You can find out about Alien Worlds, take a Galaxy Tour with an online planetarium, go on a night time forest walk or canoe paddle, go sunset rockpooling with UV torches, try full moon forest bathing or follow an Eclipse Chaser!
Read on to explore where to go and where to stay to experience our magical winter night skies…
With our secluded valleys and fell tops, we have some of the darkest skies in the land.
Come, explore, wonder and enjoy the mystical experience of a dark sky full of stars. Or find the man in the moon!
These dark skies are critical to our own health and well-being and that of wildlife and nature. This wild tranquility brings with it a stillness that is hard to describe – you can just feel it.
Here’s our guide to some great places to stargaze, with the help of our ‘Starman’ photographers, Ben Bush and Terry Abraham.
Ben tells us about his love of dark skies: ‘I’d always loved the Lakes, but wanted to experience a quieter more ethereal time, so I started exploring the hills and lakes at night. This is when the Lake District completely changes and becomes almost other worldly, with completely new and interesting sights to see and experience. Even the most famous views look completely different at night with a sky full of stars.’
All we ask in return for these secrets, is that you practice sneaking around like a night-creature, leaving no trace and making as little noise as possible!
Terry says: ‘I often say the Lake District is as beautiful at night as it is during the day. I’m thrilled to be an ambassador for Friends of the Lakes Dark Skies Cumbria campaign. We’re spending this autumn and winter raising awareness about our precious night skies’
Bowfell Wild Camp by Terry Abraham
How dark is dark?
Well – to give you an idea – Light ‘pollution’ is measured as luminosity, with the highest levels being in Glasgow & London with an average of 1500. Other cities have an average of 950. By comparison, the Lake District has an average of 12 in the towns of Carlisle, Keswick, Kendal, Barrow & Whitehaven. The rest of the actual National Park is darker, with many measurements at zero. Just how we like it!
Look & Book our Dark Skies lodges which are off the beaten track, and can give you that Dark Sky experience:
Limefitt Park, Troutbeck Valley
Lodge at Limefitt Park, Troutbeck
Crossgate Luxury Glamping, Hartsop, near Ullswater
View from Hot Tub Hartsop
Burnside Park, Underskiddaw, Keswick
High Borrans, Windermere
High Borrans by Ben Bush
And our two Parks near the lakeshore, Windermere:
Fallbarrow Park, Windermere
White Cross Bay Windermere
Dark Skies locations across the Lake District National Park:
Ennerdale: Possibly the remotest valley tucked away in the North West of the Lake District, this is a place that probably feels one of the wildest in the county, with some of the darkest skies too. 2 car parks at the Western end of the valley.
Muncaster & Ravenglass: The area around this spectacular castle is renowned for its dark skies. You’ll also be sure to hear owls and other night birds here too.
Grizedale Forest: between Windermere & Coniston, easily accessible and has car parks, walking trails and cycle routes. They also host talks, and have telescopes on hand too.
Wasdale Valley: if you’re looking to be inspired, head to remote Wasdale where the mighty ScaFell Pike towers over the valley and our deepest lake, Wastwater with its screes gives you a wild and rugged feel. Dramatic dark skies and amazing landscapes.
Borrowdale Valley: South from Keswick & Derwentwater, the ‘Jaws of Borrowdale’ give drama and wildness in spades. You’ll see ScaFell Pike from a different angle, and the remote valleys of Watendlath, Stonethwaite & Seathwaite offer peace and darkness to explore.
The Langdales: Sitting in a v-shaped valley, Great & Little Langdale are ideal places for star-gazing, as well as very hospitable for pubs and eateries.
Book your break today! and make the most of the dark skies of Cumbria.
