You might not know this, but Britain is home to four of the world’s eleven International Dark Sky Reserves, places that have little to no light pollution, so the night sky and all the wonders of the universe are available for all to see. All four of the UK’s spots are perfect for star gazers and photography enthusiasts, especially in the winter months when the sky is at its darkest.
Here are some of the best places for viewing the night sky in the UK.
- Exmoor National Park
The Exmoor National Park is beautiful whatever time of day you visit, but if you head there at night you will get a spectacular view of the night sky. You’ll find the National Park on the border of Somerset and Devon in the south west and is a popular spot for stargazers. They annually host a Dark Skies Festival where attendees can take part in various activities to learn more about the Milky Way and the visible planets. Exmoor and the surrounding areas of Somerset and Devon are popular places to visit and there are lots of events and attractions to keep you entertained when in the area. Find out more about what is going on in the area by clicking here. - Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park
The Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park in Scotland offers the best views of Jupiter and it’s moons, the park spans 777 square kilometres and has everything from forests lochs and hills. It was the first national park to be awarded Dark Sky Park status and when you see the views of the solar system you’ll know why. The park is about an hour and a half from Glasgow to the west of Scotland. Find out about more events happening in Glasgow and the surrounding areas here. - Northumberland International Dark Sky Park
If you’re looking for an uninterrupted view of the Milky Way and endless blankets of stars, the Dark Sky Park in Northumberland is the place to be. It is Europe’s largest area of protected night sky and is a great place for looking at the Andromeda Galaxy. The park also has a nearby Observatory that regularly host events throughout the year celebrating the night sky. Head there during day light for some spectacular moorland views, you can reach it in under two hours from Newcastle. See more events happening in the North of England here.
- South Downs National Park
Based in Chichester, this is one of the best spots in the south of England for stargazing, the national park hosts several Dark Skies Festivals across the year and have an onsite planetarium which is perfect for family fun.
See more happening in and around Chichester here. - The Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons in Wales was granted Dark Sky Reserve status in 2013 and its not hard to see why when you take in all the spots that the night sky is in all its glory. You are spoilt for choice when it comes to places to stop off and look up at the sky as well as lots of other glorious photo opportunities. The Brecon Beacons aren’t that far from Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil, find out what other events you can fill your day with here. - North York Moors National Park
If you find yourself in Northern England, there are lots of Dark Skies Festival events taking place at the North York Moors National Park. Easily accessible from Middlesborough and Scarborough, this is a perfect spot for anyone who wants to learn more about the night skies.
See what else is happening here.
Don’t forget to share your photos of the night sky with us if you head to one of the many Dark Skies Festivals going on around the country – you can tag us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
