Dark Skies Holidays

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

£300

YHA Tintagel

South West England, Cornwall, St. Ives

Sleeps 22
YHA Hostel

£15

YHA South Downs

South East England, East Sussex, Lewes

Sleeps 66
YHA Hostel

£200

YHA Tanners Hatch

South East England, Surrey, Dorking

Sleeps 14
YHA Hostel

£20

YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass

North Wales, Gwynedd, Llanberis

Sleeps 110
YHA Hostel

£250

YHA Pwll Deri

South Wales, Pembrokeshire, Fishguard

Sleeps 23
YHA Hostel

£182

Crag House Farm

North East England, North Yorkshire, Whitby

2 Cottages Sleeping 6

£203.50

Eagles Nest at Greyfriars

South East England, East Sussex, Rye

Sleeps 4
Apartment
Manor House

£225

Herons Wood at Greyfriars

South East England, East Sussex, Rye

Sleeps 5
Apartment
Manor House

£195

Oaklands Glamping

Mid Wales, Powys, Welshpool

2 Safari Tents
Safari Lodges

£300

Heartwood Treehouse

Mid Wales, Powys, Welshpool

Sleeps 2
Cabin
Treehouses

£117

Clawford Lakes

South West England, Devon, Holsworthy

Cocoons, Lodges & Lake Pods
Cabin

£165.70

Cholderton Estate

South East England, Hampshire, Andover

Sleeps 2–18
Cabin
Cottage

£107

Walcot Hall

West Midlands, Shropshire, Bishop's Castle

15 Cottages Sleeping 2–24
Apartment
Cabin
Cottage

£292

White Lady

South West England, Devon, Tavistock

Sleeps 12
Large Property

£214

Idle Waters

East Anglia, Essex, Colchester

Sleeps 4
Cottage

£245

Dannah Farm

East Midlands, Derbyshire, Belper

4 Suites
Luxury B&B

£180

The Brackenrigg Inn

North West England, Cumbria, Ullswater

Seven en-suite guest rooms
Pub with Rooms

£150

The Whittling House

North East England, Northumberland, Alnmouth

10 Guest Rooms
Restaurant with Rooms

£135

Bossington Hall

South West England, Somerset, Porlock

9 Guest Rooms
Boutique B&B
Luxury B&B

£115

Tapnell Farm

South East England, Isle Of Wight, Yarmouth

Self-Catering Cottages & Glamping
Cottage
Pods

£150

The White House

East Anglia, Norfolk, Burnham Market

11 Guest Rooms and One Suite
Boutique Hotel

£71

Alkington Grange Barns

West Midlands, Shropshire, Whitchurch

5 Cottages Sleeping 5 to 12
Cottage

£146

Norfolk Broads Direct Boating Holidays

East Anglia, Norfolk, Wroxham & Hoveton

25 Cruisers Sleeping 2–11

£46.80

Ewe Two

North Wales, Flintshire, Oakenholt

Sleeps 2
Cabin

£103

The Transmitter Bunker

South West England, Dorset, Dorchester

Sleeps 4.

£145.80

The Piggery at Bert's Kitchen Garden

North Wales, Gwynedd, Pwllheli

One Double Room

£70

Herbert Woods - Broads Holiday Adventures

East Anglia, Norfolk, Great Yarmouth

Over 120 Cruisers Sleeping 2–11

£171

The Garden Cottage

West Midlands, Staffordshire, Uttoxeter

Sleeps 6

£110

Low Mill Guest House

North East England, North Yorkshire, Hawes

3 Guest Rooms
Boutique B&B

£165

Weeke Barton

South West England, Devon, Exeter

6 Guest Rooms
Boutique B&B

£95

The Pheasant

East Anglia, Essex, Halstead

5 Guest Rooms
Boutique Hotel
Pub with Rooms

Goodies Farmhouse

North West England, Cumbria, Sedbergh

Sleeps 6
Cottage

£85

The Mole Resort ★★★★★

South West England, Devon, Chulmleigh, Winkleigh & Umberleigh

58 Lodges, 35 Rooms
Cabin

£200

Spinks Nest ★★★★★

East Anglia, Norfolk, Holt

Sleeps 2
Cottage

£85

The Rocks at Plas Curig Hostel ★★★★★

North Wales, Conwy, Capel Curig

14 Rooms, Sleeping 2–8
Independent Hostel
YHA Hostel

£199

Ardeonaig Hotel & Restaurant ★★★★★

Central Scotland, Perthshire, Killin

17 Guest Rooms
Boutique Hotel

£70

Druidstone Hotel ★★★★★

South Wales, Pembrokeshire, Haverfordwest

10 Guest Rooms & 5 Cottages
Boutique Hotel

£125

Middle Piccadilly ★★★★★

South West England, Dorset, Sherborne

5 Guest Rooms

£22.50

Swinton Bivouac ★★★★☆

North East England, North Yorkshire, Masham

£109

The Oaksmere

East Anglia, Suffolk, Eye

14 Guest Rooms & Suites
Boutique Hotel
Country House Hotel

£85

The Lodges at Artlegarth

North West England, Cumbria, Kirkby Stephen

6 Lodges Sleeping 6+
Cabin

£385

The Rosevine

South West England, Cornwall, Falmouth

15 Suites, Apartments & Rooms
Resort Hotel

£260

Plas Dinas Country House

North Wales, Gwynedd, Caernarfon

10 rooms including one suite
Country House Hotel

£620

Burgh Island Hotel

South West England, Devon, Kingsbridge

25 Guest Rooms & Suites
Historic Hotel

£210

The Wild Boar

North West England, Cumbria, Windermere

34 Guest Rooms
Boutique Hotel

£700

West Down Estate Country House

South West England, Devon, South Molton

Sleeps 18
Large Property

£275

The Roxburghe Hotel and Golf Course

South Scotland, Scottish Borders, Kelso

20 Guest Rooms
Country House Hotel

£120

Stow House

North East England, North Yorkshire, Aysgarth

7 Guest Rooms
Boutique B&B

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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.