Daily Mail

OUR VERY OWN NORTHERN LIGHTS!

With clearer skies and less pollution, many of us became DIY astronomer­s during lockdown — now go a step further on a UK stargazing trip

- by SIMON HEPTINSTAL­L

FAMILIES who used backgarden stargazing to ease lockdown boredom can put their new-found skills to the test on a staycation in one of the UK’s darkest spots.

This year, increasing numbers of ‘ dark sky’ resorts, hotels and holiday homes are offering special breaks to stare at the heavens. Some even advertise how far they are from the nearest street lights.

An added lure for autumn visitors is the opportunit­y to glimpse the Northern Lights from October onwards in Scotland. With holidays and cruises to Iceland and Scandinavi­a on hold, it may be the only opportunit­y to see the spectacula­r Arctic light show this winter.

Here’s our pick of the best locations . . .

Telescopes and tipples

STAY at the Twice Brewed Inn near Hadrian’s Wall in Northumber­land and you won’t need to drink too much to be seeing stars. Guests can enjoy beginners’ talks and laser presentati­ons from localastro­nomers and then have a turn in the pub’s own observator­y, with telescopes powerful enough to see spectacula­r nebulae hundreds of light-years away from Earth.

Accommodat­ion, dinner and a stargazing evening costs from £189 for two people ( twicebrewe­dinn.co.uk).

Moon-gazing in style

FURTHER north, Glenapp Castle in Ayrshire adds the possibilit­y of spotting the northern lights. Experts predict there willbe an improved chance of seeing an aurora this winter. But if the lights don’t appear to be in order, the plush coastal hotel has its own astronomer and telescopes for romantic star-searching and moon-gazing — and keep an eye out for owls swooping past in the evening.

The hotel is close to Galloway Forest Park, one of less than 20 Dark Sky Parks in Europe with low- light pollution to aid observatio­n. The ‘A Night with the Stars’ break includes dinner and costs from £425 per person per night ( glenappcas­tle.com).

Self-guide in Scotland

A DIY getaway more your thing? Be your own guide to the heavens with Visit Scotland’s free video tutorials to stargazing and downloadab­le astronomy packs for children. It also has a directory for accommodat­ion, such as the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage at Noss Head in Caithness ( visitscotl­and.com).

See Saturn’s rings

ON THE other side of Galloway Forest Park are the enormous telescopes and hilltop domes of the Scottish Dark Sky Observator­y. It re-opened this month and now offers star-spotting experience­s previously only available to profession­alastronom­ers, from £8. Expect spectacula­r close-ups of features such as Moon craters and Saturn’s rings ( scottishda­rkskyobser­vatory.co.uk).

And wherever families are staying in Scotland, one of Visit Scotland’s approved Dark Sky Rangers could make any evening memorable.

Book Elizabeth Tindal in the Galloway area, for example, and your options include an after-dark ‘star picnic’ or a homemade rocket session ( freelancer­anger.com).

Starry getaways

THERE is a detailed list of starfriend­ly holiday venues elsewhere in the UK at gostargazi­ng.co.uk/staygaze. They include a Yorkshire campsite with regular astronomy events, star-themed holidays in an Isle of Coll bunkhouse and a Norfolk holiday park which has a designated Dark Sky Discovery Site in an adjoining sports field.

Cotswolds hideout

A MORE cosy way for couples to enjoy a starry, starry night is at The Hide at Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds. This steel-and-glass holiday home stands on stilts above a 70- acre lake and was voted Britain’s Best Small Building.

From this autumn it’s available for couples to rent as a secluded romantic escape, complete with its own telescope. Two nights cost from £600 for two ( habitatesc­apes.com).

 ??  ?? After dark: The Northern Lights over Castle Sinclair Girnigoe in Caithness, Scotland
After dark: The Northern Lights over Castle Sinclair Girnigoe in Caithness, Scotland
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