Dawnstalkers celebrate Christmas Day at Penarth Pier

The Dawnstalkers were out at Penarth Pier on the big day for their customary swim in the Bristol Channel.

The Dawnstalkers were in the sea on Christmas Day (Image: James Richardson photography)

There was Christmas cheer at Penarth Pier this Christmas day (Image: James Richardson photography)

A dip in the sea to set oneself up for the big day (Image: James Richardson photography)

Dawnstalkers celebrate winter solstice with silent disco and a dip at Penarth Pier

Known as midwinter day - the winter solstice occurs when either of the Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun.

All that means to the Dawnstalkers is time for another swim in the sea!

Photos show the Dawnstalkers celebrating the height of winter.

The Dawnstalkers celebrated the winter solstice with a dip in the sea (Image: James Richardson photography)

Winter solstice is the height of winter (Image: James Richardson photography)

This year, winter solstice happened on Friday, December 22, and the Dawnstalkers celebrated it with an early morning disco (silent, so not to disturb sleeping local residents) followed by a dip in the Bristol Channel at Penarth Pier.

Dawnstalkers co-founder Grant Zehetmayr, one fo the DJs at the winter solstice silent disco (Image: James Richardson photography)

There was dancing to celebrate the solstice (Image: James Richardson photography)

And some more introspective moments (Image: James Richardson photography)

Mid-winter solstice? Mid-winter storm more like...

Mid-winter normally means bad weather – whether it be super cold, or, in the case over this year’s festive period – super wet…

And it’s getting wetter, with the Met Office having officially named Storm Gerrit – set to hit UK shore on Wednesday, December 27.

• Get all the latest information on what to expect from Strom Gerrit, here

It’s not all bad news though, with the days now getting longer (just get through January!)

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Sea swimming and sitting in a roasting hot sauna – all part of ‘hot cold therapy’ that could be on offer at Penarth Pier

One of South Wales’ most famous sea swim groups, big things are happening with the Dawnstalkers, including the group trying to set up a permanent wood fire sauna at Penarth Pier.

Co-founder Grant Zehetmayr, along with a consortium of four other Dawnstalkers, have set up the sauna at Penarth Pier, to run until January 1, as a pilot project to see how it would fare and whether it would be welcomed by the community.

• Watch as we tried the Dawnstalkers’ sauna at Penarth Pier and see how to book a go, here

The Dawnstalkers have set up a temporary sauna at the pier (Image: Newsquest)

They hope to make it a permanent fixture the community can use (Image: Newsquest)

Jumping into the sea in the middle of December probably isn’t the first thing that comes to most peoples' minds for winter extra-curricular activity, however Mr Zehetmayr says for him it’s a ritual, with what he feels are health benefits to boost.

“It’s a pillar of my day,” said Mr Zehetmayr. “I use it as part of my daily practice. I find it meditative, therapeutic, it grounds me and it helps me feel less stressed.”