Things to do…Look to the skies!
One of the most mesmerising sights on Earth is the night sky – the brightest stars from the billions in our Milky Way, the streak of meteors and planetary neighbours such as Venus and Jupiter bright in the night sky. Light pollution, however, means that it is an amazing spectacle that many of the population doesn’t get to see.
Looking for inspirational things to do with family and friends on holiday…
Luckily, you don’t have to venture to the world’s remotest places to experience dark sky oases several national parks offer superb stellar vistas.
Here are some places you can choose to holiday where you will be able to simply step out of the door for the opportunity to see some spectacular celestial displays. Great on dark and clear winter nights and still spectacular on warmer nights…
Exmoor has very dark skies and better weather than most other parks, so you can simply step out on to the deck at Shell House for some wonderful starry night views over the sea or wrap up warm, take a midnight picnic and venture out behind the house onto Exmoor.
Powys has some of the lowest light pollution in Britain and at Lake Vyrnwy, near Wayside you will want to watch the skies day and night with pied flycatchers, redstarts, buzzards and even peregrine soaring in the skies during the day and dark skies perfect for startgazing.
From experience the skies above Lletty, Manal and Rhoscolyn House can be inky black; it really takes your breathe away as soon as you step out of your car if you arrive after dark (you mustn’t forget a torch as it really is very dark!)
Even guests at Hafod Glan Gwy have been amazed by the starry skies! “Our favourite thing was to come back to the cosy lodge, light the stove, have a beer and gaze up at the starry sky! Being a city boy, I could have stayed out staring at that all night.”
In the right place, every night when you look up there is a stunning display, to help you figure out what exactly you are seeing you can download a Star and Moon Guide from the BBC website
