Scores of eclipse hunters turned out in force across East Devon on Wednesday evening (August 12), settling in gardens or heading out to join the crowds to be wowed as the moon blocked out the sun.
People across the UK witnessed a partial eclipse – considered to be the country’s most significant since the total eclipse, visible in parts of Devon and Cornwall in 1999.
Eclipse hunters in their safety specs on Peak Hill.
Photo: Simon Horn.
The start of the 2026 partial eclipse seen from Peak Hill, in Sidmouth.
Photo: Simon Horn.
In Sidmouth, East Devon, hundreds turned out to watch the rare solar spectacle taking place high over the sea at Peak Hill.
Photographer Simon Horn joined the Peak Hill eclipse watchers to capture these unique images of the once-in-a-generation event.
Eclipse watchers used a variety of inventive ways to watch safely, such as turning colanders into pinhole viewers.
Photo: Simon Horn.
As eclipse glasses flew off the shelves across the UK and proved impossible to buy, many turned to makeshift alternatives to safely watch the natural phenomenon.
Eclipse glasses sold out quickly and many turned to creative ways to safely watch the phenomenon, turning boxes in pinhole viewers.
Photo: Simon Horn.
It slowly got darker as the moon moved between the earth, blocking out the sun.
Photo: Simon Horn.
Eye experts repeatedly warned of the dangers of starting directly at the sun, so kitchens were raided for colanders and cereal boxes, to be fashioned into pinhole viewers and projectors.
Hundreds of eclipses hunters headed to Peak Hill, in Sidmouth, to watch the spectacle. Photo: Simon Horn.
After weeks of cloudless skies, it was typical that in parts of East Devon much of the partial eclipse was obscured. But not as badly as the 1999 spectacle, which in Devon mostly took place hidden behind thick cloud.
Pinhole viewers were fashioned from cereal boxes to safely view the sun. Photo: Simon Horn.
But when the clouds parted, in Broadclyst, East Devon, we were treated to the natural show up above, while it slowly got darker as the moon moved between the earth and sun.
More than 90 per cent of the sun was covered by the moon.
Photo: Simon Horn.
No sooner had the sun disappeared to a sliver of gold, it slowly began to emerge, birds began singing again and the evening’s light was eventually restored.
People in Sidmouth joined the UK in witnessing a partial eclipse – considered to be the country’s most significant since the total eclipse in 1999.
Photo: Simon Horn.
The next time a solar eclipse can be seen in the UK is 64 years time, in 2090.
Community news in-brief from East Devon
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