Sapphire Cottage Holiday Accommodation Glen Innes

16/11/2024

04/11/2024

01/11/2024

NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
Here's some highlights ahead in November...
We've entered the Summer half of the year, and for the next four months the Sun will run high in the sky and south on the horizon; the Moon, opposite the Sun at Full Moon is entering its three northern risings.

👉 Saturday 16th November at 8pm, in the late twilight of the day of the Full Moon, the moonrise will be to the ENE and if the horizon is clear the Full Moon will rise through the Avenue, a wonderful sight!
Arrive before 7:30 to enjoy the golden sunset to the southwest then turn around at 8pm to see the silver Moonrise!

The Avenue marks the position of the Sun's winter sunstill and solstice rising, and on the three Full Moons over the summery months the silver orb will rise through the alignment also, the November and January risings directly through the Avenue and the most northerly in December.

👉 Saturday 30th November is St Andrew's Day, the national day of 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Scotland and we'll meet to honour Scotland and Australian Scottish heritage from 5:30pm in the Crofter's Cottage garden for our flaglowering gathering with a toast, a talk and a fundraising raffle.

👉 On Saturday 9th November at The Croft, book a ticket for the ceilidh night of dinner & dance and fun with The Scotsman - details at The Croft Celtic Cultural Centre and Cafe Glen Innes

👉 Every Saturday morning from 8am make fitness a wonderful run or walk around Centennial Parklands and the Glen Innes Skywalk with Australian Standing Stones parkrun

The longer days, and sunsets around 7:30pm make the a wonderful place to visit and explore, including the Celtic Family Wall and the Human Sundial. With delicious Celtic fare and coffee, The Croft offers breakfast, lunch and cakes to satisfy the whole family - Tuesday to Saturday; and the amenities, seating and playground makes for family friendly relaxation time.

Get in Here! Come on up to beautiful

27/10/2024

CELTIC SEASONS DOWNUNDER
The Australian Standing Stones stand in commemoration of Australia's Celtic heritage in a structure that marks the Sun's positions throughout the year, notably the two solstices marked by the avenue for the winter sunrise and the solstice stone for the summer sunrise, and the two equinoxes marked by the east stone for these sunrises. But when the sun rises halfway between these markers, at the cross-quarter days around the start of November and the start of May, these alignments mark the great Celtic seasonal festivals marking the start of summer and the coming of winter!

In the northern hemisphere, on the eve of November is the coming of winter at the feasts associated with Halloween at Summer's End, in its Gaelic language names (Irish Samhain, Scottish Samhainn, Manx Sauin) or the feasts for the Calends of Winter in the Brittonic language names (Welsh Calan Gaeaf, Cornish Kalan Gwaf, Breton Kala Goañv).

Here in Australia the season is quite the opposite from the north, as we enter the bright sunny days of summer, and so associated with the northern hemisphere traditions of May Day feasting and Maypole dances at the start of the Celtic Summer in its Gaelic language names (Irish Bealtaine, Scottish Bealtuinn, Manx Boaldyn) and Calends of Summer in the Brittonic language names (Welsh Calan Haf, Cornish Kalan Hav, Breton Kala Hañv).

At the , enjoy the 6am sunrise or 7pm sunsets where the Sun is positioned at the cross-quarter positions and celebrate the Celtic seasons and feel the magic of the festivals of these great divisions of the year!

22/10/2024

Beautiful Boundary Falls.
Gibraltar Range National Park.
Photo by
https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/gibraltar-range-national-park

21/10/2024

17/10/2024

NORTHWARD BOUND
The Full Moon set this morning to the northwest on its northerly progression each lunation. This is the cross-quarter Moon, heralding the astronomical Southern Bealtaine / Calan Haf next week as the Sun, on its southward journey along the horizon, reaches the half way position between equinox and solstice. On the Moon's Full phase it is positioned directly opposite the Sun.

Follow with us the movements of the Sun and Moon against the on their journeys throughout the year, and gain insights into the ancient cycles of the seasons! Come up to for a memorable experience at this National Celtic Monument!

11/10/2024

Find your own adventure in the Glen Innes Highlands.
Photo by

Saturday 12th October in the Glen Innes Highlands:
Forecast temperature: 7 - 21 degrees
Daily forecast: Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day. Overnight temperatures falling to between 6 and 14 with daytime temperatures reaching between 18 and 25.

10/10/2024

Amazing night skies over the Australian Standing Stones.
Photo by Jayson Sharman Photography

Friday 11th October in the Glen Innes Highlands:
Forecast temperature: 6 - 22 degrees
Daily forecast: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming northwest to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 5 and 14 with daytime temperatures reaching 21 to 27.

09/10/2024

😍🌼 The Gibraltar Range Waratah is currently in bloom!
🌿 Endemic to World Heritage-listed Gibraltar Range National Park east of Glen Innes, it's in good company with many other beauties currently flowering 🌸
📷 🥾 James Sheather took these photos along the 4km Anvil Rock walking track, which leads to the base of Anvil Rock, where you'll be rewarded with views of extraordinary granite formations.
ℹ️ Find out more about our region's spectacular national parks: https://gleninneshighlands.com/world-heritage-national...