The beautiful UK coastal village that boasts the most sunlight hours in winter
Dr Ellie on why people should be taking Vitamin D supplements
It is no secret that our health and wellbeing is linked to our surroundings. Factors such as air quality, green spaces and exposure to sunlight all have an impact.
And in the UK, the latter can be difficult to come by, especially in the winter months. While this may not seem like a major problem, over time it can lead to issues such as a vitamin D deficiency.
Of course, the amount of sunlight you are able to experience will depend on where you live. Although mainland Britain is small compared to other countries, the time the sun rises and sets in different areas does vary.
For example, in the summer the most northern point of the UK will get the most hours of daylight. Inversely, the southernmost point will see the most daylight hours during the winter.
With the shortest day of the year coming up on December 22, it is worth noting that the title of the southernmost point in mainland Britain belongs to a tiny and relatively unknown village in Cornwall.
READ MORE Just one small UK town made it into the list of the most beautiful in the world
Known as The Lizard, or Lizard Village, it sits on a peninsula of the same name, surrounded by rugged coastline.
Home to just 1,000 residents, it may not seem like anything special and is often overlooked for Land’s End, which is about an hour’s drive away.
However, The Lizard officially experiences the most daylight hours of anywhere in mainland Britain on December 22.
This year, the sun is due to rise on the village at 8.16am and set at 4.21pm, providing eight hours, four minutes and 43 seconds of light.
This is more than the UK average on that day of seven hours and 22 minutes.
Don’t miss…
UK’s ‘worst seaside town’ to be given £120m to stop it being ‘swallowed by sea'[LATEST]
Amazing and unique little Spanish town is one of the best hidden gems in Europe[TRAVEL]
The beautiful little UK town where the average home only costs £295k[PROPERTY]
- Support fearless journalism
- Read The Daily Express online, advert free
- Get super-fast page loading
And in Dunnet Head in Scotland, which is the most northern point in mainland Britain, residents can expect only six hours and 16 minutes of daylight.
But what is The Lizard like? A spokesperson for Landewednack Parish Council, which covers the area, referred to it as a “beautiful” but “isolated” place.
“Hosting the southernmost point of mainland Britain, The Lizard Village is surrounded on three sides by beautiful coastline,” they said.
“This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, sited on Serpentine Rock, is known for rare plants and species and sees a huge influx of tourists in the summer months.
“A hub of public footpaths and coastal walks radiate from the centre of The Lizard Village, and these are popular with visitors and locals throughout the year, with winter temperatures being higher, and daylight hours longer than much of mainland Britain.
“The weather can be challenging, with gale force winds on the exposed coastal cliffs, and some breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.”
According to the council, the village has a population of 1,000 people spanning a wide age range.
They said: “Some families have lived here for generations, some are newcomers.”
It also boasts a “varied selection” of restaurants, cafes and locally-run shops.
“A home to artists and craftspeople, and to those who commute to the nearest town of Helston – some 10 miles to the north, with the city of Truro being over 25 miles distant,” the spokesperson added.
Why is sunlight important?
As mentioned, exposure to sunlight is our main source of vitamin D, an essential nutrient for our bodies.
Chris Smith, founder of supplement specialists Vegetology, spoke with Express.co.uk to explain more.
He said: “Vitamin D, known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’, is crucial to our health and wellbeing. Inevitably, during the winter we see much less sun and are at risk of vitamin D deficiency.
“It is important to make sure our bodies are getting enough vitamin D, as many people have improved well-being and energy levels as a result; at this time of year, we may need a little more of this than usual.
“Not only is it vital to our wellbeing, vitamin D is also essential in maintaining normal function of the immune system and blood calcium levels. This is important to keep our bones, teeth and muscles healthy.”
The NHS advises taking vitamin D supplements from September to March to avoid becoming deficient.
Source: Read Full Article