Stonehenge '22 - Summer Solstice
- Thread starter r0bb0
- Start date
WhyLikeThis
Something, something, something
Not for 10 years. Loads of braying cops, intrusive floodlights, hi-vis fun police on patrol.
However, there is fun to be had. Some superb crusty vehicles and hippy wagons in the car park.
Expect intrusive and unnecessary police cordons on entrance to the stones and a usually hostile exit too.
However, there is fun to be had. Some superb crusty vehicles and hippy wagons in the car park.
Expect intrusive and unnecessary police cordons on entrance to the stones and a usually hostile exit too.
r0bb0
wheres my balloon
l'Otters
.
Haven’t been near it for summer solstice for a long time. Last time I went it was all of the above, think the floodlights put me off the most.
Went to Avebury for a few summer solstices since then but it started getting quite on top with filth everywhere there too. Still possible to have a nice time as it’s got more space than Stonehenge but it seemed to be going in the same direction
Went to Avebury for a few summer solstices since then but it started getting quite on top with filth everywhere there too. Still possible to have a nice time as it’s got more space than Stonehenge but it seemed to be going in the same direction
WhyLikeThis
Something, something, something
You park up in a field then wander a fair distance down a single track road until the entrance cordon to the stones. Be aware there may be searches of bags and possibly more. There’s no charge to park.
I last went to that Henge near Salisbury, at Solstice 2004 (
), but most of what you say was very much like that, even way back then! 
I also remember it being stupidly cold at night, that year!
I ended up wishing we, and our (ex-Urban, now late
) mate with Van 
) had stayed back at Avebury**, where we were first.**To where I've not been back (at Solstice time anyway!), since 2004 either!!
TBH, I recall finding Glastonbury 2004! hugely better. That's when a somewhat younger! Paul McCartney last played, ahead of this year
( )(In between Stonehenge 2004 and Glastonbury 2004, we stayed with Stig 's friends in a Bristol squat, I think! Yes, I was a Festographer back then as well!!!
)
r0bb0
wheres my balloon
Cool updates, thanks. Some of my friends went a few years ago but they got moved on by pol-pol pretty sharpish. Henge solstice is the traditional big 1 but there's got to be a lot of other stone circles where you can do a sunrise. The website is saying £24 entry but I couldn't pay to go there!
Yeah I Hitchhiked to Avebury in 94 and bumped into kindred spirits at a cafe, really lovely Avebury! Ended up crashing the night at some MOD weapons range and I seem to recall waking up with distant munitions going off. Don't even remember going on the solstice but stayed with my new friends and went Glastonbury festival, fantastic. Made the stones in 95 with the dowsers and some other chaps, it was quite heavily ring fenced back then.
My friend knew someone who was throwing a free party at their farm for the weekend so did get to see what fessie used to be, 'cause getting matey to go to paid Glasto was a bit of a mission as he'd always said he wouldn't go after they made it a paid event, lol. Do love a free/3/donation based thing though like this one recently in Cornwall, well done everyone!
Yeah I Hitchhiked to Avebury in 94 and bumped into kindred spirits at a cafe, really lovely Avebury! Ended up crashing the night at some MOD weapons range and I seem to recall waking up with distant munitions going off. Don't even remember going on the solstice but stayed with my new friends and went Glastonbury festival, fantastic. Made the stones in 95 with the dowsers and some other chaps, it was quite heavily ring fenced back then.
My friend knew someone who was throwing a free party at their farm for the weekend so did get to see what fessie used to be, 'cause getting matey to go to paid Glasto was a bit of a mission as he'd always said he wouldn't go after they made it a paid event, lol. Do love a free/3/donation based thing though like this one recently in Cornwall, well done everyone!
the Drove at stonehendge and the sanctuary at avebury are both closed this year by some byway order, so no free parking, or any parking at avebury. The council/police are making full use of the recent law changes about tresspass with a vehicle. It's been their wet dream since the 80's. The times they-are a-changing.
Ground Elder
Well-Known Member
circleline
Well-Known Member
Oh, so welcoming now! At least they are trying then. I was offered a lift to Stonehenge in 1984 and didn't travel for reasons. 1984 was the last year the festival was actually accessible and took place among the stones. Never really appealed to me much after 1985. Glad in a way that English Heritage have made the site accessible again; what it says on the tin and all..
Nostalgia here for the (vintage
)festival circuit: Stonehenge, Glastonbury and Elephant Fayre in Cornwall
Nostalgia here for the (vintage
)festival circuit: Stonehenge, Glastonbury and Elephant Fayre in CornwallConditions of entry 2022
Conditions of entry to Stonehenge for Summer Solstice 2022 from English Heritage.
www.english-heritage.org.uk
bcuster
Well-Known Member
I’ve never been, but like so many fun things it’s been ruined by overbearing police presence. We used to be able to drink, eat and have fun at my alma mater football tailgate parties. Now there are mounted police sniffing people’s breath and checking id . Pure fascism
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circleline
Well-Known Member
Not sure if you're being funny but:
My daughter makes fun of me, re: my physical swerve from any police presence. 'Here come your mates, Mum!' when any road activity involving police turning up. 'See your mates are here..' if we turn up anywhere involving. She thinks she's being funny but I did manage to express the very real seriousness of the issues back in the eighties when the police force were a very different force to that today. Films and documentaries on Hillsborough, miner's strikes etc have enabled me to have a decent discussion: 'I know you laugh, but...'
l'Otters
.
It hasn’t changed that much afaia. Your daughter is lucky to have avoided finding out for herself…long may that continue tho.
l'Otters
.
Getting English Heritage to allow access again took years of fighting for it. The first year they allowed it they only allowed ordained druids on. They went in past a crowd of people calling them traitors. There’s a good documentary about it somewhere. In the early 2000’s it was really good, well, my memories of it are good anyway!
ice-is-forming
With dignified ease and grace..
I will go down on the beach facing west at 5.01pm on the 21st and watch the sun fall from view and imagine it rising above the heel stone in England. As it was.. the smoke from the fires hanging in the dawn..the tribal beat, the aceeéed..
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heading down there (avebury) tonight - without vehicle just sleeping bag plastic sheet and drum. There is always someone about - probably a small group. Vibe is always going to be intense at this time of the year. I've been told a few are gathering at the sanctuary and so it will carry on.
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
Morning.
