S4 Ep79: Midsummer Magic and Mayhem

For millennia, midsummer has been steeped in tales of mystery and magic. It inspired the construction of great temples, the lighting of bonfires and was even said to have caused people to act in strange and surprising ways.

In this episode, we explore the meaning behind the legends of the longest day of the year. And we discover why so many people feel a mystical connection to this time of year.

This year to limit the speared of COVID-19, Stonehenge and Avebury will be closed for solstice and we’d respectfully ask that you stay away from these sites and the surrounding areas on that day. 

You can watch a live stream of the solstice on English Heritage’s social media channels. And if you’d like to experience the solstice in nature, please watch from your garden or from a viewpoint local to your home.

For more audio programmes like this from the National Trust, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts.