waar naar met zonnewende: Avebury?

 

The solstice site older (and bigger) than Stonehenge

bbc, 19.6.2023

By Lindsey Galloway, 

Alamy

Avebury is estimated to be 800 years older and 10 times larger in diameter than Stonehenge (Credit: Alamy)

Just 38km north of Stonehenge, Avebury draws its own annual solstice visitors who want a more up close and personal experience with Britain's ancient standing stones.

No place on Earth is quite as linked to the summer solstice as Stonehenge, the Neolithic standing stones in central England that align with the sunrise during the longest day of the year (this year on 20 June).

But just 38km north, another site, estimated to be 800 years older and 10 times larger in diameter, draws its own annual solstice visitors – especially those who want a more up-close and personal experience with Britain's ancient standing stones.

"Stonehenge is for show, Avebury is for the pro," says Alice Hues, owner of The Farm at Avebury, a generational farm and guesthouse. With its 100 original stones (not all still standing), the stone circle here is the largest in Britain, and the among the oldest, dating to 2850-2200 BCE. The entire henge completely encircles the tiny village of Avebury, which includes a handful of shops, homes and the Red Lion Pub – the only public house in the world to sit within a stone circle.

Unlike its more famous cousin where the stones can no longer be touched, the Avebury stones can always be freely approached. Ranging in height from 3.6m to 4.2m, the tall sarsen stones offer a portal back in time.

"I love Stonehenge, but it's always a bit of a conveyor belt – you have to be on a little trail and then get snapped back at the end," says Lally MacBeth, co-founder of The Stone Club, which offers gatherings and events for standing stone enthusiasts. "At Avebury, you can go right up the stones. You have time to do a drawing, or you could write something and you wouldn't be disturbed. It feels very spacious."

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The entire henge completely encircles the tiny village of Avebury (Credit: Getty Images)

In particular, the solstice draws more young families, as the vibe here is laid back and less hedonistic. "It's a safe space to attend and share the magic of summer solstice with younger children," says Donna Byatt, owner of the shop Elements of Avebury. "Many will bring a picnic blanket and watch the Kings Drummers as they drum down the Sun on the evening of the solstice."

More than a moment

If seeing both stone circles is a priority, you can catch the spectacular dawn Sun show at Stonehenge on the solstice, and then drive 40 minutes to Avebury for more leisurely exploration. With fewer tourist hordes, the latter site offers both the time and space to step back into history.