Watch The Sunrise (reasons to get up early!)
There’s something magical about watching the day break in England. Sunrise paints the sky in tranquil hues, creating a serene atmosphere that stirs the soul.
As the sun peeks above the horizon, it feels like the start of a beautiful symphony. With each note, you can feel the promise of a fresh start.
Wondering why sunrises display such a rich variety of colours? It boils down to how light interacts with the atmosphere.
As sunlight enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it scatters. Shorter wavelengths of light, like blue, scatter more than longer wavelengths, such as red and orange.
When the sun is low on the horizon, its light travels through more of the atmosphere. This scattering generates stunning colours that change minute by minute. So, that breath-taking view isn’t just an accident—it’s a beautiful science lesson in action!
There’s no better time for a stroll than when the sun starts to rise. The cool air and changing light create a perfect setting for walks and taking stunning photos. Capture the moment as the day unfolds, preserving memories of nature’s beauty.
Sunrise provides an ideal backdrop for meditation and mindfulness. The natural light and quiet morning set the stage for some inner reflection. Take a moment to breathe deeply and let the peace of the morning wash over you.
The Beauty of Sunrise
Sunrise offers a front-row seat to nature’s spellbinding show each morning. As dawn nears, the sky becomes a canvas splashed with pinks, purples, and oranges.
This vibrant display not only delights the eyes but also stirs emotions and sets the tone for the day.
As the sun rises at the coast, the sun’s rays dance upon the water, turning the sea into a shimmering spectacle.
The coastlines become silhouettes against the golden sky, and the changes in light reveal the sea’s subtle shades. The sight is a gentle reminder of nature’s beauty and power.
Sunrise isn’t just a visual marvel, it’s an awakening call for the local wildlife too. Birds take to the sky, their melodies weaving through the cool morning air. For birdwatchers, dawn offers a chance to spot a variety of species as they greet the day. It’s a performance worth getting out of bed for.
Where Does the Sun First Rise in England?
Ness Point in Lowestoft (Suffolk). This is because the sun rises in the east, and this is the most easterly point in England. There’s not much there, but many people visit for this very fact.
The most westerly point in England is Land’s End in Cornwall, so presumably this is where the sun rises latest.
Lowestoft Beach offers unobstructed views of the horizon. An early morning visit provides a peaceful and accessible setting to enjoy the spectacle.
As the sun lifts, the beach comes to life, its golden sands inviting you to linger a little longer.
For those after a dramatic view, the cliffs provide a perfect vantage point. Here, the sunrise is a grand show, with the light sweeping across the landscape, unveiling the beauty of the rugged coast. It’s a sight that’s sure to leave you breathless.
Pakefield (near Lowestoft) offers a more secluded option for enjoying this daily miracle. Its charm lies in its quietness, offering tranquillity and a real sense of connection with the natural world. Here, the sunrise feels personal, like a secret between you and the dawn.
Best Locations Abroad to Watch the Sunrise
For many, nothing beats a sunrise over mountains. Places like the Scottish Highlands, the Swiss Alps, and the Rocky Mountains in America are renowned for their stunning views.
Standing at high altitudes, the sight of the sun illuminating jagged peaks is simply awe-inspiring. Hiking to a vantage point might take some effort, but the reward is a view that makes it all worth it.
If you’re drawn to the ocean, beaches offer a unique sunrise experience. Locations like the Maldives, Bondi Beach in Australia, and the shores of Santorini provide beautiful backdrops.
The tranquil sound of waves crashes under the glow of the rising sun. It’s a serene moment that can centre you before the rush of the day.
Don’t underestimate the beauty of an urban sunrise. Skylines can create stunning reflections and silhouettes against the awakening sky. The contrast between nature and the city’s architecture can create dramatic scenes worth waking up early for.
A Charming Book of Sunrise Meditations
Sunrise Gratitude is a beautiful book of morning meditations, designed to help you start the day right. Instead of waking up to rolling news, Twitter or stress – read one of these morning meditations with your first cup of tea, to instil a sense of gratitude about this beautiful planet we share.
As the sun rises, take time before the day begins to calm your thinking and prepare a tranquil morning routine. You’ll then begin to wake up with a peaceful and purposeful mindset.
Living intentionally creates a soulful reason behind our actions. When we take the time to focus on what we want and why we want it, we can narrow our focus. Instead of allowing our thoughts to run wild, focusing shapes our reality.
Wherever our focus goes, growth can take place. Creating an intention with focus will reap rewards. In fact, it may not happen exactly as you would envision, but it will happen as it should.
Each of us has a gift to share with the world. We are born with these gifts or develop them, and they burn like a fire inside our souls. We are all creative in our way way. It takes courage to create and share something that comes from the soul – and your gift is best when shared.
You never know who may need to receive your gift. Sometimes all we need is an audience of one. Create without expectation. Let the fire within you bring passion and light into the world.
Can you imagine the changes in your life, if you began each day reading a mindfulness meditation like this? Your life will be transformed! As a bonus, the book is beautifully designed to inspire.
Emily Silva spent many years working for corporations, before quitting her job to pursue her dreams. She used her experience in the banking and wind industries to become a spiritual life coach, and believes everyone has the power to create their dream lives.
It just takes courage, drive and sometimes someone to hold them accountable (and inspire) along the way.
The Fullness of Time is a journey into the forgotten art of marking time through sings in the world around us – from the slow sliding of sunbeams to the wheeling of the stars.
Past generations would tell time by shadows shrinking (think of a sundial), the midday glow over a mountaintop, or the crowing of the rooster in darkness (today, city dwellers move to the country then complain about the cockerel waking them up at dawn!)
Years ago, people would notice flowers that close at noon, sensed how the quality of life changes at dusk, and marked time at night, by the motion of the stars.
Yet today in our clock-bound, screen-immersed world, most of us rely on machines to mark the hours. But what riches may we gain, from reclaiming the forgotten art of sensing time, by events in the living world?
Roaming from ancient download to city streets, this book is an adventure in search of the patterns that once shaped the rhythm of our days, and an invitation to discover the simple sensory joys of truly paying attention.
In his book Healthy at 100 (which looked at the world’s four-longest-lived communities), one interesting thing he found (apart from that none of them knew what an atheist was!) was that they worked almost until they died. But not by clocks.
For instance, if they were picking berries off a bush, they finished as the light began to fade. Even if they were only half-way through a hedge. They didn’t go ‘I must just do this last bit to finish in another 20 minutes’.
Most books about time teach you how to control your hours. This one teaches you how to inhabit them. Haynes shows how past generations read the day in flower petals, birdsong and the slant of light – and what we lost when we stopped. Daniel H Pink
Reminds us that we get to choose where we focus our attention, between one dawn and the next. Tristan Gooley
Cathy Haynes is a curator, writer, artist and educator who has been Timekeeper in Residence at Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeologist, artist in residence in Victoria Park for a gallery and curator for art on the underground. She lives in London.
