Friday 20 June 2024, 21:15 - 21:45
Please come and join us for the ninth Summer Solstice event in the Pennines.
This year we are in South Yorkshire for the Summer Solstice, I think here we are more or less still in the Pennines! Instead of the usual moorland hill with a difficult accompanying walk, this time we have a change of pace with a fairly accessible location with some great views. The accompanying solstice walk doesn't include any moorland, open access or bogs! Sorry to disappoint you there, you'll have to make do with nice footpaths and varied countryside.
I've always had my eye on setting a little series here and it turns out it's not a bad spot from which to watch the sunset up the valley - if we are lucky enough with the weather to be able to watch it go down. So as usual, either join us for a group solstice walk leading to the event, or simply take a short walk from the village to join us for the event only.
The Event
The event takes place at the given co-ordinates between 9:15pm and 9:45pm, on Friday June 20th 2025. Please note, this isn't the day of the solstice which is a day later, but after some deliberation, I've decided a Friday night is probably better for the event leaving the longest daylight weekend of the year free for your enjoyment. What is the difference you might ask? The length of daylight on the 20th will be one second less than the day after. It's always very close between these two days as they jossle each year for the longest spot!
Sunset at Stocksbridge will occur 9:39pm - the actual solstice is Jun 21, 2025 at 3:42 am - it occurs when one of Earth's poles is tilted toward the sun at its most extreme angle. We've had a very sunny period in the run up to the event publication - will it last - we shall see but it's a nice viewpoint either way.
As with previous years, we will be having a social walk up to the event, the intention is there will be some new caches placed in conjunction with the event for those who join us on the walk. We encourage you to join us for the walk up as it is usually a good laugh, and this year it will be a rolling walk through the South Yorkshire countryside, more details will follow.
Once again this year, there is the option of a shorter flatter route directly to the event - so even if you don't fancy the full walk, we welcome you to come - please make your own way there and join us at the event. I would suggest you still park at the given parking waypoint as you can walk back with the group if you wish at the end, allowing you to pass the last few new hides - however, you can potentially park a little closer if you wish. A short walk to the edge will be required, it's fairly flat.
The Walk
Traditionally we walk as a group to the event, this is optional and you can make your own way there. The timings for the walk given here are an estimate at the time of event publication - check for annoucements in case of any changes but they are likely to remain the same (the times of the event will not change). The walk is still in the planning stages at the time of the event publication!
The provisional plan is to meet at the given roadside parking between 6:45-7pm with a view to getting underway with the walk just after 7pm. That would allow two and a quarter hours for the walk so we don't need to rush. The walk is expected to be on road, track, and footpaths. Most are quite easy to walk on, along the edge some bits are more uneven but nothing too severe. More details will be announced nearer the time.
The aim of the walk is for us to stay as a single group and enjoy chatting. I've allowed plenty of time for a slow pace and would ask those at the front not to rush too far ahead. Of course it's fine to go ahead to find a cache but please let the group catch up and see it before moving onto the next one. It is meant to be a pleasant social walk and it tends to put those at the back under pressure to rush if the pace is too fast.
We will have done most of the walk before the event this year, so following the event it shouldn't take more than 45 minutes to walk back to the start. There are no pubs/shops in Green Moor so please ensure you bring food or eat before you come.
Attendees enjoy the event in 2024 at the Standedge event
So far the weather statistics have been good, we've had 7 great sunsets and one cloudy but warm evening. The weather can't be guaranteed but we can hope once again! People often bring a little picnic to the event, sharing cake has become a tradition - feel free to bring food for yourself or to share, please leave some room! It can be a little chilly when we stop for the event as the heat fades around that time so bring an extra layer!
Please log a will attend as I will make announcements in the days before the event which could include revised walk timings, information about caches and weather updates. These will automatically come through to you providing you have logged a will attend. The event time won't change.
Summer Solstice
Summer Solstice occurs on June 21st this year (2025). This is the longest day of the year, in terms of the length of daylight, with the shortest length of darkness at night. The event is one day before the solstice, and daylight in Stocksbridge this day will be one second shorter. Day-length will then decrease as the season progresses after the solstice. On both the 20th and 21st of June, the sunrise in Stocksbridge is 4:37am and the sunset is 21:39pm. That means on this day we will have 9 hours, 33 minutes more daylight than on the day of the December solstice.
Though the summer solstice is an instant in time, the term is also colloquially used like midsummer to refer to the day on which it occurs. The summer solstice occurs on the day that has the longest period of daylight – except in the polar regions, where daylight is continuous, from a few days to six months around the summer solstice. Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied among cultures, but most have recognition of sign of the fertility, involving holidays, festivals, and rituals around that time.
To give more technical details, the summer solstice occurs when the tilt of a planet's semi-axis, in either the northern or the southern hemisphere, is most inclined toward the star (sun) that it orbits. Earth's maximum axial tilt toward the sun is 23° 26'. This happens twice each year, at which times the sun reaches its highest position in the sky as seen from the north or the south pole.
Group photo at the end of the 2024 Standedge event
And Finally..
It will be light on the way there, and will probably stay largely light coming back, but light will be dropping and it could go dark before we get back. Don't forget a torch and be aware the temperature can drop suddenly when the sun has disappeared. (twilight is officially 22:34).
The event is at approximately 303m above sea level at the trig point - this is over 100 metres lower than Standedge last year. You will be looking at around 150 metres of height gain on the guided walk which is a quarter less than last year but this will be much easier on paths. We drop to the river and then gradually climb back up to the event location - there are no steep sections. We won't be rushing and try and go at the pace of the slowest - however a certain level of fitness is needed. Some paths may be uneven and finding caches could involve leaving the paths. Please dress appropriately.