A Decade of Sun Worshipping
Every quarter for over a decade, I have made a point to witness each Equinox and Solstice from a spot in nature with a great view. I choose places that offer a real feel for the changing light. This year, my Spring Equinox Golden Cap choice was all about celebrating the change of light and the start of a new season with a bit of added adventure.
The Spring Equinox feels like the true start of the new year for me. It marks the arrival of the longer days. “Equinox” literally means “equal nights,” as the night is as long as the day just twice a year. Some might argue that actually happens on the equilux, but we won’t go into that here.
My aim is always to see both the sunset of the fading season and the sunrise of the new, though the weather often makes those decisions for me. This time, with clear skies forecast, I headed to a place I have waited a long time to see during a change of season: Golden Cap, the highest peak in Dorset.
The Journey to Golden Cap
We arrived around lunchtime in the camper van and found a farm nearby to settle in for the night. It was only an hour’s walk to the summit, so after a quick cuppa in the unusually warm March sun, we took a leisurely hike through the fields and along the coast. I say “leisurely,” but the steep climb certainly had us puffing and panting. Perhaps it was the views making us take things a bit too casually and not ready for the workout. But don’t let me put you off, it isn’t the most challenging climb on the Jurassic Coast—the steps at St Aldhelm’s or the climb from Chapman’s Pool are much more “fun”; that’s if you like your thighs to feel like they are on fire.
Sunset over the Jurassic Coast
We reached the peak in plenty of time to take in the vista before moving along the plateau to watch the sun setting exactly in the west, as it does only on an equinox. The air was becoming chilly, but we had packed warm layers and a couple of beers to celebrate the end of winter as the sun disappeared over the end of the world. The sky stayed colourful for a good thirty minutes after the sun vanished. We eventually donned head torches to find our way back down the hill and through the dark fields to the cosy van for a pre-cooked chilli con carne.
0430: Early Rise for The Spring Equinox Golden Cap Sunrise
Up and out into the dark. We walked at a good pace to beat the first light. The early morning air was freezing, but the climb soon warmed us up. Looking back, the sky was shifting colours every few minutes. It is easy to get mesmerised and just stand there staring (or perhaps we just needed an excuse for a breather). The most magical colours always seem to happen just before the sunrise or just after the sunset.
Reaching the peak felt more triumphant this time. We watched the sun pop above the horizon, with a low haze helping it cast a golden light over the land. It kickstarted the day in a warm glow. That haze slowed down and elongated the sunrise, making it all the more beautiful to witness. I am so grateful for such a clear morning for a change. A nearby bench (the highest in Dorset!) provided the ideal spot for breakfast before we clambered down to the beach for a bit of fossil hunting.
Enjoy it, for real!
You can enjoy these photographs now without the effort of the early rise. View them big if you can, or even better, in print via the gallery.
One final note: It really is special to take time out to watch a sunrise. Make sure you do it at least once this year. With the clocks changing soon, you can even avoid the 04:30 start for a while. Now you have no excuse! :
