❍ Hunter’s Moon
October Full Moon
Date: Sunday 4th October 2026
Moonrise: 7.32pm
Book an exclusive one hour night-time session at our WildSpa sauna and plunge for up to 6 people when you stay at Westerlands during a full moon.
Hunter’s Moon
Why It’s Special
The Hunter’s Moon is the first full moon to follow the Harvest Moon and it holds a special place in the seasonal calendar. While the Harvest Moon is unique for rising very soon after sunset, the Hunter’s Moon shares a similar behaviour, rising only about 20–30 minutes later each evening, rather than the usual 50. For farmers, hunters, and sky-watchers, this offered several consecutive nights of extended moonlight, making it a natural aid to both harvest and hunt.
What You’ll Notice
At Westerlands, the Moon will rise in the east-southeast, glowing a deep orange as it lifts above the horizon. This colour is caused by the Earth’s atmosphere scattering the shorter wavelengths of light, leaving the longer red and orange tones to dominate. As it climbs higher in the sky, the colour fades to a dazzling white and its extra brightness will dominate the night, casting strong shadows and illuminating fields and woodland alike. For a few evenings, the early rising full moon will mean the night never feels truly dark.
Folklore & Tradition
The name “Hunter’s Moon” is rooted in both European and Native American traditions. After the crops had been gathered under the Harvest Moon, fields lay bare and deer, boar, and other animals would venture into the open to forage on fallen grain. Hunters used the bright moonlight to track and trap game, providing meat and furs for the long winter ahead. In some traditions, this was also called the “Blood Moon,” not in reference to its colour but to the seasonal slaughter of livestock before winter. Among Anglo-Saxon peoples, it symbolised the gathering of resources when survival depended upon both the field and the forest. It was not just a practical marker of time, but also a moment of community feasting, storytelling, and preparation for the darker months to come.
Seasonal Connection
The Hunter’s Moon sits firmly at the turning point of the year, when the abundance of harvest shifts to the reality of winter preparation. Farming communities relied on this moonlight not only for hunting but also for completing any remaining outdoor tasks. With the granaries filled, attention turned to securing firewood, salting meat, and preparing furs and hides. The full light of this moon symbolised provision and survival, a beacon of readiness before the scarcity of winter. Even today, its glow reminds us of the deep link between the lunar cycle and human activity, echoing a time when the Moon itself was a tool in the farming calendar.
Tips for Viewers
If you are watching from Westerlands, position yourself with a clear view to the east-southeast. A camera framed with trees, barns, or rolling hills will provide a striking sense of scale. Over the following nights, take note of how quickly the Moon rises after sunset compared to other times of year — a visible echo of the Harvest Moon’s gift of extended light. For those near the coast, be aware that this full moon may bring slightly higher tides, sometimes known as “king tides,” a subtle reminder that the Moon’s pull extends from the fields to the very seas themselves.
