Stonehenge Prepares for Winter Solstice Sunrise Visitors

With the shortest day of the year nearing, Stonehenge is making arrangements to host thousands of attendees for the observance of the winter solstice sunrise on 21 December. The historic location, under the stewardship of English Heritage, is scheduled to open its Monument Field this Saturday at 07:45 GMT, allowing the public to witness the sunrise above the renowned stones. For individuals unable to attend in person, English Heritage will additionally broadcast the event live online. Each year, the winter solstice attracts thousands of attendees, a significant number of whom seek to engage with the spiritual and cultural importance of the occasion. To facilitate unhindered entry, the Stonehenge car park will become accessible starting at 05:15; however, due to a restricted number of parking spots, attendees are advised to utilize public transportation to arrive at the location. Access to the Monument Field will conclude at 10:00. In order to facilitate the event and control the anticipated rise in traffic on the A303, National Highways has disclosed a range of traffic management strategies: • Traffic associated with the solstice will be rerouted northward from Countess roundabout using the A345. • The northbound lane on the A360 will be inaccessible starting from Longbarrow roundabout. • A speed restriction of 40 mph will be enforced on the A303 between Countess and Longbarrow roundabouts, and all lay-bys will be shut. Kathryn Wiltshire, National Highways’ south west resilience planner, advised both attendees and motorists to make advance travel arrangements. “As we’ve done for previous solstice events, traffic management will be in place for safety and to keep disruption to a minimum. In view of a potential increase in traffic volumes for the Christmas Getaway, we advise all road users to check our traffic and travel information channels, plan their journeys, and allow plenty of time,” she said. Drivers can access current traffic information through: • Twitter: @HighwaysSWEST • Online: www.trafficengland.com • Phone: National Highways Information Line at 0300 123 5000 Connect with BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Submit your story suggestions to us via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.