Explore the wonders of the cosmos from these dark sky locations across Britain
When you “gaze up at the night sky”, you “can’t help but feel small” before the “grand abyss of the universe that lies beyond”, said Ethan Siegel on Big Think. While nearly all of them are “invisible to our eyes”, our “observable” universe, extending “tens of billions of light years in all directions”, contains a “fantastically large number of galaxies within it”.
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The number of stars you can see in the night sky “depends on several variables”, said Sky & Telescope magazine, including your location’s light pollution and “your own vision”. In large, light-polluted cities “only a few dozen of the brightest stars” may be seen, but in a clear, dark sky, a “couple thousand stars become visible”. It’s believed the entire sky contains some “9,000 stars which are visible to the unaided eye”. And since you can “only see half the sky at any time”, that means there are “as many as 4,500 stars visible in your sky tonight”.
Astro tourism and “any activities related to space and astronomy”, including visits to observatories and planetariums, have become the “perfect travel trend”, said The Travel Magazine, and the appeal of stargazing “puts our own lives in perspective”.
With 4,500 sparkling attractions to see, we pick out some of the best stargazing spots across the UK, plus some of the top places to stay for a memorable night under the cosmos.
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Official dark sky places in the UK
The International Dark-Sky Association has five types of dark sky places, which are certified according to different standards and criteria: dark sky sanctuaries; dark sky reserves; dark sky parks; dark sky communities; and urban night sky places.
In the UK, there are many dark sky reserves, parks and communities which make an ideal location for a stargazing trip. One of Scotland’s “top astronomy destinations”, Galloway Forest became the UK’s first dark sky park in 2009, said Sarah Gibbons on RedBull.com. Exmoor National Park was designated as Europe’s first international dark sky reserve in 2011.
Reserves
- Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Brecon Beacons), Wales
- Cranborne Chase, England
- Eryri National Park (Snowdonia), Wales
- Exmoor National Park, England
- Moore’s Reserve, South Downs, England
- North York Moors National Park, England
- Yorkshire Dales National Park, England
Parks
- Bodmin Moor Dark Sky Landscape, England
- Elan Valley Estate, Wales
- Galloway Forest Park, Scotland
- Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water & Forest Park, England
- OM Dark Sky Park & Observatory, Northern Ireland
- Tomintoul and Glenlivet – Cairngorms, Scotland
- West Penwith, Parks
Communities
- Coll, Scotland
- Moffat, Scotland
- North Ronaldsay Dark Sky Island, Scotland
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Ynys Enlli: Europe’s first dark sky sanctuary
In February it was announced that Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island) in north Wales had received international dark sky sanctuary certification from the International Dark-Sky Association. This certification makes Ynys Enlli the “first site in Europe to achieve certification under this category”.
Known for its “ancient monastery” and “celebrated for its wildlife”, said BBC Sky at Night Magazine, Ynys Enlli’s recognition as a protected dark sky sanctuary means its “unspoiled view of the night sky is protected for current and future generations”. The island joins just 16 other dark sky sanctuaries worldwide.
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South Downs: the UK’s best stargazing spot?
One of the world’s “top stargazing spots” is just 90 minutes from London, said Time Out. Since it was appointed a dark sky reserve in 2016, the South Downs National Park has welcomed “would-be astronomers” who “come a-calling to gawk at those big skies”. To ensure “cosmic views”, plan a trip “before a full moon”.
With 66% of the park having “bronze-level skies”, said The Guardian, this means the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxy can be seen. Its seven “stargazing hotspots” are Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium, Old Winchester Hill, Butser Hill, Iping Common, Devil’s Dyke, Ditchling Beacon and Birling Gap.
The South Downs dark sky reserve is officially called “Moore’s Reserve” in honour of astronomer Sir Patrick Moore, who presented “The Sky at Night” on the BBC from 1957 to 2012.
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Dark sky festivals and events
At National Parks across the UK there are various dark sky festivals in 2023 and 2024. Highlights include England’s “first and largest” international dark sky park, Northumberland, celebrating its 10th anniversary from September to March, while in Wales, Welsh Dark Skies Week will take place in February next year.
- Northumberland 10th anniversary – September 2023 to March 2024
- Exmoor Dark Skies Festival – 13-29 October 2023
- North York Moors Dark Skies Fringe Festival – 27 October to 5 November 2023
- Cumbria Dark Skies Festival – 28 October to 18 November 2023
- South Downs – February 2024
- North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales Dark Skies Festival – February 2024
- Welsh Dark Skies Week – February 2024
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Observatories and planetariums
“From northern Scotland to the Isles of Scilly”, astronomical observatories are “dotted all over the UK”, said Katrin Raynor in BBC Sky at Night Magazine. Not only are these “dome-shaped buildings” a place to use some “seriously large telescopes”, they are a location to “enjoy talks, tours and even some astrophotography”.
Located in the UK’s largest international dark sky park, Kielder Observatory offers guided stargazing, photography lessons, and educational talks on topics such as cosmology and gravity, said Claire Dopson in Wanderlust. And – “if you’re lucky” – you may see the Northern Lights. Other top observatories include The Spaceguard Centre in Powys, Wales; Island Planetarium on the Isle of Wight; and The Observatory Science Centre in East Sussex.
Observatories are not only found in the “deepest darkest countryside” either, said Raynor in BBC Sky at Night Magazine, “you may be surprised to learn that there are quite a few situated in Britain’s towns and cities”. Mills Observatory in Dundee, Scotland, was the “first purpose-built public observatory” and is just one of two surviving observatories in the UK with a “papier-mâché dome”, the other being Godley Observatory in Manchester.
Planetariums were originally created at the beginning of the 20th century in order to “reconstruct and map the night sky as accurately as possible”, said Starlust. There are about 40 planetariums in the UK, including Liverpool’s Planetarium at World Museum; Peter Harrison Planetarium at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London; and the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium at the National Space Centre in Leicester.
Finn Lough Resort
Hotels and accommodation for stargazing
Forest Bubble Dome at Finn Lough Resort
Visitors can enjoy stargazing and the beauty of Northern Ireland from the comfort of a Forest Bubble Dome at Finn Lough Resort in Enniskillen, a two-hour drive from Belfast. The unique back-to-nature domes are set within the woods on the banks of Lough Erne – the second biggest lake system in the country. For adults only, the domes feature a four-poster bed, en-suite bathroom, free-standing stone bath, Nespresso coffee machine, fluffy robes and daily breakfast. finnlough.com
Sperrinview Glamping, Northern Ireland
This unique site is situated at the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains, only metres away from Beaghmore Stone Circles. The luxury glamping pods are located in prime locations which have been recognised as one of Northern Ireland’s recommended dark sky sites, making this the perfect place to stay for a stargazing break. Each pod has its own “viewing window” so guests can lie back and gaze up at the starry night sky. Sleeping up to a maximum of four adults or two adults and three children, the pods come with a kitchenette, private bathroom with shower, outdoor seating, private firepit and BBQ area. sperrinviewglamping.com
Glenapp Castle, Scotland
This 21-bedroom luxurious Relais & Chateaux hotel is tucked away on the breathtaking Ayrshire coast in Scotland. It’s located close to Galloway Forest Park, which is one of the UK’s dark sky parks. Guests at Glenapp Castle can experience the same expansive skies from the comfort of the property’s Victorian-walled garden or book a special two-night stargazing experience. On one night an expert dark sky ranger will be on hand to guide guests through the constellations, and residents can use the castle’s telescopes to immerse themselves in some spectacular stargazing. From £300 per person per night; glenappcastle.com
