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The Cumbria Dark Skies Festival takes place annually in autumn and features a host of exciting events to celebrate the wonders of the night sky. The 2026 festival takes place between 23rd October - 20th November.
The winter months are a great time to take advantage of the longer nights, wrap up warm and spend time in the outdoors, getting closer to nature and really appreciating the dark sky above you.
Check out our Cumbria Dark Skies page containing lots more information about making the most of Cumbria's fabulous dark skies and find out more about events taking place over the coming months.
Find out more about Dark Skies Cumbria
Cumbria Dark Skies Festival is a collaboration of partners including Friends of the Lake District, Cumbria Tourism, Forestry England, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the Lake District National Park. See the full programme below and make sure to check back here for the updated line up.
You may leave the Lake District, but once you’ve been, it’ll never leave you.
Number of results: 15
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…
Address
Another Place, The Lake, Another Place, The Lake, Lake District National Park, Another Place The Lake, Ullswater, Watermillock, Cumbria, CA11 0LPTelephone
01768 486442Another 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…
Address
Cumbria, Keswick, Little Crosthwaite, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4QDTelephone
+441768772255Little Crosthwaite, Keswick
Embrace winter with fresh air, star-gazing and warm waters.
Escape to the Lakes this winter and immerse yourself in our Dark Skies experience. This themed weekend is ideal for those who love nature, serenity and are interested in the night sky. Our…
Address
Grizedale Observatory, Grizedale Forest, Grizedale, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0QJGrizedale, 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…
Address
Brown Howe Car Park, A5084, Coniston, Cumbria, LA12 8DWTelephone
01229 889183Coniston
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…
Address
Grizedale Observatory, Grizedale Forest, Grizedale, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0QJGrizedale, 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,…
Address
Brantwood, Home of John Ruskin, Brantwood, East of Lake, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8ADTelephone
01539441396East 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…
Address
Grizedale Observatory, Grizedale Forest, Grizedale, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0QJGrizedale, 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…
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The Glasshouse at Another Place, Watermillock, Ullswater, Cumbria, CA11 0LPTelephone
01768 486442Ullswater
Golden vistas, smoky aromas. We're setting autumn alight with a new pop-up three-course set menu at The Glasshouse, celebrating woodfired flavour.
From charred pear and walnut salad to flame-kissed Cumbrian steak with chimichurri and caramelised…
Address
Grizedale Observatory, Grizedale Forest, Grizedale, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0QJGrizedale, 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…
Address
Grizedale Observatory, Grizedale Forest, Grizedale, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0QJGrizedale, 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”…
Address
Abbot Hall Park, Dowker's Lane, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4DNTelephone
01539720788Kendal
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,…
Address
Abbot Hall Park, Dowker's Lane, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4DNTelephone
01539720788Kendal
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:…
Address
Wasdale Cottage, Santon Bridge, Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1ETTelephone
01229 889183Seascale
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…
Address
Whinlatter Forest, Whinlatter Pass, Braithwaite, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5TWTelephone
+447810890528Braithwaite, 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…
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