Dark Sky Friendly

Find out why you DO want to be out in the dark in Northumberland...?

As home to England’s largest, wildest and most sparsely populated National Park, Northumberland proudly offers some of the best stargazing experiences and clearest night skies in England, thanks to minimal light pollution.

Due to the growing popularity of astro-tourism in the area, many of our accommodation providers and attractions now provide special stargazing experiences for guests. For example, Cawfields Quarry is now officially recognised as a Dark Sky Discovery Site so why not grab a night-cap and a warm coat and head outside?

The darkest skies in England

If you would like to do some star gazing, but don't have the necessary equipment, Whitelee Holiday Cottages in Otterburn offer guests a Star-Watch package. The package consists of: binoculars, star charts; red light torches which cause minimal light pollution; and seating. Stay at Beacon Hill for a Dark Sky Experience in Mid Northumberland. With their own on site observatory you can marvel at gorgeous stars above you whilst enjoying a relaxing stay in their 4 & 5 Star Gold cottages.

On a clear, Saturday night in the acres of open space surrounding Burnfoot Holiday Cottages, local astronomer Ian Glendinning offers stargazing evenings (mid-September to mid-March), complete with powerful telescopes to enhance the visibility of galaxies, nebula and star clusters. The things you see through the telescopes can then be photographed and emailed to you as a keepsake of your experience.

The stunning Northumberland sky is also a fantastic window into Aurora Borealis. Witnessing this natural phenomenon would usually involve a trip to Norway, Iceland or the Arctic Circle, but images of the ‘Northern Lights’ have been captured on the Northumberland Coast.

So whether you’re peering into the telescopes at Kielder Observatory or Battlesteads Observatory, or just catching a glimpse through your binoculars- Northumberland’s night sky is guaranteed to take your breath away.