and celebration providing that they are mutually respectful and tolerant of one another.  It  is a place seen by many as a sacred site – therefore please respect it and those attending. English Heritage continues to work closely with the many agencies and people from all sectors of the community and would like to thank them for their help and support. 
Parking and entry to the Monument will be free, subject to the Conditions of Entry.  Please do not arrive at the Solstice Car Park or Stonehenge in advance of the opening times listed below: 
SOLSTICE CAR PARK OPENS  1900 hours (7pm) Monday 20th June 
ACCESS TO STONEHENGE  1900 hours (7pm) Monday 2th  June 
LAST ADMISSION TO SOLSTICE CAR PARK 
(subject to availability of car parking spaces) 
0600 hours (6am) Tuesday 21st June STONEHENGE CLOSES  0800 hours (8am) Tuesday 21st June 
SOLSTICE CAR PARK TO BE VACATED  1200 hours (12 Noon) Tuesday 21st June 
Sunset on Monday 20th  June 2011 is at 2126 hrs (9.26pm) 
Sunrise on Tuesday 21st June 2011 is at 0452 hrs (4.52am) 
WE HOPE THE WEATHER WILL BE KIND AND WISH YOU A PEACEFUL AND CELEBRATORY SOLSTICE 

 There are three local campsites. Please check availability and entry conditions in 
advance.  
Stonehenge Touring Park  Orcheston, Nr Shrewton, Salisbury  
SP3 4SH 
01980 620304 
Salisbury Camping & 
Caravanning Club Site 
Hudson’s Field, Castle Road, Salisbury, 
SP1 3RR 
01722 320713 
Coombe Caravan Park  Coombe Nurseries, The Race Plain, 
Netherhampton, Salisbury, SP2 8PN 
01722 328451 
Stonehenge Campsite  Winterbourne Stoke, Salisbury, SP3 4TQ  017880 746514 
Tourist Information Centres 
Tourist Information Centres for local area are: 
Amesbury Tel: 01980 622833
Salisbury Tel: 01722 334956 www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/salisbury 
Devizes Tel: 01380 729408
Andover Tel: 01264 324320 www.touruk.co.uk/hamp/ham_and.htm 
    
Stonehenge Summer Solstice Website 
The English Heritage Stonehenge Summer Solstice website can be found at: 
www.english-heritage.org.uk/summersolstice 

For further information about the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge, please telephone English 
Stonehenge Summer Solstice Information Hotline 
Heritage Customer Services Solstice Information Hotline on 0870 333 1186.
Map  
A map will be posted on the website before Solstice and will also be handed out on the 
night.   If you would like this document in a different format, please contact 
our Customer Services department: 
Telephone: 0870 333 1181 
Fax: 01793 414926 
Textphone: 01793 414878 
E-mail: customers@english-heritage.org.uk

Summer Solstice June 21st 2011 at 17.16
















UTC date and time of solstices and equinoxes[1]
yearEquinox
Mar
Solstice
June
Equinox
Sept
Solstice
Dec
daytimedaytimedaytimedaytime
20042006:492100:572216:302112:42
20052012:332106:462222:232118:35
20062018:262112:262304:032200:22
20072100:072118:062309:512206:08
20082005:482023:592215:442112:04
20092011:442105:452221:182117:47
20102017:322111:282303:092123:38
20112023:212117:162309:042205:30
20122005:142023:092214:492111:12
20132011:022105:042220:442117:11
20142016:572110:512302:292123:03
20152022:452116:382308:202204:48
20162004:302022:342214:212110:44
20172010:282104:242220:022116:28