Dark Skies

The UK's national parks, wild places and rural countryside are the best places to go stargazing and experience our fabulous Dark Skies – thousands of stars, distant planets, twinkling constellations and even the sheer sweep of our own galaxy, the Milky Way, can all be seen in areas where light pollution is low. In fact, if you're after a UK stargazing holiday, it's good to know that you can normally see at least ten times as many stars in the darkest areas of the country as in a town or city. Our handy Dark Skies accommodation guide picks out some amazing UK stargazing locations, from remote hostels and country B&Bs to deeply rural holiday cottages, hotels and forest lodges. Stay up late, look up and gaze in wonder at the UK's glorious night skies, then back to bed for a great night's sleep!

Main photo: Under Starry Skies, Llansadwrn, Wales

Best Places to stay for fabulous stargazing

£40

Crynga Mawr Cottages ★★★★★

Mid Wales, Ceredigion, Aberporth

3 Cottages Sleeping 2–10
Cottage

£190

Glamp and Tipple ★★★★☆

East Anglia, Norfolk, Attleborough

5 Yurts
Yurts

£65

Little Seed Field ★★★★☆

North East England, North Yorkshire, Ripon

7 Cabins

£95

Hollington Park Glamping ★★★★☆

South East England, Berkshire, Newbury

2 Pods & 3, 6-metre bell tents
Bell tents
Pods

£133

Roulotte Retreat ★★★★☆

South Scotland, Scottish Borders, Melrose

7 Roulottes/1 Cottage/1 Romany Caravan
Gypsy caravans

£131

Llechwedd Glamping ★★★★☆

North Wales, Gwynedd, Blaenau Ffestiniog

6 Safari Tents
Safari Lodges

£145

Dimpsey Glamping ★★★★☆

South West England, Somerset, Chard

3 Shepherds Huts Sleeping 2
Shepherd’s huts

£114

Exe Valley Glamping ★★★★☆

South West England, Devon, Tiverton

4 Safari Lodges
Safari Lodges

£20

The Hideaway at Baxby Manor ★★★★☆

North East England, North Yorkshire, York

Eco-Pods, Hoggit Houses & Kabinas
Pods

£57

Waveney River Centre ★★★★☆

East Anglia, Norfolk, Lowestoft

Apartments, Lodges, Rooms
Apartment
Cabin

£350

Forest Holidays Deerpark ★★★☆☆

South West England, Cornwall, Liskeard

Sleeps 4-8
Cabin

£145

Canvas & Campfires

Mid Wales, Ceredigion, Lampeter

5 Safari Tents & cottage sleeping 2-6
Cottage
Safari Lodges

£153

Another Place, The Machrie

Scottish Isles, Isle of Islay, Port Ellen

43 Rooms & Suites
Boutique Hotel

£85

The Long Barn

South Wales, Pembrokeshire, Haverfordwest

2 Cottages Sleeping 4–6
Barn
Cottage

£339

The Shippon

South West England, Devon, Dawlish

Sleeps 8
Barn
Cottage

£300

The Old Chapel

East Midlands, Lincolnshire, Gainsborough

Sleeps 11
Large Property

£161

Skye Falls Chalet

Scottish Isles, Isle of Skye

Sleeps 2–4
Cabin

£103

The Tri-Pod

Mid Wales, Ceredigion, Llanarth

Sleeps 2
Cabin

£155

Finn Village

South Scotland, Lanarkshire, Glasgow

2 Cottages + a Glamping Pod
Cabin
Cottage
Large Property

£359

Llety Cariad

Mid Wales, Powys, Montgomery

Sleeps 6
Cabin

£232

Pound Farm Mirror House

East Anglia, Suffolk, Framlingham

Sleeps 2
Cabin

£76

Beech

South West England, Devon, Axminster

Sleeps up to 6
Safari Lodges

£109

Hurdlemakers Hut

South West England, Dorset, Dorchester

Sleeps 2
Shepherd’s huts

£169

Swandown, 14 Goldenhaye

South West England, Somerset, Chard

Sleeps 6
Cabin

£273

Copper Lodge

South West England, Devon, Chulmleigh, Winkleigh & Umberleigh

Sleeps 4–6
Cabin

Eagle Lodge

Scottish Isles, Outer Hebrides, Lewis

Sleeps up to 10
Cabin
Large Property

£60

Notgrove Holidays

South West England, Gloucestershire, Bourton-on-the-Water

4 Cottages, 9 Pods, 5 Safari Tents
Cottage
Pods
Safari Lodges

£169

Garden House

East Anglia, Norfolk, Fakenham

Sleeps 6
Barn

£110

High Corner Inn

South East England, Hampshire, Ringwood

7 Guest Rooms
Pub with Rooms

£90

Wolds Walk Glamping

North East England, North Yorkshire, Malton

3 Pods & 2 Shepherds Huts
Pods
Shepherd’s huts

£200

Forest Holidays Glentress Forest

South Scotland, Scottish Borders, Peebles

56 Cabins (200+ guests)
Cabin

£540

Shepherd Huts at Another Place, The Lake

North West England, Cumbria, Pooley Bridge

6 Shepherd Huts & One Treehouse
Shepherd’s huts

£250

Nymetwood Treehouses

South West England, Devon, Crediton

2 Treehouses
Cabin
Treehouses

£139

The Oaksmere

East Anglia, Suffolk, Eye

14 Guest Rooms & Suites
Boutique Hotel
Restaurant with Rooms

£103

Accott Manor

South West England, Devon, Barnstaple

2 Cottages, a Hut and a Shepherds Hut

£292

White Lady

South West England, Devon, Tavistock

Sleeps 12
Large Property

£100

The Old Piggery

South West England, Devon, Barnstaple

Sleeps 6
Cottage

£130

Sanday Croft Cabin

Scottish Isles, Isle of Canna, Sanday

Sleeps 2
Cabin

£350

Rufus' Roost

North East England, North Yorkshire, Thirsk

Sleeps 6
Treehouses

£100

Ty Cwch Boathouse

Mid Wales, Ceredigion, New Quay

3 Cabins each Sleeping 4
Cabin
Shipping Container

£156

A Corner of Eden

North West England, Cumbria, Kirkby Stephen

3 Cottages Sleeping 2–8 people
Cottage

£245

Dannah Farm

East Midlands, Derbyshire, Belper

4 Suites
Luxury B&B

£72

Manesty Holiday Cottages

North West England, Cumbria

Cottage
Shepherd’s huts

£1342

Croftview

South West England, Somerset, Ilminster

Sleeps 26
Large Property

£225

Old Downton Lodge

West Midlands, Shropshire, Ludlow

9 Guest Rooms
Boutique Hotel
Restaurant with Rooms

£182.50

The Felin Fach Griffin

Mid Wales, Powys, Brecon

8 Guest Rooms
Boutique Hotel
Pub with Rooms

£135

Bossington Hall

South West England, Somerset, Porlock

9 Guest Rooms
Boutique B&B
Luxury B&B

£120

Breaks Fold Farm

North East England, North Yorkshire, Harrogate

2 Shepherd's Huts each Sleeping 2
Shepherd’s huts

Showing 97 - 144 of 369 sites

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Dark Skies Destinations

Where is the best place to stargaze in the UK?

The far-flung rural areas of the British Isles’ national parks provide the best locations for stargazing, with Wales, the Scottish Highlands, Northumberland, Cornwall and Norfolk giving some of the best views. The best places are those with little or no light pollution, and you can’t get more remote than the middle of Bodmin Moor in Devon. If you’re feeling adventurous, the Grade II listed miner’s cottage of Leskernick could be one of the best. And don’t worry, it’s near enough to the A30 not to be completely “Withnail and I”. Other great spots for stargazing are the cottages at Graig Wen in Snowdonia, Neudadd Cottages in the Brecon Beacons, Ysgubor Cottage in Ceredigion or Caingorm Lodges in The Cairngorms National Park.

Are there accommodations specifically designed for stargazing or astronomy enthusiasts?

Astronomy and stargazing as a pastime and profession has become increasingly popular, and some rural retreats in light pollution-free areas provide telescopes for their guests. The unique and award-winning Windmill in Suffolk is a fantastic stargazing spot- perfect with its rural location and 360-degree views and complete with two double bedrooms and a terrace out front.

How far are the dark skies destinations from light-polluted areas?

This can vary depending on the position of the place- a good 20 to 30 miles from any major city should be enough to provide a dark enough sky to see stars- but it also depends if you’re on top of a hill or down in a valley. The further away from civilisation you are the more of the sky you can see, but the good news is that there are a number of easily accessible places where you can experience fabulous night skies – for example at Gravel Farm in Cambridgeshire, Clawford Lakes and Blackbird in Devon, the romantic Bothy in Northumberland and the spectacular Dalnoid Cottages and Treehouse in Perthshire.

What time of year is best to stargaze in UK?

The best time to see the Milky Way is probably February and March, before the clocks change, but the autumn months can be good for stargazing too. Keep an eye on the phases of the moon, and try and time your trip when it isn’t full and lighting up the sky. Many national park and moorland areas of the UK now host dark sky festivals, and Wales’ Brecon Beacons is now home to the first International Dark Sky Reserve, which you could witness while based at the welcoming Felin Fach Griffin Inn.