WILD NIGHTS

If I said Northumberland was home to bears, giraffes and lions, you might have a hard time believing me. But the night sky in Northumberland is one of the best places to see these constellations in Britain. They call it “the land of the far horizon” and, after the sun departs, spectacular creatures leap to life in the heavens. You might even see the Northern Lights.

Recently granted gold-tier ‘Dark Sky Status’, Northumberland has gone in for astronomy in a big way. Kielder Observatory runs night-time sessions for all ages, or you can join a local astronomy society evening, organised in conjunction with Northumberland National Park. One of the meeting spots is the atmospheric Cawfields Quarry on Hadrian’s Wall. If the stars fail to shine, keep a look out for pipistrelle bats, barn owls and other nocturnal animals. visitnorthumberland.com/darkskies/events