Celebrating Britain’s Dark Skies and outdoor spaces

Exmoor Dark Skies Festival

The annual Exmoor Dark Skies Festival offers a range of tours, activities and stargazing events for those of all ages. Covering 267 square miles, visitors can explore the vast expanse of moorland, woods and valleys, while looking out for elusive dormice among the hedgerows and listening to the bellows of passionate stags. 

A number of spots across Exmoor allow visitors to see thousands of stars with the naked eye on a clear night. Popular areas include around Holdstone Hill, where purple heather and richly-coloured bracken provide a spectacular autumnal sight, and Haddon Hill, which overlooks the shores of Wimbleball Lake. Other locations for exceptional views include Webber’s Post, in Somerset, and the area around Brendon Two Gates.

Visitors can embark on a Land Rover safari at dusk to discover the magical sights and sounds of the National Park during the festival, as well as some of its myths and legends. Stargazing walks and educational sessions are some of the other activities set to be available, alongside guided ranger walks and astronomy presentations. Those wishing to learn more about the magnificent surroundings and the skies above them can also join several virtual events and talks, or visit some of the region’s farms to mix stargazing with a chance to sample the delicacies of the harvest. For more information about some of the events included in the Exmoor Dark Skies Festival, visit the Exmoor National Park website.

Future Dark Skies Festivals

The North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales Dark Skies Festival is scheduled for 12-28 February 2021, with a distinct focus on nature at night. A packed itinerary of events is set to provide a glimpse into the lives of the region’s nocturnal creatures, while delving into how the area’s dark skies impact upon their very existence. The celebrations in 2020 saw both National Parks feature their largest programmes of events since the inaugural event in 2016, with events for 2021 set to be unveiled in due course.

Another Dark Skies Festival is held in the South Downs each February too. With a stellar line up of talks, observation sessions and family-friendly activities planned, visitors can also wander the fairy-tale battlements of Arundel Castle and explore Britain’s longest and deepest dry valley at Devil’s Dyke within the stunning surroundings of Britain’s newest National Park.

Other spots for stargazing

In addition to the International Dark Sky Reserves, Britain is also home to a number of International Dark Sky Parks. One example is the 45,000 acres of the Elan Valley International Dark Sky Park, in mid Wales, roughly half way between the Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons International Dark Sky Reserves to the north and south.  Scotland is home to a further two locations, with Galloway Forest Park and the skies above Tomintoul and Glenlivet in the Cairngorms both awarded International Dark Sky Park status. With its shimmering lochs and forested glens, Galloway is a year-round delight, while the Cairngorms is the most northerly Dark Sky Park in the world. Both provide stargazers with a chance to be at one with nature while taking in the wonders of the night sky. The Northumberland and Kielder Water and Forest Park provides ample opportunity to spy the stars too, as well as ospreys that call the region home. Alongside this International Dark Sky Park, there also more than 150 Dark Sky Discovery Sites across Britain to explore.

Different attractions will have varied measures in place. Visitors are encouraged to check all locations, attraction and event websites before travelling, so they can explore Britain with confidence.