What a wonderful way to spend Solstice Ralph! There really is something quite magical about being up at dawn sitting within nature, listening to the trees come alive with birdsong as the sun rises and feeling the cool air in midsummer. Your images take me right back to Brats hill, I don't know if I fully appreciated it the first time but it is a beautiful site - I think its remoteness makes it even more special. Your gorgeous photos of the landscape and of those wonderful Lake District gnarly trees really tell the tale of mid summer. Solstice blessings to you 🌄
Thank you so much for kind words, Lin. It was one of those days when everything came together at Brat's Hill and beyond. The weather was beautifully kind that day.
I managed to rouse myself for my first Scottish solstice this morning (up to now we've always been elsewhere at this time). I'd spotted a place up on the side of the Fell about three years ago where I wanted to be to greet the sun that offered a suitable view. I wasn't disappointed, even if there was a low bank of cloud sat right on the horizon, obscuring the 'moment' in an otherwise fairly clear sky. Luckily he peeped through a gap a few minutes after. It was, nonetheless, a wonderful experience. Seeing Luna in a pale golden crescent form added to the magic. Even the midges were reasonably well behaved lol. On the way up there was a beautiful moment when I heard a thrush singing heartily close by, sat on top of a thin tree trunk, with Luna looking on behind. One of those sublime moments. I did try to grab a quick snap, but by the time I'd got myself ready, they'd gone. I smiled wryly to myself. Some magical moments are perhaps meant to be 'for your eyes only' ☺️
Great morning to be out and about! I'll have to add the Irton Road railway station, and the Burnmoor stone circle to the list of things that I'll need to see when I get over to Old Blighty. I will look for white-faced sheep.
Looks like the perfect way to spent Solstice! I love the photos. Too many favorites to name them all. They made me feel being right in that place with you! thank you for sharing.
Litha blessings to you both! Your reverence for the natural world shines through every word. I felt myself walking beside you: the soft bleat of curious sheep, the golden hush lifting through the trees and that first flicker of sunlight peeking shyly through the cloud.
I love how you honour each stone circle like an ancestral heartbeat still pulsing beneath the earth. And the fortuitous encounter with the red squirrels? A Solstice gift in fur and fire. Pure magick!
Thank you so much for inviting us into the summer solstice’s sacred slowness, where time stretches and meaning rises with the sun. Your closing poem is the perfect benediction. Solstice blessings to you, friend of Earth, Tree and Stone. 🌞🌳🪨
Thank you so much for your kind and generous words, Deborah. It was a very special day, when everything came together (well, almost everything - I wish Irene had been able to make it up to the circles with me).
This morning was my first greeting of the solstice sun in Scotland. The weather was kind and mostly sympathetic, in a small way, not unlike that early morning in '18. With fairly clear skies though still with that low, slightly mischievous bank of cloud on the horizon, as if to say 'mm, shall we let him see the sun today, or not?'. Luckily the sun peeped through shortly after first rising. Having Luna looking on just added to the magic.
Walking in the cool, early blue light and enjoying dawn's early song, then greeting our glorious, life-giving sun, makes for such sacred time, communing with Mother Nature.
Returning home, then getting a few more hours sleep before waking at a more typical time somehow heightens the whole experience making it almost dreamlike in hindsight. Brightest blessings to you 🌞🙂
What a wonderful way to spend Solstice Ralph! There really is something quite magical about being up at dawn sitting within nature, listening to the trees come alive with birdsong as the sun rises and feeling the cool air in midsummer. Your images take me right back to Brats hill, I don't know if I fully appreciated it the first time but it is a beautiful site - I think its remoteness makes it even more special. Your gorgeous photos of the landscape and of those wonderful Lake District gnarly trees really tell the tale of mid summer. Solstice blessings to you 🌄
Thank you so much for kind words, Lin. It was one of those days when everything came together at Brat's Hill and beyond. The weather was beautifully kind that day.
I managed to rouse myself for my first Scottish solstice this morning (up to now we've always been elsewhere at this time). I'd spotted a place up on the side of the Fell about three years ago where I wanted to be to greet the sun that offered a suitable view. I wasn't disappointed, even if there was a low bank of cloud sat right on the horizon, obscuring the 'moment' in an otherwise fairly clear sky. Luckily he peeped through a gap a few minutes after. It was, nonetheless, a wonderful experience. Seeing Luna in a pale golden crescent form added to the magic. Even the midges were reasonably well behaved lol. On the way up there was a beautiful moment when I heard a thrush singing heartily close by, sat on top of a thin tree trunk, with Luna looking on behind. One of those sublime moments. I did try to grab a quick snap, but by the time I'd got myself ready, they'd gone. I smiled wryly to myself. Some magical moments are perhaps meant to be 'for your eyes only' ☺️
Earthly spirits abound. Universal awesomeness.
Nice.
Many thanks, Kenneth.
What a day you captured. Love it!
Thanks, Benjamin! 🙂
Great morning to be out and about! I'll have to add the Irton Road railway station, and the Burnmoor stone circle to the list of things that I'll need to see when I get over to Old Blighty. I will look for white-faced sheep.
Indeed. Thank you. Planning a trip to this side o' the pond?
For the last 40 years. I am almost ready.
I won't put the kettle on yet, then 🤣
Looks like the perfect way to spent Solstice! I love the photos. Too many favorites to name them all. They made me feel being right in that place with you! thank you for sharing.
Many thanks, Susanne, I appreciate your words☺️
Litha blessings to you both! Your reverence for the natural world shines through every word. I felt myself walking beside you: the soft bleat of curious sheep, the golden hush lifting through the trees and that first flicker of sunlight peeking shyly through the cloud.
I love how you honour each stone circle like an ancestral heartbeat still pulsing beneath the earth. And the fortuitous encounter with the red squirrels? A Solstice gift in fur and fire. Pure magick!
Thank you so much for inviting us into the summer solstice’s sacred slowness, where time stretches and meaning rises with the sun. Your closing poem is the perfect benediction. Solstice blessings to you, friend of Earth, Tree and Stone. 🌞🌳🪨
Thank you so much for your kind and generous words, Deborah. It was a very special day, when everything came together (well, almost everything - I wish Irene had been able to make it up to the circles with me).
This morning was my first greeting of the solstice sun in Scotland. The weather was kind and mostly sympathetic, in a small way, not unlike that early morning in '18. With fairly clear skies though still with that low, slightly mischievous bank of cloud on the horizon, as if to say 'mm, shall we let him see the sun today, or not?'. Luckily the sun peeped through shortly after first rising. Having Luna looking on just added to the magic.
Walking in the cool, early blue light and enjoying dawn's early song, then greeting our glorious, life-giving sun, makes for such sacred time, communing with Mother Nature.
Returning home, then getting a few more hours sleep before waking at a more typical time somehow heightens the whole experience making it almost dreamlike in hindsight. Brightest blessings to you 🌞🙂
Gorgeous. Happy solstice.
Thank you and thank you! Much appreciated.
What a great adventure day! You have some absolute stunners in this group - my type of images for sure 😊
A was a beautiful summer's day, indeed. Thank you for your kind words, Rachel.