Do you ever wonder what it would be like to have breakfast up high? Are you from a land where there are no hills, where you get no views up high, be it Holland, Chorley or the Fens. Do you champ at the bit to watch the orb rising in front of you? Well you shall find out by meeting at the given coordinates on the 8th day of November 2015, at 07:00,and we shall have breakfast as the Sun God makes his appearance. You are expected to pay respect to the great lord of the stars for 30 minutes , on this the autumn Tups Solstice. Sunrise is 07:19, and the expected end time of the event shall be 07:30. At 07:19 we shall turn to the east for this monumental occasion whilst munching on breakfast.
Now you may wonder what is the Tups Solstice? It is an event local to the Bury and Ramsbottom area, where geocachers get together, appreciate the outdoors and have a chin wag and fun. Don't worry though, here in black pudding and hill country we do things differently. Though there is no need to wear robes, mankinis, orange underpants, horses head or wellies, when we turn towards the rising sun to watch it rise. The again if you want to do so, who are we to stop you?
Here on Knowl Hill, we shall see the sunlight before it hits the lair of the Tup, known as Ramsbottom, which lies below to the west in the valley of the Irwell.
The Tups Solstice also heralds a tradition known as the Rammy Breakfast, which was encountered over on Holcombe Hill in September. Then it was bacon, for this event it will be a Bury Black Pudding Buttie, and also special event cupcakes to fill your stomachs. Stoves shall be fired up, and frying pans brought out.
Now, what if the Sun God does not make an appearance, and instead he sends mist, fog or rain, as happens many a time in these parts? Well, then we shall still honur the tradition of paying respect on the Tups Solstice.
Who knows, there may even be a quiz, with prizes, and who knows you may win a now famous Rammy Nanos. Who needs a turtle, bison or nano when you have a Rammy Nano.
Knowl Hill has a Trig Point, should you be a spotter, or a phooner. If you want to phoon, there will be a footstool to help give you a leg up.
Now the serious bit, Knowl Hill sits exposed on on the moors between Ramsbottom, Rochdale and Manchester, at an altitude of 419 metres. There is little or no shelter from the elements, apart from the lea of the hill. You need to come prepared, with good footwear, waterproofs, warm clothing, and an ability to navigate your way up here.
The event will start at 07:00 and end at 07:30 08/11/2015, Knowl Hill.