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Where to watch the 2025 summer solstice sunrise: 5 must-visit UK spots
Celebrate the start of summer with a beautiful sunrise display
If there’s just one day you should make the absolute most of, it’s the day of the summer solstice – the first day of summer.
June 21st, conveniently a Saturday, will be the longest day of the year, with an incredible 16 hours and 38 minutes of daylight magic.
Call it a coincidence or cosmic alignment, but as a cherry on top, the weather forecast also predicts a sweltering 30 degrees in some parts and pure sunshine.
To officially welcome summer, why not travel to one of the UK’s top viewing spots to watch as the sun rises, heralding the most glorious day of the year.
Parkdean Resorts have rounded up five spots guaranteeing glorious views of the summer solstice sunrise. Take a look below:
Rough Tor, Cornwall
Tors – free-standing rock formations perched on the top of a hill – are wonderful vantage points for taking in the stunning surroundings. One particularly great example is Rough Tor, nestled near St Minver in Cornwall.
Its expansive panoramic views of the Cornish countryside make this an ideal spot for catching a breathtaking sunrise on the day of the summer solstice.
Sunrise: 5.03 am
Queen’s View, Scotland
There’s no better place to witness a Scottish sunrise than at Queen’s View, and if name is anything to go by, this vantage point is fit for royalty.
Located near the tranquil Tummel Valley, the Highland lookout offers magical vistas over Loch Tummel. There’s also parking nearby, which makes Queen’s View an accessible option for an early adventure.
Sunrise: 4.22 am
Hound Tor, Devon
Hound Tor is dubbed as “one of Devon’s best-kept secrets”. Just under an hour’s drive from the coastal town of Torquay, it's located within Dartmoor.
Surrounded by the rugged beauty of Devon’s national park, Hound Tor is a picturesque spot that guarantees magical views of the summer solstice sunrise.
Sunrise: 5:03 am
Orrest Head, Lake District
The Lake District remains one of the UK’s most popular staycation destinations and was crowned the nation's top feel-good landscape, according to a recent Country Living survey.
Here, perched on the eastern edge of Windermere, Orrest Head offers magical views of the surrounding fells and, for those willing to get up early, the sunrise.
Parkdean Resorts recommends this spot for a “peaceful early morning hike and a scenic spot for a sunrise picnic.” It sounds perfect to us.
Sunrise: 4:36 am
Cleveland Way, Yorkshire
With a length of 109 miles, stretching from Helmsley to Filey, Yorkshire’s Cleveland Way National Trail is a cliff-top path providing sweeping views of the countryside and the sea – making it a top spot to watch the sunrise.
“This trail is a Yorkshire gem for those wanting to experience the longest day of the year in nature’s embrace,” says the spokesperson for Parkdean Resorts. Just don’t forget to pack some extra layers for the chillier coastal mornings.
Sunrise: 4:30 am
Wanda Sachs is the Multiplatform Writer for Country Living and House Beautiful, exploring the latest in gardening, wildlife and sustainable living alongside interiors and property. She is particularly interested in human-interest stories, the intersection of design and pop culture, and the evolving relationship between urban and rural life. Previously, she served as Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she reported on culture and fashion. Wanda studied English and German at the Goethe University Frankfurt and Exeter University.
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