I Woke Up At 5:30am To Catch The Sunrise At Snaefell – It Was Breathtaking

I unexpectedly discovered a penchant for walking this summer.

I had been bitten by the trekking bug and I was surprising myself at how early I was rising to get up and out around the Isle of Man. And we’re extremely lucky here – I believe the beauty of our island, which I refer to as ‘gorgeousness,’ should never be underestimated.

In light of his new found affection, I boldly proposed to a group of my friends that we attempt to climb Snaefell one morning, aiming to reach the summit before sunrise.

The plan was established: wake up at 5:30 AM, arrive by 6:00 AM, and start our walk.

The night before I made sure to lay my clothes out ready. This might seem slightly excessive, but I wanted the morning routine to operate as smoothly as possible. Like a kid on Christmas Eve I found myself waking up numerous times throughout the night. But this wasn’t out of excitement, it was more to do with an overarching fear that I may sleep through my alarm.

The initial phase of the plan was a success; the ‘wake-up’ was accomplished. My parents rise early for work so my mother seemed surprised to find me awake and prepared so early, she even asked if I had just returned from a night out. ‘No, Mum! I’m going to climb Snaefell to watch the sunrise,’ I told her.

She had a point to be fair, in my world there are only two realities where I would be awake at 5:30am:

1. Returning from the dance floor
2. Climbing our highest peak for a good view of the sunrise with a bit of conversation along the way

The obligatory picture to prove we had reached the summit.

We started at the Bungalow Tram Station which is arguably the easiest start point for the hike. I have since heard that it is tradition to touch the sea at Laxey beach prior to starting the trail. I don’t want to imagine what time I would have had to wake up if I had picked that route.

Arriving at the bottom of the mountain with my flask of tea in hand, we began the trek. My enthusiasm dimmed slightly around 10 minutes in however as I began to struggle to regulate my breaths (or ‘started to pant’ in layman’s terms). Had my summer of walking got me nowhere? Where had my stamina gone? I sensed the athleticism I believed I had built up over the last few weeks gradually ebb away, vanishing into the Manx air. I doubted that the 2,036-foot summit of Snaefell was high enough to be affected by altitude, yet it certainly seemed to affect me.

Anyone who has climbed Snaefell knows that there’s a severe incline close to the summit.What began as a leisurely sunrise walk quickly escalated to a struggle that felt life-or-death. The end goal was in sight, yet it appeared so distant.

Having rallied the rest of the group, I turned my attention inward. With a load of huffs and puffs, I finally completed my mission, just in time to witness the breathtaking sunrise. More than a little satisfied with completing the challenging hike, I savored the moment. The weather was ideal and Cumbria was visible in the distance. I settled comfortably on the bench, at the site likely intended for previous hikers catching their breath, and basked in the warm glow of the rising sun.

Mission accomplished!