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Cumbria is blessed with unspoiled vistas boasting imposing mountains, dramatic valleys, rolling countryside, lake views and a rugged coastline. The beauty of the area is spellbinding. As grateful as we are for our wonderous landscape, we have another natural wonder to marvel at that is truly out of this world. Look above you. Cumbria has some of the darkest skies in the whole of the UK which means on a clear night you could be standing amongst the stars gazing at the heavens. Whether a novice stargazer or an amateur astronomer, the Lake District, Cumbria easily outshines the city lights for a memorable autumn or winter holiday, with thousands of stars visible on a clear night.
Guided by the light of the stars, don’t forget to look down and see the thriving wildlife in their natural habitat. Nocturnal creatures flourish under dark skies without artificial light confusing their natural behaviours.
What to look for
Meteor showers are a spectacular sight. It’s also fun to point out the constellations – Orion’s Belt is one of the easiest to spot. If you get the timing right, you can see the International Space Station. There are people up there so don’t forget to wave! Believe it or not, planets are often the easiest things to spot with the naked eye. Venus can be incredibly bright. Plus, on a clear night you can easily make out our galaxy, The Milky Way. This is a flat spiral but from our perspective it looks like a bright band across the sky.
What time of year?
Winter is the optimum time to enjoy the darkest skies plus the kids don’t need to stay up late. Highlight: Witnessing a meteor shower is an incredible experience. Look out for the Quadrantids in January.
Summer nights are, of course warmer. However, the skies don’t really get fully dark in June and July. Highlight: The Perseids meteor shower in August.
Spring is a great time for stargazing. The weather is warming up but there are still long hours of darkness. Highlight: In spring you can still see Orion and the stick figures of Gemini on a clear night.
Autumn, like spring, is a good time for mild nights but plenty of after dark hours. Highlight: the Milky Way is best seen in Autumn when it is high overhead and spans much of the sky.
Dark Sky friendly accommodation
The are many places to stay in the parts of the county with the darkest skies including remote cottages and hotels that offer stargazing activities
Cumbria Dark Skies Festival
The Cumbria Dark Skies Festival offers families the chance to learn about the stars and experience the wonder of dark skies via a number of events taking place around the county. Find out more.
Places to go
Due to Cumbria’s lack of light pollution you are spoilt for choice for places to see the stars. Try the Dark Sky Discovery site of Low Gillerthwaite, Ennerdale or the remote and beautiful Wasdale Valley. Asby Common in the Eden Valley is a wild, open space and Grizedale Forest has regular star gazing events for all the family to enjoy.
Dark Skies Inspiration
It's in the darkest skies that we see the brightest stars
Number of results: 35
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Seascale
Brought to you by the National Trust and Karen Whybrow Coaching, carry out a powerful releasing ritual and let go of all the things that are no longer serving you.
The moon is in effect a huge mirror reflecting our emotions and inner landscape…
Another Place The Lake, Ullswater, Watermillock
Swim in Ullswater lake at night under The Milky Way, the glow of your light-up tow float keeping you company under the stars. Open water swimming specialist, Colin Hill, will be your guide in the water with you. Afterwards, head back to Another…
Coniston
Join us on a tranquil night-time canoe paddle on Coniston Water and enjoy the beauty and vastness of the night sky in the heart of the Lake District.
It is an evening full of adventure, star gazing, stories and mythology and of course lots of fun!…
Keswick
Join fantastic astronomers from the Cockermouth Astronomical Society.
We'll have telescopes set up, but do bring your own, binoculars and phones with tripods.
Here's to a clear night and being able to see being able to see the Milky Way…
Kirkby Stephen
Look out for wildlife as darkness descends at Smardale, it is late in the season for a lot of wildlife but there may be a chance to see red squirrel, badger, hear tawny owl, water fowl, late season bats, anything else that might surprise us under…
Braithwaite, Keswick
Join us for a magical guided evening walk through the forest.
Listen out for owls, learn about the wildlife in the forest and experience the wonders of the night sky. Finish with hot chocolate & marshmallows around a campfire.
Please bring a…
The Lake District is one of the best places you can visit for Stargazing and is listed in the top 5% of the darkest places in Britain. On a clear evening, we are able to see thousands of stars and constellations including the spectacular Milky Way.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
521 reviewsBowness
Stargazing with the expert. Join astronomer Stuart Atkinson at 6pm at Cockshott Point on the shore of Windermere to look at the stars, then return to the Burn How Hotel for a talk, and Q&A as part of the meet the author book club series
Braithwaite, Keswick
Be part of the Cumbria Dark Skies Festival and Join JAG Outdoors for an evening of adventure, exercise, focus, fun, and wellbeing at Whinlatter.
Starting with a run, followed by an hour of yoga in the yurt, and finish with a short shivasna…
Penrith
Near Howe enjoys minimal light pollution and uninterrupted views of the stars on clear, dark nights and is proud to be a Dark Sky friendly destination. Guests can glimpse the Milky Way in all its glory along with sparkling star clusters from…
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
265 reviewsConiston
Brantwood Dark Skies and Pie Stargazing Night – Guided walk with professional Mountain Leader, Martin Rivett
Join Martin who has a passion for storytelling about the stars we see at night, as he leads a night walk through the Brantwood Estate…
Braithwaite, Keswick
Join us for a introduction to the sights, sounds and stories of Whinlatter at night.
Our knowledgeable and friendly rangers will guide you on a forest walk followed by an informal session looking at the night sky. Discover the stars above you,…
Coniston
Brantwood Dark Skies and Pie Moonlight Walk – Guided walk with professional Mountain Leader, Martin Rivett
Join Martin who has a passion for storytelling about the sky we see on a moonlit night, as he leads a night walk through the Brantwood Estate…
Alston
Join Martin Kitching at the Hive for this mash-up event – combining a pie and peas supper and a fascinating 'How far is that star' talk.
How long would it take to walk to the Moon? Or travel to another solar system? How long would it be until…
Newby Bridge
Join us for a night learning about the universe and stargazing on the shores of Windermere.
Explore the wonders of the winter night sky. Our astronomy experts will take you on a whistle stop tour of the universe on the big screen. You'll learn…
Carlisle
Please join us for a special tour of Carlisle Cathedral as part of the Cumbria Tourism's Dark Skies Festival!
Climb up to our clerestory to experience the Cathedral in a unique way. Get up close to our medieval stained glass in the East Window and…
Keswick
Join JAG Outdoors for a walk around the forest at night.
The walk will cover up 5 - 7 miles in the forest and out on to the fell tops just outside the forest bounds, depending on the weather and conditions.
This is a more challenging…
Grasmere
Explore the wonders of the winter night sky. Our astronomy experts will take you on a whistle stop tour of the universe on the big screen. You'll learn about stars, planets and galaxies and our place in the universe.
Then, weather permitting, we…
Hawkshead
Join us for a magical guided evening walk through the forest. Listen out for owls, learn about the wildlife in the forest and experience the wonders of the night sky.
Finish with hot chocolate & marshmallows around a campfire.
£7 per adult…
Arnside
Join us to learn about the night skies in Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape.
The evening will start with a talk at Arnside WI Hall, followed (weather permitting) by a stargazing session at the Landscape Trust's Coldwell Nature Reserve…
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Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL