​Although often referred to as the “Longest Day,” the summer solstice is actually the precise moment in time when the North Pole reaches its maximum tilt toward the Sun. This year, it occurs at 3:41 am on Saturday, June 21st. For those of us on the Peninsula, the Sun will rise at 4:27:39 am at its north-easternmost point of the year and won’t set until 10:22:32 pm, when it dips below the horizon at its north-westernmost point of the year. That will give us a remarkable 17 hours, 54 minutes, and 53 seconds of daylight. It’s little wonder that, after enduring the long, dark days of winter, these long summer days have such an uplifting effect on our mood and overall well-being.
 
A major reason for this seasonal boost is increased exposure to sunlight. Sunlight stimulates the brain to produce more serotonin—the “feel-good” chemical responsible for enhancing mood, calming the mind, and sharpening focus. With higher levels of serotonin, people often feel lighter, brighter, and more resilient. This is especially beneficial for those affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that often emerges with the darkness and cold of winter.
 
Sunlight also plays a crucial role in regulating our circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock that governs when we feel awake or sleepy. As we stir in the morning, specialised cells in our eyes pick up on natural light, especially the blue in it, and send signals to the brain’s master clock. Our brain realises that it’s daytime and starts waking us up by adjusting things like hormones and body temperature. This daily reset helps our body stay in sync with the 24-hour day, helping us feel more alert, sleep more soundly, and function at our best.
 
Beyond its biological benefits, the abundance of daylight in summer invites us to spend more time outdoors, encouraging physical activity and fostering a deeper connection with nature. This combination of movement and mindful presence supports not only physical health but also mental well-being. While I certainly appreciate the physical perks, such as improved cardiovascular fitness, it’s the mental and emotional restoration that I appreciate most.
 
There is something hugely restorative and healing about spending time outside in the warm glow of summer, whether it’s a long walk in the hills, taking in the beautiful scenery, or sitting quietly by the shore, listening to the soothing rhythm of waves lapping on the shore.
 
When I spend time like this in nature, I notice that my attention is gently drawn rather than forcibly grabbed. This experience, known as “soft fascination”, describes the calming engagement we feel in natural environments. Instead of the noise and distractions of modern life, nature offers subtler, soothing stimuli – the rustle of leaves, the gentle babble of a stream, or clouds slowly shifting overhead. These quiet elements hold our attention just enough to keep us present without overwhelming the senses, allowing the mind to rest and recover. This in turn helps reduce mental fatigue and lower stress levels.
 
So ultimately, the long summer days help me sleep more soundly, feel more grounded, and experience the world with a calm sense of mindfulness. They remind me to slow down, be present, and let nature quietly work its magic. Here’s to those long and glorious days of summer – may they arrive quickly and linger long.

Although many people refer to the Winter Solstice as the Shortest Day of the year, it is the exact moment when the northern hemisphere is furthest away from the Sun. This happened today, 21 December 2024, at precisely 9:21 am when the Sun was directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn, its southernmost point in the sky. From here on in, the hours of darkness will start to get shorter and daylight hours will start to get longer.

This change is caused by the Earth’s axial tilt, which is approximately 23.5 degrees to its orbital plane and it is this tilt that is the key factor in creating the seasons of the year. Just now, with the northern hemisphere being tilted farthest away from the Sun, the solar energy falling on us is at its weakest and with this comes the cold days of winter. However, the axial tilt will now gradually move towards the Sun, causing the Sun’s apparent position in the sky to climb higher each day. This results in longer days and an increase in the solar energy falling on us, bringing the gradual transition from winter to spring and then summer.
 
Therefore, the Winter Solstice is a pivotal moment in the Earth's journey around the Sun. One that shapes the rhythm of the seasons and the cyclical nature of the year and while the change in daylight length immediately after the solstice is subtle, it does become more pronounced as the weeks pass by and I find that this gradual progression reminds me that there are brighter days to come.
 
Reflecting on this, I think that it is no surprise that many cultures saw the Winter Solstice as symbolising the triumph of light over darkness. In fact, ancient Celtic solstice celebrations would involve the lighting of fires and candles to both honour the returning Sun and to banish the long, cold nights.
 
In ancient Scotland, the alignment of certain Neolithic sites with the Winter Solstice Sun demonstrates the deep connection the ancient Celts had with this astronomical event. For instance, the Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis and other standing stones are thought to have been used for rituals and ceremonies tied to the solstice.
 
However, Maeshowe, a Neolithic chambered cairn and passage grave on Orkney, holds a profound connection to Winter Solstice traditions, reflecting the ancient peoples' deep understanding of astronomy and their reverence for the cycles of nature.

Its most striking feature is its precise alignment with the Winter Solstice. The long, narrow passage leading into the central chamber is designed so that, at sunset on the Solstice, the fading sunlight streams through the passage and illuminates the interior of the cairn. This alignment underscores the significance of the Winter Solstice as a time of renewal and rebirth, when the Sun begins its gradual return after the year’s darkest day.
 
So, while the sight of later morning sunrises and mid-afternoon sunsets at this time of the year can leave you with a sense of wonder, it is the gradual realisation that the days are lengthening which impacts me most, because with this comes the promise of possibilities—a chance to spend more time outdoors, to reconnect with nature and to feel the Sun's presence for a little longer each day.

​This year, the summer solstice occurs on 21 June at 10:13 am. It is the exact moment when the North Pole is at its maximum tilt towards the Sun, when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky and when the Sun rises at its closest to north-east and sets at its closest to north-west.
 
Although the summer solstice is a precise moment in time, many people refer to it as the “Longest Day” because it is the day when the number of hours of daylight are at their maximum and the number of hours of night are at their minimum. For instance, on 21 June this year, our sunrise here on the Peninsula will be at 4:27:36 am and our sunset will be at 10:22:23 pm, giving us 17 hours, 54 minutes and 47 seconds of daylight.
 
While the summer solstice marks the astronomical start of our summer, it has traditionally been celebrated in Scotland as midsummer, the halfway point in the growing season and a time when people hoped for bountiful harvests. The celebrations began as a Celtic fire festival when bonfires would be used to bless crops and beasts. Animals would be walked around the fire in a sun-wise (clockwise) direction and torches would be lit from the main fire to then be carried around homes and fields, also in a sun-wise direction, to bless families and the crops.
 
Also, people used to gather herbs at this time, and either scatter them into the fire to complete the ritual, wear them along with flowers to ward off evil spirits, or place them under their pillows as good luck charms to manifest good dreams. Birch branches were sometimes hung above doors for protection. This was also believed to be the best time to collect honey from beehives, which is why the first full moon in June was called the “honey moon”. Unsurprisingly, this became the traditional month for weddings.
 
With the coming of Christianity, many pagan midsummer celebrations were moved to the feast of St John the Baptist on 24 June, with bonfires remaining central to them. People would light the bonfires on midsummer eve and then stay up until midnight to welcome in midsummer day. They continued to gather herbs and flowers to protect themselves from evil spirits and one of the most powerful plants was ‘chase-devil’, which is now called St John’s Wort. It was used in potions and woven into garlands because people believed that this would provide them with protection.
 
Finally, herbalists continue to use St John’s Wort in medicines to this day. It contains many chemicals that act on messengers in the brain that regulate mood and there is some strong scientific evidence that it is effective for mild to moderate depression.