What many people don’t know about the UK, is that it offers some truly breathtaking and magnificent spots for stargazing. There’s something so mesmerizing and romantic about standing under the night stars whilst in awe at the subtle hints of colors splashed across the milky way. Rich blues with splashes of subtle purple, pink and orange hues – I can’t think of anything truly more beautiful to admire – that’s why todays amazing blog article will encompass 5 of the best places to stargaze within the UK in 2022.  

1. Brecon Beacons Dark Sky Reserve

Brecon Beacons are a range of mountains residing within South Wales, with the name originating from the range of Old Red Sandstone peaks which lie in the south of Brecon, including South Wales’ highest mountain Pen y Fan. Wales has always remained a prime location for UK stargazers and it’s no surprise they’re drawn to the  first International Dark-Sky Reserve “The Brecon Beacons,” offering breathtaking views of the constellations elegantly painted across the dark skies. The Brecon Beacons is a famous national park that regularly hosts stargazing and meteor-spotting sessions for avid explorers. For additional events, keep an eye out for The Cardiff Astronomical Society who provide a range of events including telescope night sky observing events and even  offer safe sun viewing events with solar scopes in the summer months. Why not have your own personal milky way and luxury showcase? We offer a luxury dwelling in the heart of Brecon Beacons laced between the rich green valleys. Immerse yourself under the beautiful galaxy indulging in a private hot tub with a glass or two of champagne and a whole world of opportunities!  

2. Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms is a national park in the northeast of Scotland established in 2003. The national park is known as the second of two national parks established by the Scottish Parliament, after Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, which was set up in 2002. Cairngorms is already the largest national park in the United Kingdom, covering  the Cairngorms range of mountains, and surrounding hills, and was further expanded into Perth and Kinross in 2010. The Cairngorms National Park is known as one of the most scenic places for stargazing within the UK and includes the International Dark Sky Park of Tomintoul and Glenlivet, proving it to be one of the darkest sites in the UK. Cairngorms Astronomy Group offer a wide range of events for beginners looking to get into astronomy and have a wide range of dark skies projects which aim to improve lighting in residential areas, distilleries and farms. For amazing stargazing locations, Cairngorms National Park is a place you won’t want to miss.  

3. The Antrim Coast

The Antrim Coast and Glens is a designated area of natural beauty within Northern Ireland extending to include the Rathlin Island, the Glens of Antrim and the coastal area between Larne and Ballycastle. The coast was titled as “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1988,” and remains one of the top spots for stargazing and natural beauty amongst explorers. The Carrick-a-Rede is an area within the The Antrim Coast that was classified as a Dark Sky Discovery Site in 2014. The area hosts a rope bridge spanning 20 meters and is 30 meters above the rocks below. The Antrim Coast is a host to a range of stargazing sessions for darkest night skies which are often held by the local Northern Ireland Amateur Astronomy Society in tandem with the National Trust. For those looking for some picturesque views of the galaxy you won’t regret, be sure to take a visit to Northern Irelands Antrim Coast.   4.Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve Exmoor national park resides in the south west of England and features a range of captivating landscapes filled with moor wood, woodland, coastlines and rivers.The national park is known as one of the places for the best dark skies in the UK with minimal light pollution allow you to see the milky way and thousands of stars. The Exmoor Dark Skies Festival is quickly becoming one of the UK’s top astronomy events due to the range of actives it encompasses featuring; nighttime wildlife walks, mountain biking, stargazing sessions and guided meteor walks. The national park centers offer dobsonian telescopes for hire and offer a range of private ‘Stargazing experiences’ with a local astronomer which will guide you along the national park in admiration of the starry night skies in the region.  

5. Northumberland National Park

Northumberland is a historic county in Northern England bordering Morpeth, Cumbria,  County Durham and Tyne and Wear. Northumberland National Park covering a region of more than 1,050 square kilometers between the Scottish border to the south of Hadrian’s Wall and is known as one of the least visited and least populated national parks. Northumberland National Park has been awarded a gold tier status as a dark sky park by the International Dark Sky Association, boasting a plethora of events such as Dark Sky Discovery sites. Northumberland’s small and remote village, Kielder tends a wide range of stargazing sessions and astronomy talks year-round. They also present workshops and  introductory tutorials for those looking to get started in astronomy.   After reading about our top 5 best places for stargazing in the UK, we’d love to hear about your stories and experiences with stargazing! Let us know your fabulous spots and be sure to tag us on instagram with all your adventures with #westayglobal. We also offer a wide range of dwellings to accommodate your stargazing adventures across the UK and Europe. Click here to find out more about the range of locations we offer, get in touch now.