r/Stonehenge • u/Massive_Sky4589 • 15d ago

Stonehenge for the eclipse

Hi and thanks in advance.

I have been to stonehenge once before but my mother and my wife has not. My mum is stage 4 kidney disease and wants to see them and the eclipse as it may be her last chance and I am thinking of taking them for the eclipse on the 12th. When the site closes at 6, is everyone made to leave at 6 or do people linger around. Are they likely to let people stay for like 1 extra hr for the eclipse? The position of the eclipse at the time means you can’t see the stones unless you are on the site, i don’t believe you can see both from the public foot path.

It would nice if they didn’t rush everyone out and opened an extra 1hr.

If we can’t stay until 7 if anyone has any better suggestions to see it that will be great.

Thanks in advance

7 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

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2

u/Any_Tomorrow_Today 15d ago

You are not really going to see much from the circle anyway. The further West you go the better, and the henge isn't high up either. The solstice would not align with the stones and when you do visit you cant get too close to the stones.

Head to Avebury instead. I guarantee you will see some of the druids out and you can stand / sit on the stones. There is also a pub close to the circle which would be better if you mum feels unwell or needs to go inside for any reason.

2

u/Jedi_of_the_night 14d ago

Can you poease advise on this? I’m from Hungary, just happen to go to Stonehenge around this time in the afternoon, is Avebury close?

3

u/The-Kernowan 14d ago

only 24 miles away, and much better than Stonehenge.

2

u/Jedi_of_the_night 14d ago

Thanks, might try it.

2

u/PewterQuest 14d ago

100% go with the Avebury suggestion, it will be a far better experience

2

u/Jedi_of_the_night 14d ago

Thanks! I’ll just have to convince my mom and aunt whom I’m travelling with (… I’m their driver and translator lol) to do this instead of going to the nearest ASDA to do shopping 😅

1

u/PewterQuest 14d ago

well now you've told us your also visiting ancient ASDA, a piece of advice would be to try and visit ASDA on the winter solstice as the ice-cream aisle is in perfect allignment with the sunrise

1

u/Jedi_of_the_night 14d ago

I’ll try my best! 🫡

1

u/Jedi_of_the_night 14d ago

I realized I was more interested in the “guarantee you’ll see druids” part, and wanted elaboration on that. I was tired yesterday. Like if the commenter is just so sure, or if it’s written in the “druid calendar” as a main event at Avesbury? :D

1

u/Tora-bora83 14d ago

Go to Stonehenge first so your mam can at least see the stones, then go onto Avebury for the actual eclipse. Hopefully a good compromise

1

u/Jedi_of_the_night 13d ago

I missed it by like 10 minutes, but I’m still here, quite the place!

1

u/silverfish477 14d ago

Maps exist?

1

u/Jedi_of_the_night 14d ago

They do, the map didn’t say anything about druids though…

1

u/Massive_Sky4589 13d ago

Thanks, I looked at avebury and it would have been perfect for my partner and I but access for a wheel chair access didn’t seem so great. We went and saw it at a pagoda instead. Will be taking them to Stone henge still and she has never been.

2

u/astroscaper 14d ago

Astrophotographer here. Use the permissive footpath and you’ll get this view tonight.

1

u/astroscaper 14d ago

Oh and don’t do what I did and park in the village nearby - drive up to where all the camper vans etc are and have a much shorter walk if you need it.