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Stargazing

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The best places in the world to stargaze

If you’ve spent your life looking up at the night’s sky from busy urban areas, be prepared for a surprise! Seeing the twinkly star-studded sky across the vast landscape of National Parks is a real spectacle that you won’t forget in a hurry.

With less light pollution than the rest of the UK, National Parks are an astronomers’ delight and offer a wealth of stargazing opportunities for all.

Get Inspired

The winter provides plenty of long nights and is a great time to go stargazing. There's no place better than a National Park.

North York Moors , Visit site (opens in a new tab)

Discover the panoramic views of the North York Moors’ Dark Skies, the latest National Park to join the International Dark Sky Reserve family.

Eryri (Snowdonia) , Visit site (opens in a new tab)

Eryri (Snowdonia) was designated an International Dark Sky Reserve in 2015.

Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) , Visit site (opens in a new tab)

On a clear night in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), you can see the Milky Way, major constellations, bright nebulas and even meteor showers.

Northumberland , Visit site (opens in a new tab)

Home to England’s first International Dark Sky Park. Discover Northumberland's many dark sky sites where you can see millions of stars, far away from light pollution.

South Downs , Visit site (opens in a new tab)

One of only 18 International Dark Skies Reserves, the South Downs is one of the best places to stargaze in the UK.

Exmoor , Visit site (opens in a new tab)

Home to Europe’s first International Dark Sky Reserve. Exmoor Dark Skies are ideal to discover stargazing.

Yorkshire Dales , Visit site (opens in a new tab)

The Yorkshire Dales National Park has been designated as an International Dark Sky Reserve, joining an exclusive global family of Dark Sky Places.

Did you know?

Because of light pollution, you might only see 5 -10 stars with the naked eye in a town or city. However, away from street lights in a National Park, you can often see over 2,000 stars – and even see our galaxy, the Milky Way, stretching across the sky.
Special qualities

Beginner’s guide to stargazing

Never stargazed before? Here are some top tips to get you started and enjoy an astronomically amazing adventure!

Choose a night when the skies are clear. Stargazing is best around a New Moon, when the skies are at their darkest.


Take a blanket or mat to lie on and wrap up warm – it can get cold under a dark sky! Take some snacks and a hot drink.


Allow time for your eyes to adjust to the darkness – this takes around 20 minutes. Turn off anything that shines a white light. If you need a torch, use one with a red lens, which will not affect your night-time vision.


There are many free astronomy apps that you can download to transform your mobile into a planetarium in your palm that will help guide you around the sky at night.


Come to one of our Dark Skies Festivals – they are a great starting point and will inspire you!


You’ll see lots with the naked eye, but as you progress, why not invest in pair of 10×50 binoculars and then work up to a telescope, which will give you years and years of enjoyment.


Happy star hunting!


A week on from National Parks UK’s Big Volunteer Weekend, we’re still celebrating the people who make a difference across our National Parks.

Last weekend, hundreds of people came together across all 15 National Parks to give their time, share their skills and support our landscapes.

But volunteering in our National Parks doesn’t happen just one weekend a year. All year round, volunteers play an incredible variety of roles – from leading guided walks and supporting education, to conservation, planting and caring for our landscapes.

Every volunteer makes a valuable contribution to protecting our natural and cultural heritage. We simply couldn’t do what we do without you. 💚

So, to all our volunteers: thank you for your time, energy, enthusiasm and everything you bring to our National Parks.
If you know someone who volunteers in a National Park, help us spread the thanks by sharing this post. 🌿

#Volunteers #NationalParks #NationalParksUK
It’s the Autumn Equinox 🍂

Our National Parks are always changing in time with the rhythm of nature, but this becomes particularly noticeable when autumn arrives.

Deer begin to rut, spiders’ cobwebs glisten in the fresh light, fungi become more prominent, and leaves begin to change colour.

What changes have you noticed so far? 🧡

#Autumn #AutumnEquinox #NationalParks
Autumn brings some unusual visitors to the @newforestnpa 🐷🍂

As the leaves turn and acorns begin to carpet the Forest floor, you might spot a few more snouts among the trees.

Each autumn, New Forest Commoners exercise an ancient right known as pannage – turning their pigs out to forage for fallen acorns, beech mast and other natural foods that might be harmful to other grazing animals.

It’s a tradition that has been part of life in the New Forest for many years. Just like many of our Parks, it shows how these landscapes are shaped by history and the unique ways of working that protect the environment. 

📸This beautiful photograph was captured by @hang_ross76. 

#NewForestPigs #Autumn #NewForest
🍂 Autumn is creeping in, and the nights are slowly drawing in around us. But darkness isn’t just something we notice. For countless bugs, it’s essential.

Two-thirds of invertebrates are partially or wholly nocturnal, relying on the natural rhythm of night and day to feed, move, reproduce and survive. Yet increasing light pollution is disrupting this vital nighttime world. 🐜

September is an active time for bugs - spiders seek shelter, wasp colonies reach their peak size, and many are migrating or laying overwintering eggs. 

Our National Parks are home to some of the UK’s darkest skies and important habitats where we can protect the darkness that bugs depend on. 

Together, we can help even the smallest of species to thrive.

Clips via @buglife_ict 
1 & 2: Moth © Patrick Chadwick
3: Running Crab Spider © Patrick Chadwick
4: Millipede © Patrick Chadwick
5: Common glow-worm (Lampyris noctiluca) © Kristian Pikner
6 & 7: Ringlet butterfly roosting © Patrick Chadwick
8: Wasp © Patrick Chadwick

#BugLife #DarkSkies #NationalParks