You are here: Home > Ideas and Inspiration > Dark Skies Cumbria
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 best places for enjoying the dark sky 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 the dark sky without artificial light confusing their natural behaviours.
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.
Winter is the optimum time to enjoy the darkest sky 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 sky doesn’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.
The are many places to stay in the county that enable you to enjoy the dark sky, including remote cottages and hotels that offer super stargazing activities.
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.
The Cumbria Dark Skies Festival offers families the chance to learn about the stars and experience the wonder of the dark sky via a number of events taking place around the county. Find out more.
Dark Sky Inspiration
It's in the darkest skies that we see the brightest stars

Number of results: 25
, currently showing 1 to 20.
High to Low
Penrith
Eden Valley and Penrith Astronomy Group have created an exhibition of Astrophotography for Rheged's Community Gallery Space, to coincide and celebrate Cumbria's Dark Skies Festival. This interactive exhibition will take you on a cosmic journey from…
Grizedale, Ambleside
Join us for an inspiring planetarium show guaranteed to leave you excited and hopeful for the future of spaceflight. We begin with a presentation in the lounge, before moving to our planetarium for a viewing of the movie “Back to the Moon for…
Alston
Celebrate the dark skies of the North Pennines and join us for a free mine trip like no other at this evening event held at Nenthead Mines, near Alston, on Sunday 1 November.
During this workshop you will learn how to make your own paper lantern…
Kendal
Join us for a short 1 – 2km guided walk to see the Kendal Fellside dark sky friendly lighting project, culminating in a chance to stargaze with the Eddington Astronomical Society.
Learn why effective lighting is so important for people, nature,…
Braithwaite, Keswick
Full Moon Women's Circle in the Lake District
The Full Moon is a powerful time for reflection, release, and renewal. At our special forest site in the Lake District, we gather in circle as women to honour the peak of the Moon's cycle and reconnect…
East of Lake, Coniston
Guided Stargazing walk with professional Mountain Leader, Martin Rivett
Discover the night sky over Coniston Water from Crag Head (233m), a recognised Dark Skies environment.
The evening begins with a Pie supper and Dark Skies Introduction before…
Alston
Celebrate the dark skies of the North Pennines and join us for a free mine trip like no other at this evening event held at Nenthead Mines, near Alston, on Sunday 1 November (6 to 9pm).
During this workshop you will learn how to make your own paper…
Ambleside
31st October - £10 per adult, children go free, suitable for children 7+ Stuart Atkinson is a local amateur astronomer and science author. He writes a weelky stargazing column for the Westmorland Gazette, writes features for astronomy magazines here…
Kendal
Join us for a short, guided nighttime family walk up to a viewpoint where you'll be able to stargaze with the Eddington Astronomical Society. Learn about nocturnal wildlife and how we can all reduce nighttime lighting to help them.
Terrain:…
Grizedale, Ambleside
Join us for our planetarium show about a fascinating topic in astronomy. We begin with a presentation in the lounge, then moving to the planetarium for a viewing of the movie “Messengers of Space and Time”.
Messengers of Time and Space is a…
Grizedale, Ambleside
Join us for our planetarium show about one of the most fascinating and topical subjects in modern astronomy – dark matter. We start with a presentation in the lounge then move to the planetarium for a viewing of the movie “The Dark Matter Mystery”…
Grizedale, Ambleside
Our “Dark Sky Astronomy” events take place on moonless nights, providing the ideal conditions to explore the darkest skies. As your eyes adapt you’ll see the universe as you’ve never seen it before – a glittering tapestry of stars, galaxies,…
East of Lake, Coniston
Dark Skies and Pies - Stargazing Experience
A gentle low-level guided Stargazing experience with professional Mountain Leader, Martin Rivett.
Discover the night sky over Coniston Water from the Brantwood Estate Gardens.
The evening begins with a…
The Abbey, Carlisle
Museum of the Moon is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram. Measuring seven metres in diameter, the moon features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. At an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimetre of the internally lit…
Braithwaite, Keswick
Join Jo from JAG Outdoors at Whinlatter for a walk around the forest at night.
The walk will cover 3-4 miles of trails enjoying the magic of the forest in the growing darkness using all our senses to explore the world after the sun sets. Weather…
Seascale
Discover the Lake District after dark on an unforgettable canoe journey across the spectacular Wastwater. As daylight fades, paddle across the peaceful lake surrounded by the dramatic Wasdale mountains and some of the Lake District's most dramatic…
Another Place The Lake, Ullswater, Watermillock
Swim in the 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. Experience 20 – 40 mins in the water. The…
Grizedale, Ambleside
Meteors, AKA “shooting stars”, always elicit a “wow” when they streak across the skies. It’s no surprise then that meteor showers can be the highlight of the astronomical year – a chance to stand under dark skies and be mesmerised as they trail…
Coniston
Discover the Lake District after dark on an unforgettable canoe journey across beautiful Coniston Water. As daylight fades, paddle across the peaceful lake surrounded by the dramatic Coniston mountains and some of the Lake District's most…
Carlisle
Experience Museum of the Moon after hours and see Carlisle Cathedral in a whole new light. Atmospheric lighting and immersive soundscapes create a magical setting beneath the stunning lunar installation, making this a truly memorable evening.
For…
Receive all the latest news, special offers and information from the Lake District, Cumbria
Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL