Edinburgh hasn’t enjoyed a 5pm sunset since all the way back on October 28, 2023. On the one hand, that’s a pretty sickening thought; but at the same time: congratulations! You’ve survived that treacherous spell for another year.
2023 is welcoming its first 5pm sunset of the year in Edinburgh, meaning you can swivel out of the office and into the pub without streetlights being a complete necessity. This is, essentially, a handy code for getting the sunglasses and shorts out – it’s summer.
Jumping the gun there? Sure, but the point is this: it’s smooth(er) sailing from here, at least until daylight savings rears its head once more later this year, but let’s try not to think about that one for now.
It’s February 8 and, according to tracking site Time And Date, the sun isn’t leaving us until 5pm, which means that between now and the end of March is a slightly easier endurance test before we get treated to the art of the 7pm sunset, thanks to the clocks going forward.
Yesterday (February 7), we had to withstand the unbearable 4:57pm sunset, and Lord knows how we coped. Today’s a different story, and you best believe we should all be celebrating.
Let it also be known that this is still too early for a sunset, and while we can’t be spoiled with bountiful daylight at 9pm all year round, it’d be nice if there was some kind of happy medium. But while that negotiation with the weather conductors rages on, we’ll take this as the first sign that summer is on the horizon and the cold and dark months will, in fact, end. Godspeed, and cling to that idea of sitting on a beach later this year.
Keep up to date with Edinburgh’s’s sunrises and sunsets here!