Reach for the stars

January 24, 2012

Reach for the stars

January and February may be the longest, coldest, anti-climaxes of months the year has to offer, but as Brian Cox and his star-struck band of merry astronomers will tell you, it’s also a great time to get out your binoculars and go hunting for twinklers. For a romantic, weekend with a difference, pack your thermos and gloves and head out of the city for a bout of star spotting. We’ve picked five of the best places in the UK you can see the stars in all their glory...


Exmoor National Park
Designated as the first International Dark Sky Reserve in Europe, the wild beauty of Exmoor lends itself perfectly to a bit of interplanetary action. The National Park website has lots of information on where to set up your telescope. Stay at the lovely Royal Oak Inn for a warm bed after a night out on the moor.

The Roseland Observatory, Cornwall
Anyone who has stayed in Cornwall will know it’s a wonderful place to see a starry sky, but for those who want to know more about what’s up there, this tiny observatory in the Court Farm campsite near Mevagissey is a great place to start. Brave the winter cold in a tent, or stay in the cosy Boslinney Barn b&b down the road.

Kelling Heath, Norfolk
Head to this holiday park in beautiful North Norfolk and you might well bump into several hundred amateur astronomers attending the twice-yearly Star Parties there - the UK’s biggest gathering of star gazers. There are, of course, plenty of opportunities to gaze at the milky way all year round (not to mention the joys of the Norfolk coastline in winter). Stay in one of the park’s lodges or head for The Lawns in nearby Holt.

The Kielder Observatory, Northumberland
This great observatory really is in the middle of nowhere (a good thing) and offers events and talks all through the week. Particularly exciting are the hunts for the Northern Lights, which are less elusive the further north you go. Stay at the warm, inviting Holly Bush Inn in Greenhaugh, 20 minutes’ drive from the observatory.

The Gower Peninsula, Wales
There are huge swathes of dark skies in Wales, but getting there can often be a real stumbling block. Luckily, one of the best spots is the pretty Gower Peninsula - easily reached from Swansea. Experts say the area around the little village of Three Crosses is a particularly good spot for 360-degree views of the night sky. Stay at the lovely Barlands Cottage in nearby Bishopston.



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