As the longest day of the year approaches we reveal where best to enjoy the sun rising and setting in Kent
The summer solstice (the word is derived from the Latin ‘sol’ or sun and ‘stice’ from ‘sistere’ or to stand) heralds the longest day of the year, the time when the earth’s axis tilts closest to the sun. No wonder, then, that the day has been celebrated for centuries: our ancestors would have welcomed the benefits of warmer weather and light to ensure crops grow, just as we do today. With the day itself falling on Wednesday June 21, we share our tips for the best places to catch those all-important rays within the county – just don’t forget to look east!
First Light at St Margaret’s Bay
Kent is home to the first places to be touched by the sun’s rays in England, with St Margaret’s Bay – once home to theatre legend Noel Coward and James Bond author Ian Fleming (each of whom at one time lived in one of the art deco house still visible at the end of the beach and now privately owned) included in that area. Watch the sunrise, hang on till 10am, then tuck into a hearty breakfast at the First Light Bistro on The Droveway. firstlightbistro.com
A Dungeness dawn
If, like us, you’re a fan of Dungeness’s eerie other-worldliness, you'll love welcoming admiring the solstice colours in the wide, wide sky from the shingle beach here (perhaps bring a cushion or two to sit on, though - those pebbles do not make for comfortable reclining!). If you want to pop straight back into bed afterwards as soon as possible and don't live locally, your best bet is to make an extended stay of it. Bloomstays has a number of properties to rent in the area – we like The Coastguard Lookout, whose large windows mean you won’t even have to leave the building to experience the sunrise. bloomstays.com
Solstice Stones
The National Trust’s mystical megalithic monument, Coldrum Long Barrow near Trottiscliffe, continues to attract druids, who gather here each solstice to welcome the summer. Join them for a very special start to the day, but be aware parking in the area is extremely limited – your best bet is to plan ahead and prepare yourself for a good walk to get there, just as our ancestors would have done. Alternatively, check out Kit’s Coty and Little Kit’s Coty House, megalithic burial chambers near Aylesford, with wonderful views nearby, both under the custodianship of English Heritage. Again, plan ahead so you can get here as safely and easily as possible. nationaltrust.org.uk; english-heritage.org.uk
Sheppey sunrise
We can’t get enough of the wide-open spaces, big skies and views across the Swale that can be enjoyed in this part of the world – we’ve experienced a sunrise here for ourselves and it’s a memory to be cherished. Either Elmley Nature Reserve or the Ferry House Inn make for the perfect bases to enjoy nature in all its splendour as a new day dawns – and a good breakfast afterwards (and if you see our spa feature in this issue, you could even stay on for a massage!). elmleynaturereserve.co.uk; .theferryhouse.co.uk
Botany Bay bounty
Chalk stalks bathed in a rose-gold glow, Botany Bay, Broadstairs, is hard to beat for the full sunrise experience. Afterwards, head for legendary Morelli’s on Broadstairs seafront, which opens at 8am, for a cappuccino and perhaps even an ice-cream sundae featuring lemon, mango and strawberry flavours, whose colours should echo those you’ve just seen in the sky… morellisgelato.com
Alarm failed to go off?
There’s always the evening’s light display to look forward to. ‘Watching the sun go down over Reculver Towers and sinking into the sea is a real highlight of living in this area," says Kat Webb, who runs Twentieth Century B&B in Birchington. 'We get fabulous sunsets at nearby Minnis Bay - I advise guests to grab a bottle of bubbly and head for the beach, then raise a glass to a romantic explosion of colour from fiery reds, to crimson, orange, lilac and peach - truly magical.' twentiethcenturybandb.com
Dode celebrations
The Lost village of Dode, home to a contemporary interpretation of a Long Barrow and henge and long renowned for its mystic vibe, is surely an ideal setting for solstice celebrations. As we go to press, Doug Chapman, custodian of the village, tells us solstice evening revels are planned, with an intimate event for just 45 people planned on the evening of Wednesday 21– and all in aid of The Wisdom Hospice, Rochester. dodevillage.com
